Hey Shorinryu Sensei -- If I ever move to the Montana area I'll be looking you up. You seem to share my idea of what a good school should be. At my school, I think they take testing FAR too seriously. I'm new to the school, thus I haven't been tested there. However, a guy who moved to this school along with me took his green belt (5th kyu) test last weekend. It was THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS LONG! I guess it started with 30 minutes of calisthenics, followed by being drilled on basics then finally kata. He didn't mention kumite, but I'm sure there was some. This to me is excessive beyond all logic. They said if you pass out you automatically get your belt, except at your shodan exam in which case they wake you up and continue. I hope they were kidding. This situation is dissapointing because everything else about the school I am very happy with.