Aikido Of San Jose » Exam Requirements

Rank & Exam Information

Two types of ranks:

Mudansha refers to those who have "Kyu" ranks (below black belts)
Yudansha refers to those who have a black belt

Mudansha Ranks

Mudansha ranks works backwards - new beginners start off at 5th kyu and work their way towards 1st kyu. While some Aikido schools have colored belts to differentiate the kyu ranks, ASJ does not require them and most students do not wear them. Children in aikido start off at 10th kyu and work their way up to 1st kyu. While the 10th kyu exams through 6th kyu exams for children are structured a little differently, starting at the 5th kyu exam, children will also be asked to complete the same requirements as adults. Teen ranks will depend on age and can either start at 10th kyu or 5th kyu alongside adults.

Kyu Ranks/Belt Colors - Children/Teens

10th - white
9th/8th - yellow
7th/6th - green
5th - purple
4th and above will follow adult kyu belt colors

Kyu Ranks/Belt Colors - Adults

5th - white
4th/3rd - blue
2nd/1st - brown

Yudansha Ranks

Yudansha ranks works forward - aikidoka test out of 1st kyu into a black belt rank, starting at “sho-dan”. All black belt students wear their black belts underneath a “hakama”, the wide legged pants worn in traditional Japanese martial arts, such as kendo and kyudo.

While only black belt students at ASJ wear hakamas, they are not limited to black belt students only. When practicing with a visitor from another dojo, do not be alarmed if a non-black belt can be seen underneath their hakama, as different dojos have different procedures for their dress code.

Exams

Kyu exams are held every 3-4 months. At least a month prior to an exam, potential examinees should speak to an instructor to check on exam requirements and get approval. Kyu exams are $20 ($10 for children ranks, with additional $5 for a colored belt).

There are different numbers of required training days per each kyu. For example, 5th kyu exams require 50 training days while 4th kyu exams require an additional 70 training days after the 5th kyu exam. This information is available at the dojo as well as online.

Before the exam, please make sure that adequate preparation has been made. An exam partner (an uke) should be arranged at least a month in advance with a few run throughs to ensure a nice, clean exam. The uke can be any student who is at least the rank being tested for. For example, if 3rd kyu is being tested for, the uke should be someone 3rd kyu or above.

Dan exams are held once a year in early December. Students who are 1st kyu and deemed ready for a dan exam will be approached and asked to test by one of the senior instructors. Preparations for a dan exam is the same and requirements can be found at the dojo as well as online. Exam fees depend on which dan rank is being tested for and more information will be given at that time.

Again, it is important to remember that this information pertains to ASJ only and may change in the future. While visiting and training at other dojos, it is important to observe their practices and follow their procedures.

Exam Requirements

Children examination starts at 10th Kyu.
Adult examination starts at 5th Kyu.

Rank (Belt Color): Training Days Required:	Exam Requirements
10th Kyu (White) 10 Training Days	right/left back rolls (kneeling) right/left forward rolls (kneeling) right/left hanmi with extension tai no henko (basic blend) seated kokyu ho
9th Kyu (Yellow) 20 Training Days	right/left Forward Rolls (standing) right/left Back Rolls (standing) shikko (knee walking) with turning katate dori Shihonage (omote & ura)
8th Kyu (Yellow) 30 Training Days	ai dori ikkyo (omote & ura) ai dori kote gaeshi ai dori irimi nage
7th Kyu (Green) 30 Training Days	tsuki kote gaeshi tsuki irimi nage kata dori ikkyo (omote & ura)
6th Kyu (Green) 30 Training Days	shomen uchi irimi nage shomen uchi ikkyo (omote & ura) yokomen uchi shihonage (omote & ura)
5th Kyu (Purple for Children/White for Adults) 50 Training Days	Tachi Waza katate dori - shihonage omote & ura shomen uchi - ikkyo omote & ura shomen uchi - irimi nage Suwari Waza ryote dori - kokyu ho Ukemi forward & backward rolls
4th Kyu (Blue) 70 Training Days	Tachi Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo omote & ura shomen uchi - nikkyo omote & ura shomen uchi - irimi nage kata dori - nikyo omote & ura ryote dori - tenchi nage tsuki - kote gaeshi katate dori - shihonage omote & ura yokomen uchi - shihonage omote & ura Suwari Waza ryote dori - kokyu ho Ukemi at level appropriate to rank
3rd Kyu (Blue) 80 Training Days	Suwari Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo Tachi Waza morote dori - kokyo ho shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo shomen uchi - irimi nage shomen uchi - kote gaeshi tsuki - irimi nage tsuki - kote gaeshi katate dori - shihonage omote & ura ryote dori - shihonage omote & ura yokomen uchi - shihonage omote & ura Ukemi at level appropriate to rank
2nd Kyu (Brown) 100 Training Days	Suwari Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo Tachi Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo shomen uchi - irimi nage shomen uchi - kote gaeshi shomen uchi - kaiten nage tsuki - irimi nage tsuki - kote gaeshi tsuki - kaiten nage katate dori - irimi nage katate dori - kote gaeshi katate dori - kaiten nage ushiro ryote dori - shihonage omote & ura ushiro ryote dori - kote gaeshi Hanmi Handachi katate dori - shihonage ryote dori - shihonage Variations (three techniques from each attack) kata dori morote dori ryote dori Jiyu Waza one person
1st Kyu (Brown) 150 Training Days	Suwari Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo yokomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo kata dori - ikkyo through yonkyo Tachi Waza shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo yokomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo kata dori - ikkyo through yonkyo ushiro ryote dori - ikkyo through yonkyo shomen uchi - irimi nage shomen uchi - kote gaeshi shomen uchi - kaiten nage tsuki - irimi nage tsuki - kote gaeshi tsuki - kaiten nage yokomen uchi - irimi nage yokomen uchi - kote gaeshi yokomen uchi - kaiten nage yokomen uchi - gokyo Hanmi Handachi katate dori - shihonage ryote dori - shihonage shomen uchi - irimi nage shomen uchi - kote gaeshi shomen uchi - kaiten nage tsuki - irimi nage tsuki - kote gaeshi tsuki - kaiten nage ushiro waza - five techniques Variations (three techniques from each attack) kata dori morote dori ryote dori ushiro ryokata dori koshi nage Jiyu Waza two people
Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) 200 Training Days	Suwari Waza - same as 1st Kyu Tachi Waza - same as 1st Kyu Hanmi Handachi - same as 1st Kyu Variations (five techniques from each attack) katate dori ryote dori morote dori ushiro ryoto dori ushiro ryokata dori koshi nage Tanto Dori tsuki shomen uchi yokomen uchi slash knife at throat - front knife at throat - rear Jiyu Waza - one person, flowing freestyle, any attack Randori - multiple attackers (three persons), one of the following: begin with one uke, send in #2, then #3 begin with two holding, add third three attack simultaneously