Testing is a way for the sensei to gauge a student’s progress through various levels of competency.
During testing, there are no marks, points or scores awarded. Notes are taken, but these notes are only for the instructor to discuss with you areas for improvement.
It is only when the instructor feels you are ready, and you have achieved a certain level of proficiency in ki training and the waza, that you will be asked to test. Note, that it is not appropriate to ask to be tested – your instructor will watch your progress and will invite you to test when he feels you are ready.
The reason you take the exam is to show, that you can perform with confidence and mind and body coordinated in front of your fellow students and instructors. Testing will expose your weaknesses and will help you understand where you need to focus in future training.
Some students do not want to test, preferring to only to train. Yes, training is essential for growth in Aikido but testing is a way for both the student and the sensei to gauge the student’s progress through various levels of competency.
Testing is carefully structured to ensure steady progress. Passing the test for a certain rank does not signify that you are proficient at that level. It merely means that you have only just begun to train at that level – that you are essentially a beginner at that level. It is only through additional training, while you hold that rank, that you are actually expected to achieve greater levels of proficiency at a particular rank.
During practice and testing you will become familiar with the terms, Kotai, Juntai and Ryutai. Techniques are taught in a progressive manner starting with static, Kotai, then moving, Juntai, and flowing, Ryutai.
KOTAI is done from a static start, it is designed for the beginner to focus on technical points to begin to get the feeling of a technique.
JUNTAI is technique performed by combining the technical points learned in Kotai into a flowing movement with focus on the body.
RYUTAI is a further development of Juntai with a flowing movement with focus on your partners Ki, maintaining an overall feeling of flowing movement.
KYU RANK & TEST REQUIREMENTS
7th Kyu: White belt. Kotai level
1. Yuishinkai Aikido Kata. Count with students.
2. Katate Kosadori Kokyunage
3. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
6th Kyu: White belt – 10 classes. Kotai level
1. Yuishinkai Aikido Kata with counting. Performed with group.
2. Katate Kosadori Kokyunage
3. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
5th Kyu: Blue belt – 25 classes. Kotai and Juntai level.
1. Yuishinkai Aikido Kata. Count with students.
2. Katatekosadori Kokyunage
3. Katatedori Tenkan kokyunage
4. Shomenuchi Iriminage
5. Yokomenuchi Shihonage, Omote and Ura
6. Munetsuki Kotegaeshi, Katameru
7. Katadori Ikkyo, Omote and Ura, Katameru
8. Kokyu dosa
4 Kyu: Purple belt – 30 classes. Kotai and Juntai
1.Yuishinkai Aikido Kata. Count with students.
2. Katate kosadori Kokyunage
3. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
4. Shomenuchi Iriminage
5. Yokomenuchi Shihonage, Omote and Ura
6. Katatedori Shihonage, Omote and Ura
7. Munetsuki Kotegaeshi, Katameru
8. Katadori Ikkyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
9. Katadori Nikyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
10. Ushirodori Kokyunage Zenpounage
11. Kokyu dosa
3rd Kyu: Purple belt – 35 classes. Ryutai level
1. Yuishinkai Aikido Kata. Count with students.
2. Katate Kosadori Kokyunage
3. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
4. Shomenuchi Iriminage
5. Shomenuchi Kotegaeshi, Katameru
6. Yokomenuchi Shihonage, Omote and Ura
7. Yokomenuchi Kokyunage Makikomi
8. Katadori Ikkyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
9. Katadori Nikkyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
10. Katadori Sankyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
11. Katadori Yonkyo, Omote and Ura Katameru
12. Kokyu Dosa
2nd Kyu: Brown Belt – 45 classes. Ryutai level
1. Yuishinkai Aikido Kata. Count leading class.
2. Katate Kosadori Kokyunge
3. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
4. Shomenuchi Iriminage
5. Shomenuchi Kotegaeshi
6. Yokomenuchi Shihonage, Omote and Ura
7. Yokomenuchi Kotegaeshi
8. Katadori Ikkyo, Omote and Ura
9. Katadori Nikkyo, Omote and Ura
10. Katadori Sankyo, Omote and Ura
11. Katadori Yonkyo, Omote and Ura
12. Ushirodori Kokyunage Zenponage
13. Ushiro Ryotekubidori Zenponage
14. Ushiro Ryotekubidori Ikkyo, Katameru
15. Kokyu dosa
1st Kyu: Brown Belt and Hakama – 70 classes. Ryutai level
1. Yuishinkai aikido Kata. Count leading class.
2. Katate Kosadori, 5 arts
3. Katatedori, 5 arts
4. Katatedori Ryotemochi, 5 arts
5. Shomenuchi, 5 arts
6. Yokomenuchi, 5 arts
7. Tsuki, 5 arts
8. Ushirodori , Ushirotekubidori, 5 arts
9. Ryotedori, 5 arts
10. Zagi Handachi, 5 arts
11. Zagi, 5 arts
DAN RANKS
Shodan – 1 year training. 100 classes.
1. Sword of Nine Ways – Bokken Kata 1
2. Free Wielding Sword – Bokken Kata 2
3. Shooting Star – Jo Kata 1
4. Butterfly – Jo Kata 2
5. Bokken dori, 5 arts
6. Tanto dori, 5 arts
7. Jo dori, 5 arts
8. Jo nage, 5 arts
9. Shomenuchi – 20 times – any quantity repeat
10. Yokomenuchi – 20 times – any quantity repeat
11. Munetsuki – 20 times – any quantity repeat
12. Sanningake – 3 person attack – 60 seconds
Nidan – 2 years training. 250 classes.
1. Sword of Nine Ways – Bokken Kata 1
2. Free Wielding Sword – Bokken Kata 2
3. Shooting Star – Jo Kata 1
4. Butterfly – Jo Kata 2
5. Bokken dori, 6 arts
6. Tanto dori, 6 arts
7. Jo dori, 6 arts
8. Jo nage, 6 arts
9. Shomenuchi – 30 times – any quantity repeat
10. Yokomenuchi – 30 times – any quantity repeat
11. Munetsuki – 30 times – any quantity repeat
12. Yoningake – 4 person attack – 60 seconds
Sandan – 3 years training. 350 classes.
1. Sword of Nine Ways – Bokken Kata 1
2. Free Wielding Sword – Bokken Kata 2
3. Shooting Star – Jo Kata 1
4. Butterfly – Jo Kata 2
5. Bokken dori, 7 arts
6. Tanto dori, 7 arts
7. Jo dori, 7 arts
8. Jo nage, 7 arts
9. Shomenuchi – 100 times – any quantity repeat
10. Yokomenuchi – 100 times – any quantity repeat
11. Munetsuki – 100 times – any quantity repeat
12. Goningake – 5 person attack – 60 seconds
