Exam Requirements – Kyu Grades
Important Information
- These are minimum requirements and the examination committee may request additional techniques or variations.
- Many of the above techniques have omote (front) and ura (back) versions. Both versions must be demonstrated.
- Many techniques have static and dynamic versions which must be known.
-
If you know more versions, even though they are not required, you may present them. However, the
kihon waza
versions are absolutely required.
- Exam requirements are cumulative (when advancing to the next grade, you must know material from previous grades).
- Exams are conducted by a Sensei with a minimum rank of 3 dan. Grades from 5 kyu are taken before a committee (at seminars and camps).
7 kyu – minimum 2 months including 20 hours of training
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Seiza
- sitting Japanese style with legs folded underneath
- Shizentai
- natural posture with feet shoulder-width apart
- Orenaite
- unbendable arm, tested in hanmi position
- Koho Tento Undo
- rolling forward and backward from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions
- Mae Ukemi
- rolling forward from kneeling and standing positions
- Ushiro Ukemi
- rolling backward from kneeling and standing positions
- Kokyudosa
- breathing exercise performed with a partner in seiza
Techniques
- Katatekosatori Kotegaeshi
- cross-hand wrist grab | wrist-turning throw | pin
- Katatori Ikkyo
- grab to lapel | "first teaching" | pin
- Katatekosatori Kokyunage
- cross-hand wrist grab | "timing throw" controlling the head
6 kyu – minimum 3 months including 30 hours of training since obtaining 7 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Mae Ukemi
- forward breakfall with slap, returning to standing position
- Ushiro Ukemi
- backward breakfall with slap, returning to standing position
- Renzoku Kokyudosa
- Kokyudosa exercise practiced continuously on both sides
- Funakogi Undo
- "rowing"
- Shomenuchi Ikkyo Undo
- raising and lowering arms as if cutting with a sword
- Shomenuchi, Yokomenuchi, Munetsuki
- demonstration of basic striking attacks
Techniques
- Katatetori Shihonage
- grab to wrist from same side | "four-direction throw"
- Katatori Nikyo
- grab to lapel | "second teaching" | pin
- Shomenuchi Kokyunage
- strike from above to head | "timing throw" controlling the head
- Shomenuchi Iriminage
- strike from above to head | throw through direct entry
5 kyu – minimum 3 months including 30 hours of training and participation in one seminar since obtaining 6 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Hanmi No Kamae
- half-body stance
- Banzai No Kamae
- stance with feet shoulder-width apart; both arms raised
- Zengo Undo
- Ikkyo Undo in two directions
- Happo Undo
- Ikkyo Undo in eight directions
- Tekubikosa Undo
- "crossing wrists" – both low and high forms required
- Kamae with Bokken
- demonstration of five basic sword stances
- Bokken and Jo Suburi
- demonstration of basic strikes with sword and staff
Techniques
- Shomenuchi Ikkyo
- strike from above to head | "first teaching" | pin
- Shomenuchi Kotegaeshi
- strike from above to head | throw with wrist twist | pin
- Yokomenuchi Sokumen Iriminage
- strike to side of head | "throw through side face entry" (via Sayu Undo)
- Katatetori Sankyo
- grab to wrist from same side | "third teaching" – both throw (nage waza) and pin (katame waza) versions required
- Katatetori Kaitenage
- grab to wrist from same side | "rotary throw" | tenkan variation required
- Munetsuki Kotegaeshi
- thrust to chest | throw with wrist twist | pin
4 kyu – minimum 3 months including 30 hours of training and participation in one seminar since obtaining 5 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Ushirosori
- bending backwards in hanmi stance
- Maekagami
- stooping forward in hanmi stance
- Sayu Undo
- shifting position left and right with hip movement
- Sayu Choyaku Undo
- Sayu Undo with stepping
- Udefuri Undo
- arm swinging left and right
- Udefuri Choyaku Undo
- Udefuri Undo during Irimi Tenkan
- Ushirotori Undo
- movement against rear grab
- Ushirotekubitori Undo
- movement against rear wrist grab
- Shikko
- knee walking (Japanese)
- Taisabaki Toshu
- "empty hand movements" against attacks: Katatetori, Shomenuchi, Yokomenuchi, Munetsuki
Techniques
- Yokomenuchi Shihonage
- strike from side to head | "four-direction throw"
- Ushirotekubitori Kokyunage
- rear wrist grab | "timing throw" – version via Ushirotekubitori Undo required
- Ushirotekubitori Kotegaeshi
- rear wrist grab | throw with wrist twist | pin
- Katatori Yonkyo
- grab to lapel | "fourth teaching" | pin
- Ryotetori Tenchinage
- front double wrist grab | "heaven–earth throw"
- Ryotetori Kokyunage
- front double wrist grab | "timing throw" – version with rotation required
3 kyu – minimum 6 months including 60 hours of training and participation in one seminar since obtaining 4 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Yoko Ukemi
- side fall from squatting and standing positions, from tumbling forward, and while the hand is grasped by a partner
- Tenkan Undo
- changing position through hip turn; stepping version also required
Techniques
- Ushirohijitori Kotegaeshi
- rear elbow grab | throw with wrist twist | pin
- Munetsuki Kokyunage
- thrust to chest | "timing throw" – several versions (version with turn required)
- Katatori Gokyo
- grab to lapel | "fifth teaching" | pin
- Ushirotori Kokyunage
- rear "bear" hug | "timing throw" – based on Ushirotori Undo
- Ryotetori Kaitenage
- both wrists grasped | "rotary throw"
- Katateryotetori Nikyo
- two-hand grab to wrist | "second teaching" | pin
- Suwariwaza
- following techniques performed in Seiza position:
-
- Shomenuchi Kokyunage
-
- Shomenuchi Ikkyo
-
- Katatori Nikyo
- Bokken Kata I
- first sword form ("Happo Giri" – eight-direction cut)
- Jiyu Waza
- "free techniques" against any grasping attack
2 kyu – minimum 6 months including 60 hours of training (including 30 as instructor assistant) and participation in one seminar since obtaining 3 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Agura no Shisei
- cross-legged sitting
- Kata Ashiage
- raising one leg with hand extended in front
- Agaranai Karada
- unliftable body
- Questions
- oral answers to the following questions:
-
- Four main principles of Aikido
-
- What is Aikido
- Meisoho
- Questions about meditation
- Kokyuho
- Demonstration and questions about breathing
Techniques
- Ryokatatori Kokyunage
- double lapel grab | "timing throw" – pivot-throw variations required
- Ushirokatatori Kokyunage
- both shoulders grasped from behind | "timing throw" – variation with bowing movement required
- Katateryotetori Kokyunage
- two-hand grab to wrist | "timing throw"
- Ryokatatori Kotegaeshi
- double lapel grab | throw with wrist twist | pin
- Katatori Menuchi Iriminage
- lapel grab with Shomenuchi or Yokomenuchi strike | "throw through entry"
- Hanmi Hantachi Waza
- following techniques performed in seiza against standing partner:
-
- Katatetori Shihonage
-
- Katatetori Sankyo
-
- Munetsuki Kotegaeshi
- Ryotetori Koshinage
- double wrist grab | "hip throw"
- Maegeri Kokyunage
- front kick | "timing throws"
- Jiyu Waza
- free techniques against any attack
- Jo Kata I
- first staff form (22 movements)
1 kyu – minimum 6 months including 60 hours of training (including 50 as instructor assistant) and participation in one seminar since obtaining 2 kyu
Ki Tests and Exercises
- Tai Sabaki with Bokken
- body movement and striking with the sword against shomenuchi, yokomenuchi/gyaku-yokomenuchi, sliding munetsuki, and stepping munetsuki attacks
Techniques
- Ushirotekubitori Jujinage
- rear wrist grab | throw through arm crossing
- Yokomenuchi Sudori
- strike to side of head | "vanishing throw"
- Katateryotetori Kotegaeshi
- two-hand grab to hand | throw with wrist twist | pin
- Munetsuki Sumiotoshi
- thrust to chest | "corner throw"
- Katatori Ganmenuchi Ikkyo
- lapel grab with face strike | "first teaching" | pin
- Tantodori
- defense against knife attack (minimum 3 techniques) against attacks: shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, munetsuki
- Bokken Kata II
- second sword form (13 movements)
- Randori
- defense against multiple attackers (3)