Testing Requirements

The examination system in Aikido is not structured on competition. You will be graded on the following points:

• Your understanding of basic techniques appropriate to your level.
• Your ability to adapt your movement to an attack.
• The concentration and awareness you maintain throughout the examination.
• Continuity of movement is important, not speed.
• Confidence and courage are important, not ego.
• Be prepared to uke (be an attacker) for someone else of your same level during the examination. You will be graded on how well you attack and respond to their technique.
• You will be expected to know and respond to Japanese terminology.
• It is necessary to complete the required number of hours of training before each examination.

Please note: You will also be responsible for knowing all of the weapons kata.

Rokkyu/6th Kyu (Your first test in aikido!): 30 hours/3 months

• Tenkan
• Shomenuchi ikkyo
• Somenuchi iriminage
• Katate dori shihonage
• Yokomenuchi shihonage
• Kokyu tanden ho

Gokyu/5th Kyu: 60 hours/4 months

• All previous technique
• Shomenuchi nikyo
• Kata dori ikkyo
• Kata dori nikyo
• Munetsuki kaitennage

Yonkyu/4th Kyu: 60 hours/4 months

• All previous techniques
• Shomenuchi sankyo
• Shomenuchi yonko
• Yokomenuchi ikkyo, kotegaeshi and iriminage
• Ryote dori tenchinage and shihonage
• Katate dori ryote mochi kokyu tanden ho

Sankyu/3rd Kyu: 70 hours/4 months

• All previous techniques
• Ushiro ryokata dori ikkyo
• Ushiro ryote dori shihonage
• Ushiro kubi shime kategaeshi
• Ushiro waza kokyonage

Nikyu/2nd Kyu: 80 hours/6 months

• All previous techniques
• Yokomenuchi nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo
• Koshinage from shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, katate dori and munetsuki
• Hanmi handachi:
• Katate dori shihonage
• Ryote dori shihonage
• Suwariwaza:
• Shomenuchi ikkyo
• Kata dori ikkyo
• Yokomenuchi ikkyo
• All of the weapons katas (sword and short staff)

Ikkyu/1st Kyu (Last test before your black belt test!): 90 hours/6 months

• All previous techniques
• Jiyu waza:
• Standing
• Hanmi handchi
• Suwariwaza
• Tanto dori:
• Munetsuki
• Shomenuchi
• Yokomenuchi
• All of the weapons kata (sword and short staff)

Shodan/Black Belt (120 hours/9 months)

• All basic techinques and previous requirements
• Tanto dori: shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, tsuki, and ushiro (A different technique for each frontal attack. Two different techniques for ushiro attack.)
• Tachi dori: shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, tsuki (A total of five different techniques.)
• Jo dori: shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, tsuki (A total of five different techniques.)
• Randori: Three people attacking.