Rank Requirements

GENERAL

These requirements are intended to be used as guidelines for training: for each rank, they are stated in terms of the minimum expected attendance, technical ability and behavioral traits. Students should use the requirements for the next higher rank as their daily training goals.

Attendance and Behavioral Requirements are used to determine eligibility for taking examination. During examinations candidates are asked to demonstrate selected items of the Technical requirements.

The requirements are cumulative; only incremental items are listed for each rank.

These requirements are not meant to represent a comprehensive list of Aikido techniques taught at the Aikido Institute.
Legend

Training days: These are the minimum numbers of days trained since the last promotion, as shown in the attendance records.

Regularity: 3+ training days per week or 12+ per month consistently for the period specified.

Seminar: This includes Aikido workshops, seminars and gasshuku, or any other concentrated and continuous Aikido training led by a sensei lasting 4 hours or more, sponsored by the Aikido Institute; “outside” means sponsored by other dojos including AANC-division 1 dojos.

Behavioral: this element of the requirements is assessed based on several factors; only key items are listed here.

 

 

CHILDREN

9K YELLOW

8K ORANGE

7K BLUE

6K GREEN

5K BROWN

4K RED

3K BLK STRIP

ATTENDANCE

Training days

30 days

30 days

30 days

40 days

40 days

40 days

40 days

Regularity

Recent 1 month

Recent 1 month

Recent 2 months

Recent 3 months

Recent 4 months

Recent 4 months

Recent 4 months

Seminar

1 Dojo in past 12 months

1 Dojo in past 12 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

TECHNICAL

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

Ukemi

Roll forward & backward by self

Roll from throws

Roll over 1 crouched person; 10 rolls

Roll over 2 crouched persons; 20 rolls; tobukemi aided

Roll over 3 crouched persons; high roll at belt level; 30 rolls; tobukemi from kote gaeshi

40 rolls

Tobukemi by self

50 rolls

Kokyuu ho

Morote dori

Katate dori

Kata dori; ryote dori

Shomen uchi; mune tsuki

Ikkyo

Shomen uchi

Katate dori; kata dori

Gyaku te dori; ryo te dori

Morote dori

Mune tsuki

Ushiro ryo te dori

Nikyo

Katate dori; kata dori

Gyaku te dori

Shomen uchi

Shiho nage

Katate dori

Gyaku te dori

Ryo te dori; yokomen uchi

Shomen uchi; mune tsuki

Kote gaeshi

Gyaku te dori; mune tsuki

Katate dori

Shomen uchi

Katate dori; yokomen uchi

Irimi nage

Shomen uchi

Gyaku te dori; mune tsuki

Kokyuu nage

Katate dori (3)

Gyaku te dori (3)

Morote dori (3)

Ryote dori (3)

Other taijutsu

Warm up routine

Tai sabaki: two-step, aiki walk, knee walk

Tai no henko

Basic strikes

Kokyuu dosa

Awase with basic strikes

Blend with 1 uke pushing

Blend with 2 uke pushing

Blend with 3 uke pushing

Tenchi nage

Kaiten nage katate dori

Fitness

5 push-ups

5 high jumps (up to belt)

5 sit-ups

One-leg stand 5”

10 push-ups

10 high jumps

10 sit-ups

One-leg stand 10”

15 push-ups

15 high jumps

15 sit-ups

One-leg stand 15”

Cart wheel

20 push-ups

20 high jumps

20 sit-ups

One-leg stand 20”

Stretching: chest to floor

20 push-ups on nikyo wrists

20 high jumps w/ jo

20 sit-ups head to knees

One-leg stand 20” eyes closed

20 jumps with rope

30 jumps with rope

Buki waza

Jo suburi 1-5

Jo suburi 6-10

Jo suburi 11-20

31 jo kata

Ken suburi

Happo giri
BEHAVIORAL

Pay attention & follow instructions; remember Code

Maintain focus throughout techniques

Apply Dojo Etiquette; show respect to teachers & elders

Maintain focus throughout class

Help coach beginners; show perseverance & sharing

Lead small group (3-4) practice

Help instructor lead part of class

ADULT

6K

5K

4K

3K

2K

1K
ATTENDANCE            

Training days

20 days

30 days

60 days

80 days

100 days

150 days

Regularity

Recent 1 month

Recent 1 month

Recent 2 months

Recent 3 months

Recent 4 months

Recent 6 months

Seminar

1 Dojo in past 12 months

1 Dojo in past 12 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

TECHNICAL

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC

BASIC + KNN

BASIC + KNN

BASIC + KNN

Ukemi

Rolls: forward & backward

10 rolls, 1 min. continuous ukemi

20 rolls, 1-1/2 min. cont. ukemi

20 rolls; tobukemi aided, 2 min. cont. ukemi

30 rolls; tobukemi from kote gaeshi, 2-1/2 min. cont. ukemi

50 rolls; tobukemi from shiho nage and irimi nage, 3 min. cont. ukemi

Kokyuu ho

Morote dori

Katate dori

Ryo te dori; kata dori

Shomen uchi; mune tsuki

Yokomen uchi; morote dori henka (4)

Ushiro ryo te dori; ushiro ryo kata dori

Ikkyo

Shomen uchi; katate dori

Kata dori; gyakute dori; morote dori

Mune tsuki; ushiro ryo te dori

Yokomen uchi

Kata dori men uchi; ushiro ryo kata dori; ushiro eri dori; mune dori

Nikyo

Kata dori

Katate dori; ryote dori

Shomen uchi

Morote dori; yokomen uchi

Ushiro ryo te dori

Shiho nage

Katate dori

Yokomen uchi; ryo te dori

Gyakute dori; Shomen uchi; mune tsuki

Kata dori men uchi

Ushiro eri dori; katate dori (4 directions)

Kote gaeshi

Gyakute dori

Mune tsuki; shomen uchi

Katate dori; yokomen uchi

Kata dori men uchi

Ushiro ryo te dori (2); ushiro eri dori

Irimi nage

Shomen uchi

Katate dori; ryo te dori (3); mune tsuki

Morote dori; kata dori men uchi (3); yokomen uchi (2)

Ushiro ryo te dori; shomen uchi (4)

San kyo

Shomen uchi

Yokomen uchi

Ushiro ryo kata dori

Yon kyo

Shomen uchi

Yokomen uchi

Ushiro ryo te dori

Koshi nage

Katate dori; ryo te dori

Morote dori (5); kata dori men uchi

Ushiro ryo te dori; ushiro te kubi shime dori; shomen uchi; yokomen uchi; mune tsuki

Kokyuu nage

Katate dori (5); ryo te dori (5); morote dori (5)

Shomen uchi; yokomen uchi; mune tsuki

Ryo kata dori; ushiro kata dori; ushiro eri dori; ushiro te kubi shime dori

Suwari waza / Hanmi hantachi

Kokyuu dosa

SW: shomen uchi ikkyo-yonkyo

SW: yokomen uchi ikkyo-gokyo

Kokyuu dosa henka (4)

HH: shiho nage from katate dori; ryo te dori

HH: irimi nage, kote gaeshi, kaiten nage from shomen uchi and mune tsuki

HH: ushiro ryo kata dori (5)

Other taijutsu

Push-up:10; sit-up:10; horse stance:15”

Tai no henko

Two-step, Aiki walk, shikko

Basic strikes

Push-up:20; sit-up:15; horse stance:20”

Awase with basic strikes

Tenchi nage ryote dori

Blend with one uke pushing

Kaiten nage katate dori (2)

Blend with 2 uke pushing

Kaiten nage shomen uchi; mune tsuki; yokomen uchi

Kokyuu ho ryo kata dori

Gokyo yokomen uchi

Jyu waza with one uke

Ju ji nage: ushiro ryo te dori; ushiro te kubi shime dori

Randori: 2 uke

Buki waza

Ken suburi

Happo giri

Jo suburi

Tanto dori; 13 jo kata;31 jo kata

Tachi dori; jo dori; jo nage; ken awase; 31-jo kumijo
BEHAVIORAL

Remember Dojo Code

Apply Dojo Etiquette

Humility & openness

Perseverance in training

Help with Dojo tasks

Coach lower kyuu for tests

DAN (Black Belt)

1D

2D

3D

4D

ATTENDANCE

Training days

200 days/1 year

360 days/2 years

540 days/3 years

720 days/4 years

Regularity

Recent 6 months

Recent 12 months

Recent 12 months

Recent 12 months

Seminar

2 Dojo in past 12 months

1 Core Course in past 24 months

2 Dojo in past 12 months

1 Core Course in past 24 months

2 Dojo +1 outside in past 12 months

1 Core Course in past 24 months

2 Dojo +1 outside in past 12 months

1 Core Course in past 24 months

TECHNICAL

Ukemi

80 rolls

Tobukemi in buki waza

Teaching proficiency

Teaching proficiency

Taijutsu

Proficiency in all basic techniques (kihon waza) with emphasis on correct forms.

Henka waza: kokyuu ho morote dori (5); kokyuu dosa (5); nikyo, shiho nage, kote gaeshi, irimi nage

San kyo shomen uchi (7)

Randori: 3 uke

Proficiency in all basic techniques (kihon waza) with emphasis on kokyuu

Ni nin gake

Kaeshi waza (3 each): ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, shiho nage, kote gaeshi, irimi nage.

 Randori: 3 uke

Proficiency in all basic techniques (kiho waza) with emphasis on ki no nagare

San nin gake

Show and explain the components of basic techniques Ran dori: han mi hantachi 3 uke

Understand Takemusu Aiki

Understand and show principles underlying Aiki techniques

Teaching proficiency in all basic techniques

Buki waza

31 jo kumi jo; 13 jo kumi jo

Kumi jo; kumi tachi

Kumi tachi henka; ken tai jo & henka

Teaching proficiency

BEHAVIORAL

Conduct becoming of a sempai: coach beginners; guide all kyu ranks

Self-motivated training: do own training outside of class time

Help teach classes and lead Dojo projects

Coach shodan

Teach regular classes and responsible for major Dojo activities

Coach ni dan

Train uchi deshi

OTHER

15 years old

Essay showing an understanding of Aikido techniques or about personal involvement in Aikido (500-700 words)

Essay showing an understanding of Aikido principles and their applications (700-1000 words)

2 weeks uchi deshi in Iwama

Essay exploring in depth any particular aspect of Aikido (700-1000 words)

 


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