Certification Levels and Rankings
The IJA has developed 3 levels of certification, as well as an Instructor level (formerly known as level 4) To gain the first 3 levels you must pass the tests as outlined in the member’s book or resource center. Instructor levels require additional IJA participation that include, and are not limited to, hosting events, organizing/hosting practices, running demonstrations, and holding a leadership position in the community, such as regional representative.
The purpose of the certifications, is to confirm that each participant has a base level of competancy before participating in IJA events.
The IJA grading system forms the core of the IJA and all of its activities.
The grading system has been carefully structured and tested over time into the current grading system (two foot grades, three rider grades and an instructor grade). This allows the IJA to train and develop its competitors in a safe and universally acceptable way.
All IJA members must be graded appropriately before they can take part in IJA activities. For example, in order to take part in IJA registered skill-at-arms competitions, a rider must be at least a Level 1 rider. In order to take part in IJA registered jousting tournaments a rider must be at least a Level 2 rider. In order to take part in IJA registered international jousting tournaments a rider should ideally be a Level 3
All riding members also complete the Foot Man grade in order for them to be able to assist on the ground during tournaments when they are not actually riding.
It is the responsibility of an IJA member group to train or arrange the training for its own members. It is the reasonability of an IJA individual member (e.g. a member without a group affiliation) to seek out an IJA jousting Instructor and to arrange for his or her own training.
Instructors may train, grade and issue Certificates of Competence for ground crew, foot fighters, and IJA rider Levels 1, 2 and 3.
IJA-USA Level standards - Everyone who wishes to be a Certified rider must pass the level one test and be a member of the IJA- USA. Jousters may then take the level 2 test and this is the highest rank that someone may attain in their first session. Once a jouster has participated in at least 2 sanctioned IJA jousts and are a member of IJA-USA in good standing, then they may petition to take the level 3 test. This allows them to become familiar with the IJA rules, policies and culture.
The IJA has developed 3 levels of certification, as well as an Instructor level (formerly known as level 4) To gain the first 3 levels you must pass the tests as outlined in the member’s book or resource center. Instructor levels require additional IJA participation that include, and are not limited to, hosting events, organizing/hosting practices, running demonstrations, and holding a leadership position in the community, such as regional representative.
The purpose of the certifications, is to confirm that each participant has a base level of competancy before participating in IJA events.
The IJA grading system forms the core of the IJA and all of its activities.
The grading system has been carefully structured and tested over time into the current grading system (two foot grades, three rider grades and an instructor grade). This allows the IJA to train and develop its competitors in a safe and universally acceptable way.
All IJA members must be graded appropriately before they can take part in IJA activities. For example, in order to take part in IJA registered skill-at-arms competitions, a rider must be at least a Level 1 rider. In order to take part in IJA registered jousting tournaments a rider must be at least a Level 2 rider. In order to take part in IJA registered international jousting tournaments a rider should ideally be a Level 3
All riding members also complete the Foot Man grade in order for them to be able to assist on the ground during tournaments when they are not actually riding.
It is the responsibility of an IJA member group to train or arrange the training for its own members. It is the reasonability of an IJA individual member (e.g. a member without a group affiliation) to seek out an IJA jousting Instructor and to arrange for his or her own training.
Instructors may train, grade and issue Certificates of Competence for ground crew, foot fighters, and IJA rider Levels 1, 2 and 3.
IJA-USA Level standards - Everyone who wishes to be a Certified rider must pass the level one test and be a member of the IJA- USA. Jousters may then take the level 2 test and this is the highest rank that someone may attain in their first session. Once a jouster has participated in at least 2 sanctioned IJA jousts and are a member of IJA-USA in good standing, then they may petition to take the level 3 test. This allows them to become familiar with the IJA rules, policies and culture.