Once a year, typically in the spring, Hiroshi Tanida-Sensei from Chiba Dojo, Japan, visits the Denton Texas Dojo and gives a weekend seminar at which a Shodan Shiken (belt test) is conducted. Students who have met the rank requirements may be asked by their instructor at this time to test. The awarding of rank from the Shodan Shiken is decided by the Soke (Head - currently Ikeda Soke, 22nd) of the system in Japan. As a Japanese registered school, the rank achieved through the Denton Texas Dojo is not an American rank, but is rank directly from Japan.