Testing & Rank
Aikido has no tournaments. Ueshiba believed these promoted misconceptions of budo. However, there are ranks. These usually include six levels of kyu ranks, counted from six to one, then ten levels of dan ranks.
At CAC, kyu ranks are given after in-house testing before a senior instructor. Members may test after meeting ASU training requirements and receiving preparation from a senior member. After test results have been reported to ASU, a kyu certificate is issued.
Junior dan ranks are awarded based on testing before Shihan or other authorized instructors, usually at a weekend seminar. Higher dan ranks* are awarded by Shihan based on personal development and contributions to the art. All dan ranks are processed by Hombu Dojo in Japan, which issues certificates and a yudansha passport.
Aikido Ranks
Kyu (white belt)
Dan (black belt)
Requirements for Promotion
Any student testing for a kyu promotion must be an ASU member in good standing (However, unranked students are not required to join ASU until their first kyu test). Required training hours must be completed (one dayÅfs training only counts as one regardless of the number of actual hours) and it is necessary that the waiting period (number of months) between each examination has expired before testing.
Rokkyu
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6th Kyu (30 hours/3 months)
- Tenkan - “Conversion” Basic pivot and turning motion
- Shomen uchi ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a forward strike to the head
- Shomen uchi iriminage - “Entering throw” against a forward strike to the head
- Munetsuki kotegaeshi - “Return the Forearm” (wrist-twist throw) and pin against a chest punch
- Katate dori shihonage - “Four way throw” against a one hand grab
- Kokyu tanden ho - Seated “breath throw” against a two-hand grab
Gokyu
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5th Kyu (60 hours/4 months after receiving Rokkyu)
All previous techniques plus:
- Shomen uchi nikyo - “Second technique” (wrist twist) against a forward strike to the head
- Kata dori ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a one-shoulder grab
- Kata dori nikyo _ “Second technique” (wrist twist) against a one-shoulder grab
- Munetsuki kaitennage - “Rotating throw” against a chest punch
Yonkyu
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4th Kyu (60 hours/4 months after receiving Gokyu)
All previous techniques plus:
- Shomen uchi sankyo - “Third technique” (hand twist) against a forward strike to the head
- Shomen uchi yonkyo - “Fourth technique” (hand lock/forearm twist) against a forward strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a side strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi kotegaeshi - “Return the Forearm” (wrist-twist throw) and pin against a side strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi iriminage - “Entering throw” against a side strike to the head
- Ryote dori tenchinage - “Heaven and Earth throw” against a two hand grab
- Ryote dori shihonage - “Four way throw” against a two hand grab
- Katate dori ryote mochi kokyu tanden ho
Sankyu
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3rd Kyu (70 hours/4 months after receiving Yonkyu)
All previous techniques plus:
- Ushiro ryokata dori kkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a two shoulder grab from the rear
- Ushiro ryote dori shihonage - “Four way throw” against a two hand grab from the rear
- Ushiro kubi shime kotegaeshi - “Return the Forearm” (wrist-twist throw) and pin against a one hand grab and neck choke from the rear
- Ushiro waza kokyunage - “Breath throw” against rear attacks (hand and shoulder grabs)
Nikyu
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2nd Kyu (80 hours/6 months after receiving Sankyu)
All previous techniques plus:
- Yokomen uchi nikyo - “Second technique” (wrist twist) against a side strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi sankyo - “Third technique” (hand twist) against a side strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi yonkyo - “Fourth technique” (hand lock/forearm twist) against a side strike to the head
- Shomen uchi koshinage - “Hip throws” against a forward strike to the head
- Yokomen uchi koshinage - “Hip throws” against a side strike to the head
- Katate dori koshinage - “Hip throws” against a one hand grab
- Munetsuki koshinage - “Hip throws” against a chest punch
- Hanmi handachi: nage seated and uke standing
- Katate dori shihonage - “Four way throw” against a one hand grab
- Ryote dori shihonage - “Four way throw” against a two hand grab
- Suwariwaza: both uke and nage seated
- Shomen uchi ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a forward strike to the head
- Kata dori ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a one-shoulder grab
- Yokomen uchi ikkyo - “First technique” (wrist lock) against a side strike to the head
Ikkyu
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1st Kyu (90 hours/6 months after receiving Nikyu)
All previous techniques plus:
- Jiyu waza: Freestyle technique
- Tate - both uke and nage standing
- Hanmi handachi - nage seated and uke standing
- Suwariwaza - both uke and nage seated
- Tanto dori: Dagger takeaways and pins
- Munetsuki - against a thrust to the chest
- Shomen uchi - against a forward cut to the head
- Yokomen uchi - against a side cut to the head
Shodan
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1st Dan (120 hours and 9 months after receiving Ikkyu)
All basic techniques and previous requirements plus:
- Kumi tachi: Paired swordFirst five basic kata (forms)
- Tanto dori: Dagger takeaways and pinsOne technique with each
- Shomen uchi - against a forward cut to the head
- Yokomen uchi - against a side cut to the head
- Tsuki - against a thrust to the chest
- Two different techniques from ushiroattackes from behind
- Tachi dori: Sword takeaways and pinsA total of five different techniques.
Attacks will be - Shomen uchi - against a forward cut to the head
- Yokomen uchi - against a side cut to the head
- Tsuki - against a thrust to the chest
- Randori: Three people attacking.
Nidan
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2nd Dan (Minimum 2 years of consistent training after receiving shodan)
All basic techniques and previous requirements plus:
- Kumi tachi: Paired swordFirst twelve basic kata (forms)
- Kumi jo: Paired staffFirst six basic kata (forms)
- Randori: Three people attacking with shinai
Sandan
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3rd Dan (Minimum 3 years of consistent training after receiving Nidan)
All basic techniques performed to demonstrate the student's understanding of the principles of aiki, and all previous requirements.
Yondan
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4th Dan and above.
Only by recommendation at the discretion of Saotome Shihan or Ikeda Shihan.
