I am there. I have achieved the needed hours to test for 2nd kyu. I am looking forward to the test, although I am not ready yet. I want to earn my brown belt, and move to the next level, but I have not been in any hurry. I've put my needs on hold in order to prepare our dojo's first shodan. He tested at the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago a couple weeks ago at a seminar. Yamada Sensei was there, so it was a big deal, as seminars go.

I've spent about a week getting ready, so that means taking 15 minutes or so after class running through the list of 2nd kyu techniques. So far, so good, but I haven't gone through all the "additional" techniques that I'll also be tested on. I have gone through all the USAF techniques, which look pretty good.

I've heard that the plan is to test me at 2nd kyu, and a few others ranging from 6th to 3rd kyu. I think our sensei wants to have all of us be the first group to test in our new dojo, but the dojo won't be ready for another few months. I'll be ready to test very soon.