Video photography courtesy of Bill Bresnihan

 

 

Ranks and Testing

Our ranking system is the same one that is used in Japan. It is based on a series of white belt (kyu) rankings which lead into a series of black belt (dan) rankings. The kyu ranks begin at 5 and progress to 1. The dan ranks begin at one and move up from there. 

In Aikido, the learning is continuous. Students of all rank are challenging themselves to improve and grow. Students with a more senior rank are considered to have demonstrated a capability to learn and perform at a higher level. With higher rank (sempai) comes increased responsibilities to train more sincerely and also to nurture and mentor the more junior students (kohai).  The sempai-kohai relationship is important because in Aikido, the progress of each individual is related to the progress of all students in the dojo.

On the training mat, Adult students wear a white belt until they attain the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt). Hakamas (the dark colored, pant-like, divided skirts)  are worn by women after attaining 5th Kyu and by men and women after attaining the rank of 1st Dan.

Parallel to the normal ranking system are the teaching ranks which are reserved for those black belts (yudansha) who have a serious interest in teaching Aikido. Yudansha who are certified instructors have one of three licenses which are issued separately from their dan rankings. A fukushidoin is an instructor-in-training. Fukushidoin have generally attained at least a 2nd Dan rank. A shidoin is a instructor who is fully certified and has generally attained a 4th Dan of higher. A shihan is a master teacher and has generally attained a 6th Dan or higher.

United States Aikido Federation Logo United States Aikido Federation Promotional Test Requirements

  

5th Kyu

minimum of 60 practice days since beginning.

  • Shomenuchi Ikkyo (omote & ura)

  • Shomenuchi Iriminage (omote & ura)

  • Gyaku Hanmi Katatetori Shihonage (omote & ura)

  • Ryotetori Tenchinage (omote & ura)

  • Tuski Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)

  • Ushiro Tekubitori Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)

  • Morotetori Kokyuho (omote & ura)

4th Kyu

minimum of 80 practice days since 5th Kyu.

  • Shomenuchi Nikkyo (omote & ura)

  • Yokomenuchi Shihonage (omote & ura)

  • Tuski Iriminage (irimi, tenkan, & tenshin variations)

  • Ushiro Tekubitori Sankyo (omote & ura)

  • Ushiro Ryokatatori Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)

  • Swariwaza:

    • Shomenuchi Ikkyo (omote & ura)
    Gyaku Hanmi Katatori Nikkyo (omote & ura)
    Gyaku Hanmi Katatori Sankyo (omote & ura)

3th Kyu

minimum of 100 practice days since 4th Kyu.

  • Yokomenuchi Iriminage (omote & ura)

  • Yokomenuchi  Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)

  • Tuski Kaitennage (omote & ura)

  • Ushiro Ryokatatori Sankyo (omote & ura)

  • Morotetori Iriminage (3 variations)

  • Shomenuchi Sankyo (omote & ura)

  • Swariwaza:

    • Shomenuchi Iriminage (omote & ura)
    Shomenuchi Nikkyo (omote & ura)
    Yokomenuchi Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)
  • Hanmi Handachi:
    • Gyaku Hanmi Katatetori Shihonage (omote & ura)
    Gyaku Hanmi Katatetori Kaitennage (uchi & soto)

2th Kyu

minimum of 200 practice days since 3rd Kyu.

  • Shomenuchi Shihonage (omote & ura)

  • Shomenuchi Kaitennage (omote & ura)

  • Yokomenuchi Gokyo (omote & ura)

  • Ushiro Tekubitori Shihonage (omote & ura)

  • Ushiro Tekubitori Jujinage

  • Ushiro Tekubitori Koshinage

  • Morotetori Nikkyo (omote & ura, 2 variations)

  • Hanmi Handachi:

    • Shomenuchi Iriminage
    Gyaku Hanmi Katatetori Nikkyo (omote & ura)
    Yokomenuchi Kotegaeshi (omote & ura)
  •  Freestyle - 2 persons

1th Kyu

minimum of 300 practice days since 2nd Kyu.

  • Katatori Menuchi - 5 techniques

  • Yokomenuchi - 5 techniques

  • Morotetori - 5 techniques

  • Shomenuchi - 5 techniques

  • Ryotetori - 5 techniques

  • Koshinage - 5 techniques

  • Tantotori 

  • Hanmi Handachi Ushiro Waza - 5 techniques

  • Freestyle - 3 persons

1st Dan
(Shodan)

minimum of 400 practice days since 1st Kyu.

  • All of the 1st Kyu requirements

  • Tachitori

  • Jotori

  • Henkawaza

  • Freestyle - 4 persons

2nd Dan
(Nidan)

minimum of 600 practice days since 1st Dan.

  • Attend 2 seminars per year after 1st Dan

  • All of the 1st Dan requirements

  • Tachitori - 2

  • Freestyle - 5 persons

  • Kaeshiwaza

3rd Dan
(Sandan)

minimum of 700 practice days since 2nd Dan.

  • Attend 2 seminars per year after 2nd Dan

  • Subject of the examination to be determined by the examiner at the time of the examination.

 

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