Kyu Examinations
Aikido Assocation of Northern California (Revised February 1990)Examinations are generally held quarterly, during the first week of March, June, September and December. Trainees who wish to be examined should submit an Application for Kyu Examination card a minimum of three days prior to a scheduled exam. Cards are generally kept with the attendance roster. Be sure you have the required number of practice days before applying for an examination.
| Kyu Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | English | Belt | Required Training Days |
| Rokyu | 6th Kyu | white | none |
| Gokyu | 5th Kyu | white | 50 |
| Yonkyu | 4th Kyu | blue | 60 |
| Sankyu | 3rd Kyu | blue | 80 |
| Nikyu | 2nd Kyu | brown | 100 |
| Ikkyu | 1st Kyu | brown | 150 |
Examinees should:
- Select a partner/trainer in advance to help you prepare. As a general rule, this partner/trainer should be a rank or two above your own.
- Listen to your partner/trainer...they have the experience and the responsibility to help get you ready. That responsibility includes being honest with you - and telling you if they feel you are not quite ready to test this time.
- Be prepared to demonstrate clearly each technique required.
- Continue doing the same technique, left and right, omote and ura, until the examiner asks for the next technique.
- Expect examiners to change uke's during the examination.
- Be prepared to demonstrate ukemi at a level appropriate for the rank tested for.
- Expect to be re-tested within a few days to insure that corrections made by examiners have been understood.
The instructor-staff will consider each applicant according to the following criteria:
Personal
- Attitude - humility, courtesy, respect
- Spirit - aliveness, vitality, willingness to push self to the edge
- Interaction - appropriateness in training with others
- Knowledge - knowing how the technique works (form and principle)
- Proficiency - showing how the technique works
- Stamina - endurance, conditioning
- Ukemi - falling skills advancing at same level as throwing skills
Dan Examinations
| Dan Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | English | Required Training | |
| Days | Years | ||
| Shodan | 1st Degree | 200 | 1 |
| Nidan | 2nd Degree | 400 | 2 |
| Sandan | 3rd Degree | 600 | 3 |
The actual number of training days is usually greater than the mininum. At Aikido West the number of days averages 286 for Shodan; 537 for Nidan; and 740 for Sandan.
Degrees of yondan (4th degree) and above are awarded by recommendation only. In order of increasing rank they are:
- Yondan
- Godan
- Rokudan
- Shichidan
- Hachidan
- Kudan
- Judan