Grading

Yellow Belt (5th Kyu)

+ 20 hours training 

1. The first five techniques from Randori-no-kata

   1. 1. Shomen-ate

      2. Ai-gamae-ate

      3. Gyakugamae-ate

      4. Gedan-ate

      5. Ushiro-ate

2. Unsoku

3. Unsoku against a Shomen attack

4. Tandoku-undo, techniques 1 to 3

5. Gohon-no-kuzushi, the 5 balance breakers

6. Kakari-geiko, freestyle practice with no resistance using techniques from the Ju-nana-hon-kata

7. Ukemi to the rear and rolling

8. An introduction to the five basic handblade movements

   1. 1. Inside sweep

      2. Outside sweep

      3. Inside turn

      4. Outside turn

      5. Large circle

Students may be asked to demonstrate all techniques on both the left and the right

Orange Belt (4th Kyu)

+ 30 hours training 

1. Techniques 6 to 10 from the Randori-no-kata

   1. 1. Oshi-taoshi

      2. Ude-gaeshi

      3. Hiki-taoshi

      4. Ude-garame

      5. Waki-gatame

2. Tandoku-undo, parts 1 to 5

3. Modified Unsoku against a tanto attack

4. Karai-geiko, freestyle practice with no resistance, with or without tanto

5. Improved Ukemi

6. Improved Unsoku

7. Shiko knee walking and an introduction to kneeling techniques

8. Basic handblade movements and their relationship to the Tandoku-undo

9. Introduction to Ninan-Dori

Students may be asked to demonstrate all techniques on both the left and the right

Students may be asked to perform any techniques from previous belt grading

Green Belt (3rd Kyu)

+ 40 hours training 

1. Techniques 11 to 17 from the Randori-no-kata

   1. 1. Kote-hineri

      2. Kote-gaeshi

      3. Tenkai-kote-hineri

      4. Shiho-nage

      5. Mae-otoshi

      6. Sumi-otoshi

      7. Hiki-otoshi

2. Shichi-no-hon

3. Ninin-dori

4. Ju-nan-hon-no-ura-waza, the first five techniques

   1. 1. Shomen-ate countered by Waki-gatame

      2. Ai-gamae-ate countered by Kote-mawashi

      3. Gyakugamae-ate countered by Geden-ate

      4. Gedan-ate countered by Ai-gamae-ate

      5. Ushiro-ate countered by Tenkai-kote-hineri

5. Kakari-geiko, freestyle practice with no resistance

6. Hiki-Take-Geiko, freestyle practice with or without a tanto

7. Improved Ukemi and Kote Gaeshi breakfalls

Students may be asked to demonstrate all techniques on both the left and the right

Students may be asked to perform any techniques from previous belts grading

Blue Belt (2nd Kyu)

+ 50 hours training 

1. Techniques 1 to 17 from the Randori-no-kata

   1. Shomen-ate

   2. Ai-gamae-ate

   3. Gyakugamae-ate

   4. Gedan-ate

   5. Ushiro-ate

   6. Oshi-taoshi

   7. Ude-gaeshi

   8. Hiki-taoshi

   9. Ude-garame

   10. Waki-gatame

   11. Kote-hineri

   12. Kote-gaeshi

   13. Tenkai-kote-hineri

   14. Shiho-nage/Tenkai-kote-gaeshi

   15. Mae-otoshi

   16. Sumi-otoshi

   17. Hiki-otoshi

2. Shichi-no-hon-Ura-waza

3. Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza, the counters

   1. Shomen-ate countered by Waki-gatame

   2. Ai-gamae-ate countered by Kote-mawashi

   3. Gyakugamae-ate countered by Gedan-ate

   4. Gedan-ate countered by Aigamae-ate

   5. Ushiro-ate countered by Tenkai-hote-hineri

   6. Oshi-taoshi countered by Kote-mawashi

   7. Hiki-taoshi countered by Tenkai-kote-hineri

   8. Kote-gaeshi countered by Kote-gaeshi

   9. Tenkai-hote-hineri countered by Waki-gatame

   10. Shiho-nage countered by Shiho-nage/Tenkai-kote-gaeshi 

4. Tanto-Ju-Nana-Hon

5. Tanto-Kakari-Geiko, with or without tanto (two rounds)

6. Two rounds of Hiki-Tate-Geiko, with or without tanto

7. Ninin-Dori

8. Ukemi to a high standard

9. Unsoku and Tandoku-undo to a high standard (leading the class)

Brown Belt (1st Kyu)

+ 100 hours training 

1. Techniques 1 to 17 from the Randori-no-kata

2. Shichi-no-hon-ura-waza

3. Randori-no-kate-no-ura-waza, counters 1 to 10

4. An introduction to Randori either Tanto, Kyogi

5. All of the previous syllabus

6. An introduction to the elements of Dai-san

Black Belt (1st Dan or Shodan)

A minimum of 1 year as a 1st kyu

A minimum of 150 hours training as a 1st kyu

1. Techniques 1 to 17 from the Randori-no-kata

2. Techniques 1 to 10 from the Randori-no-kata ura-waza, the 10 counters

3. The Koryu Dai-San, kneeling, standing and with a tanto (Goshin Kata)

4. The Koryu Dai-ichi, Suwari-waza section

5. 5 Ura-waza to tanto-ju-nana-hon

6. Kakari geiko using the basic 17 with no resistance, with or without tanto

7. Hiki Tate geiko using any of the basic 17 techniques with light resistance, with or without tanto

8. A demonstration of an understanding of freeplay (Randori)

9. Ninin dori

10. All of the previous syllabus

11. Give an explanation of their philosophy / understanding of Aikido and indicate the benefits and detriments of competition

Black Belt (2nd Dan or Nidan)

A minimum of 18 months as a 1st Dan

Must show regular attendance of a minimum of 100 training sessions as a 1st Dan

1. Demonstrate Tandoku-undo to a high standard with hand blades

2. Five sections of Koryu-dai-San (Suwari waza, Tachi waza, Tanto waza, Boken and Jo techniques)

3. Tachi waza of Koryu-dan-Yon (Last 12 techniques of kata)

4. Suwari waza of Koryu dai-Ichi (5 kneeling techniques)

5. Demonstrate Ukemi to a high standard

6. 2 sessions of Ninin-dori. Multiple attack. (Demonstrating the 5 elements of avoidance, balance breaking, maintaining distance, tactical awareness and good finish)

7. All of the previous syllabus