Aikido of Morgantown
AWA Adults Kyu and Dan Test Requirements


7th KYU – White Belt with Stripe
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 2 months and 20 hours of training
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Seiza - Sitting Japanese style with legs folded underneath
  • Shizentai - Natural stance with feet shoulder-width
  • Orenaite - Unbendable arm, tested while in hanmi stance
  • Koho Tento Undo - Rolling backward and forward from sitting, kneeling and standing positions
  • Ushiro Ukemi, Rolling - Tumbling backward completely, from kneeling and standing positions
  • Mae Ukemi, Rolling - Tumbling forward completely, from kneeling and standing positions
  • Kokyudosa - Partner practice in seiza position; exercise to develop timing or “breath” power
    Technique
  • Katatekosatori Kotegaeshi - Cross-hand wrist grab/ ”Wrist-turning” throw, pin
  • Katatori Ikkyo - Lapel grab/ “First teaching” and pin
  • Katatekosatori Kokyunage - Cross-hand wrist grab/ “Timing throw;” controlling the head


6th KYU – Yellow Belt
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 3 months and 30 hours of training after earning 7th Kyu
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Ushiro Ukemi, Breakfall - Rolling backward with slap, and returning to standing position
  • Mae Ukemi, Breakfall - Falling forward with slap, and returning to standing position
  • Empty Hand Strikes - Shomenuchi, Yokomenuchi, and Munetsuki; demonstration of basic strikes
  • Funakogi Undo - “Rowing exercise”
  • Shomenuchi Ikkyo Undo - Raising and lowering the arms as if cutting with a sword
  • Renzoku Kokyudosa - Kokyudosa practiced continuously, one side to another without pause
    Technique
  • Shomenuchi Kokyunage - Downward strike to the head/ “Timing throw;” controlling the head
  • Katatetori Shihonage - Same side wrist grab/ “Four directions throw”
  • Shomenuchi Iriminage - Downward strike to the head/ “Entering throw”
  • Katatori Nikyo - Lapel grab/ “Second teaching” and pin


5th KYU – Yellow Belt with Stripe
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 4 months and 40 hours of training after earning 6th Kyu.
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Hanmi No Kamae - “Half-body stance”
  • Banzai no Kamae - Stance with feet shoulder-width and both arms raised
  • Zengo Undo - Raising and lowering arms as if cutting with a sword, with 180 degree pivoting motion
  • Happo Undo - Raising and lowering arms with movement as if cutting in eight directions
  • Tekubikosa Undo - “Crossing the wrists exercise;” high and low variations required
  • Kamae with Bokken - Demonstration of five basic sword stances
  • Bokken and Jo Suburi - Demonstration of basic strikes with sword and staff
    Technique
  • Shomenuchi Kotegaeshi - Downward strike to the head/ “Wrist turning” throw and pin
  • Shomenuchi Ikkyo - Downward strike to the head/ “First teaching” and pin
  • Katatetori Sankyo - Same side wrist grab/ “Third teaching;” both nage waza (throwing) and katame waza (pinning) variations required
  • Yokomenuchi Sokumen Iriminage - Strike to the side of the head/ “Side of the face, Entering throw” (technique performed in the manner of Sayu Undo)
  • Munetsuki Kotegaeshi - Thrusting strike to the chest / “Wrist turning” throw and pin
  • Katatetori Kaitenage - Same side wrist grab/ “Rotary throw”. Tenkan variation required


4th KYU – Blue Belt
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 5 months and 50 hours of training since earning 5th Kyu
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Ushirosori - Bending backwards while in hanmi stance
  • Maekagami - Stooping forward while in hanmi stance
  • Sayu Undo - “Left and right exercise;” extending arms to the left and right and sinking the hips
  • Sayu Choyaku Undo - “Left and right exercise;” with stepping movement
  • Udefuri Undo - “Swinging the arms exercise” to left and right
  • Udefuri Choyaku Undo - “Swinging the arms exercise” with stepping and turning motion
  • Ushirotori Undo - “Grasped from behind exercise”
  • Ushirotekubitori Undo - “Wrists grasped from behind exercise”
  • Shikko - Walking and turning on one’s knees Taisabaki Toshu - “Empty-hand body movement” against Katatetori, Shomenuchi, Yokomenuchi and Munetsuki attacks.
    Technique
  • Yokomenuchi Shihonage - Strike to the side of the head/ “Four directions throw”
  • Ushirotekubitori Kokyunage - Wrists grasped from behind/ “Timing throw;” variation in the manner of Ushirotekubitori Undo required
  • Ushirotekubitori Kotegaeshi - Wrists grasped from behind/ “Wrist turning” throw and pin
  • Katatori Yonkyo - Lapel grab/ “Fourth teaching” and pin
  • Ryotetori Tenchinage - Grasping both wrists/ “Heaven and Earth throw”
  • Ryotetori Kokyunage - Grasping both wrists/ “Timing throw;” pivot throw variations required


3rd KYU – Blue Belt with Stripe
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 6 months and 60 hours of training since earning 4th Kyu
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Yoko Ukemi - “Side fall” exercise, from squatting and standing position, from tumbling forward, and while hand is grasped by a partner
  • Tenkan Undo - “Spinning change exercise;” turning body movement (direct pivot and step-with-pivot variations required)
    Technique
  • Ushirohijitori Kotegaeshi - Grasping elbows from behind/ “Wrist-turning” throw and pin
  • Munetsuki Kokyunage - Thrusting strike to the chest / “Timing throw;” pivot-throw variation required
  • Katatori Gokyo - Lapel grab/ “Fifth teaching” and pin
  • Ushirotori Kokyunage - Grasping from behind (bearhug)/ “Timing throw;” executed in the manner of Ushirotori Undo
  • Ryotetori Kaitenage - Grasping both wrists/ “Rotary throw”
  • Katateryotetori Nikyo - Grasping a forearm with both hands/ “Second teaching” and pin
  • Suwariwaza (the following techniques performed from seated (seiza) position):
    • Shomenuchi Kokyunage
    • Shomenuchi Ikkyo
    • Katatori Nikyo
  • Bokken Kata I - First sword form; 13 movements (“Happo Giri;” cutting in eight directions)
  • Jiyu Waza - “Free technique;” defense against any grasping attack


2nd KYU – Brown Belt
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 7 months and 70 hours of training since earning 3rd Kyu
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Agura no Shisei - Sitting cross legged
  • Kata Ashiage - Raising one leg, hand extended in front
  • Agaranai Karada - Unliftable body
  • Questions - Verbal examination will be administered by test committee on the following topics:
    • Four Basic Principles of Aikido
    • What is Aikido?
  • Meisoho – Questions regarding meditation training
  • Kokyuho - Demonstration of and questions on breathing training
    Technique
  • Ryokatatori Kokyunage - Grasping both lapels/ “Timing throw;” pivot-throw variations required
  • Ushirokatatori Kokyunage - Grasping both shoulders from behind/ “Timing throw;” variation with bowing movement required
  • Katateryotetori Kokyunage - Grasping a forearm with both hands/ “Timing throw”
  • Ryokatatori Kotegaeshi - Grasping both lapels / “Wrist-turning” throw, pin
  • Katatori Menuchi Iriminage - Lapel grab with shomenuchi or yokomenuchi to head/ “Entering throw”
  • Hanmi Hantachi Waza (the following techniques performed from a seated (seiza) position against a standing attacker:
    • Katatetori Shihonage
    • Katatetori Sankyo
    • Munetsuki Kotegaeshi
  • Ryotetori Koshinage - Grasping both wrists/ “Hip throw”
  • Maegeri Kokyunage - Front snapping kick/ “Timing throw”
  • Jiyu Waza - “Free technique;” defense against any attack
  • Jo Kata I - First staff form; 22 movements


1st KYU – Brown Belt with Stripe
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 8 months and 80 hours of training since earning 2nd Kyu
  • Prior attendance at 1 AWA Seminar since earning 2nd Kyu
    Ki Tests and Exercises
  • Tai Sabaki with Bokken - Body movement and striking with the sword against an opponent, against shomenuchi, yokomenuchi/ gyaku-yokomenuchi, sliding munetsuki, and stepping munetsuki attacks
    Technique
  • Ushirotekubitori Jujinage - Grasp both wrists from behind/ Entwining the arms in the shape of the Japanese number “10” (a cross) and throwing
  • Yokomenuchi Sudori - Strike to the side of the head/ “Disappearing” throw
  • Katateryotetori Kotegaeshi - Grasping a forearm with both hands/ “Wrist turning” throw and pin
  • Munetsuki Sumiotoshi - Thrusting attack to the chest/ “Corner drop” throw
  • Katatori Ganmenuchi Ikkyo - Lapel grab with straight punch to face/ “First teaching” and pin
  • Tantodori - Defense against knife attacks; at least three techniques each against shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, and munetsuki attacks required
  • Bokken Kata II - Second sword form; 13 movements
  • Randori - “Seizing chaos;” defense against multiple attackers (3)


Shodan – Black Belt, 1st Degree
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 10 months and 100 hours of training since earning 1st Kyu
  • Attendance at 1 AWA Seminar since earning 1st Kyu
    Two written essays required:
  • “What is Aikido?”
  • “What is Shugyo?”
    Technique
  • Munetsuki - Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Yokomenuchi - Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Ushirotekubitori - Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Ryotetori - Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Hanmi Hantachi - Free technique
  • Bokken Dori - “Seizing the wooden sword:” unarmed defense against sword attack; minimum 3 techniques each against shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, and munetsuki attacks required
  • Jo Kata II - Second staff form; 22 movements
  • Randori - Defense against multiple attackers (4)


Nidan – Black Belt, 2nd Degree
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 24 months and 75 hours as Assistant Instructor since earning shodan
  • Attendance at 1 AWA Camp since earning Shodan
    One written essay required:
  • “Aikido History and Future”
    Technique
  • Katatori Ganmenuchi - Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Shomenuchi- Free demonstration; minimum five arts
  • Hanmi Hantachi - Free technique against two attackers
  • Jo Dori - “Seizing the staff:” unarmed defense against staff attack; minimum 3 techniques each against shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, and munetsuki attacks required
  • Randori - Defense against multiple attackers (5)


Sandan – Black Belt, 3rd Degree
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 36 months and 125 hours as Assistant Instructor since earning nidan
  • Valid instructor Certificate and
  • Attendance at 1 Camp and 1 Seminar since earning Nidan
    One written essay required:
  • “Aikido Philosophy”
    Technique
  • Jo Nage - “Throwing with the staff;” free demonstration
  • Kumijo - Staff versus staff forms (5)
  • Kumitachi - Sword versus sword forms (6)
  • Randori - Defense against multiple attackers (6)


Yondan – Black Belt, 4th Degree
    Time and Events Requirements
  • Minimum 48 months and 300 hours as Instructor
  • Valid Instructor Certificate and
  • Attendance at 1 Camp and 1 Seminar since earning Sandan
    One written essay required:
  • “Application of Aikido”
    Interview & Approval of Sato Sensei required
    Technique
  • Kihon Waza - “Basic technique:” five-minute free demonstration
  • Henka Waza - “Changing technique:” five-minute free demonstration
  • Oyo Waza - “Applied or advanced technique:” five-minute free demonstration
  • Instructional Methodology - Free demonstration of how to instruct Kihon Waza and Oyo Waza


IMPORTANT NOTES
  • These requirements are a minimum standard for the purposes of promotion testing; this is not a comprehensive listing of all the applications of technique with which you must be familiar.
  • Many techniques have omote (front) and ura (rear) variations, which you must demonstrate.
  • Many techniques have applications against both static and dynamic attacks, which you must know.
  • In certain cases a particular variation of a technique is required and is noted above; you are encouraged, however, to demonstrate additional variations.
  • All tests are cumulative; you must be prepared to demonstrate exercises and techniques from all ranks prior to the one for which you are actually testing.
  • Requirements of attendance at Aikido Seminar, Camps and AWA events.
  • All test candidates must complete the following prior to testing:
    • Examination application form must be completed legibly and submitted to your instructor
    • Examination fee must be paid
  • No application for promotion testing will be accepted by the test committee without the knowledge and consent of the candidate’s instructor.