Aikido Testing Requirements
with Technique Video Clips
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The examination system in Aikido is not structured on competition. Your progression will be graded on the following criteria:
- Your understanding of basic Aikido technique appropriate to your level
- Your spontaneous movement and response appropriate for the attack
- Your ability to blend and adapt your movement to the force of the attack
- The concentration and awareness you maintain throughout the examination
- Continuity and fluidity of movement (not necessarily speed)
- Confidence and courage are important (not ego)
Be prepared to act as uke for someone else of your same level during the examination period. You will also be graded on your ukemi, particularly in your ability “to follow” techniques as uke.
A technique should be demonstrated continuously both left and right sides until there is a signal from the examiner(s) to stop. Both entering (OMOTE) and pivoting (URA) movements should be used whenever applicable. You will be expected to know and respond to the Japanese terms during examination.
It is also necessary to have completed the requisite number of hours of training and it is necessary that sufficient time has passed since the previous examination. Be sure to accurately record your hours of training in the dojo student log.
Testing Fees for ranks under black belt are $50.00 each.
Black belt testing fee (sho-dan) is $100.00.
Testing Fees:
There are an infinite number of techniques in the art of Aikido. It would be impossible to list them all.The following represents the minimum testing criteria for each Aikido rank at Castle Rock AIKIDO. Each rank is cumulative. Students must be able to execute all techniques for the rank being tested for plus all techniques from the preceding ranks.
6th Kyu (Rokkyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum 30 hours of practice
Tai no Henka Irimi (Tachi)
Tai no Henka Tenkan (Tachi)
Mae Kaiten Ukemi (Front Roll)
Ushiro Kaiten Ukemi (Back Roll)
Shomen-uchi Ikkyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Shomen Uchi Irimi Nage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Tsuki Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ryotedori Kokyuho (Seated and/or Standing) *
* This same technique is also known as Kokyu-doza and Zagi-Kokyu-ho 5th Kyu (Go-kyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum of 48 hours of practice since last exam
Shomen-uchi Nikyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katadori Nikyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katatedori Nikyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Kosadori Nikyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Kosadori Hijinage (a.k.a. Kosadori Tenbinage) (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Yokomen-uchi Shihonage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Yokomen-uchi Iriminage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ryotedori Tenchinage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
4th Kyu (Yon-kyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum of 48 hours of practice since last exam
Shomen-uchi Ikkyo (Omote & Ura), Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katadori Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Yokomen-uchi Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Yokomen-uchi Gokyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ryotedori Shihonage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Shomen-uchi Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Yokomen-uchi Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Tsuki Kaitenage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Tsuki Iriminage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ushiro Tekubitori Iriminage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ushiro Tekubitori Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
3rd Kyu (San-kyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum of 48 days of practice since last exam
Kosadori Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ushiro Tekubitori Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Suwari & Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ushiro Kubishime Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katatedori Shihonage (Tachi & Hanmi-Handachi, Omote & Ura)
Katatedori Iriminage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katatedori Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Katatedori Kaitennage (Tachi, Soto & Uchi)
Katatedori Jiyuwaza (Tachi)
2nd Kyu (Ni-kyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum of 48 days of practice since last exam
Morotedori Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Morotedori Iriminage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Morotedori Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Morotedori Kaitenage (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Tsuki Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ushiro Ryotedori Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Shomen-uchi Gokyo with Tanto (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Ryotedori Shihonage (Hanmi-Handachi)
Shomen-uchi Koshinage (Tachi)
Yokomen-uchi Koshinage (Tachi)
Katatedori Koshinage (Tachi)
Tsuki Koshinage (Tachi)
Ryotedori Jiyuwaza
Morotedori Jiyuwaza
1st Kyu (Ikkyu) Watch Video Clips
Minimum of 72 hours of practice since last exam
All of the Above Techniques
Tantodori (Shomen-uchi, Yokomen-uchi, Tsuki-)
Randori (Freestyle, two opponents)
Sho-Dan (1st Black Belt)
Min. 120 hours and no less than one year since last exam
All of the Above Techniques
Bokken Happogiri (8 Step Sword Cutting Form)
Niju-ni No Jo Kata (22 Step Staff Form)
Weapon Take-aways (Bokken, Jo, & Tanto)
Randori (Freestyle, 3-4 opponents)
More Techniques with Video
Shomen-uchi Kotegaeshi (Tachi, Omote & Ura)
Call (720) 221-3665
Castle Rock AIKIDO
What does an AIKIDO test look like?
The video below is a good example of a middle rank Aikido test.
Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Exclusively for Adults
