7 th KYU – White Belt with Stripe
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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 2 months and 20 hours of training

6 th KYU – Yellow Belt
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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 3 months and 30 hours of training after
    earning 7 th Kyu

5 th KYU – Yellow Belt with Stripe
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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 3 months and 30 hours of training after
    earning 6 th Kyu.

4 th KYU – Blue Belt
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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 3 months and 30 hours of training since
    earning 5th Kyu
    • Prior attendance at 1 AAA/AAI Seminar, AAA/AAI
    Teaching Committee Seminar or National Kangeiko in
    Palatine, IL

3rd KYU – Blue Belt with Stripe
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):
        o Shomenuchi Kokyunage
        o Shomenuchi Ikkyo
        o 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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 6 months and 60 hours of training since
    earning 4th Kyu
    • Prior attendance at 1 AAA/AAI Camp

2nd KYU – Brown Belt
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:
        o Four Basic Principles of Aikido
        o 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:
        o Katatetori Shihonage
        o Katatetori Sankyo
        o 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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 6 months and 60 hours of training since
    earning 3rd Kyu
    • Prior attendance at 1 Instructor’s Seminar

1st KYU – Brown Belt with Stripe
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)
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 6 months and 60 hours of training since
    earning 2 nd Kyu
    • Prior attendance at 1 AAA/AAI Seminar since earning 2nd
    Kyu

Shodan – Black Belt, 1st Degree
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)
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 10 months and 100 hours of training since
    earning 1st Kyu
    • Attendance at 1 Instructor’s Seminar since earning 1st
    Kyu

Nidan – Black Belt, 2nd Degree
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)
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 18 months and 50 hours as Assistant Instructor
    • Valid instructor Certificate and
    • Attendance at 1 AAA/AAI Camp since earning Shodan

Sandan – Black Belt, 3rd Degree
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)
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 33 months and 100 hours as Assistant
Instructor
    • Valid instructor Certificate and
• Attendance at 1 Camp since earning Nidan

Yondan – Black Belt, 4th Degree
Two written essay required:
    “Application of Aikido”
    “Instruction Methodology: Kihon to Oyo Waza”
    Recommendation of two Teaching Committee Members
    Interview & Approval of Executive Director 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
Time and Events Requirements
    • Minimum 45 months and 250 hours as Instructor
    • Valid Instructor Certificate and
    • Attendance at 1 Camp since earning Sandan

IMPORTANT NOTES
1. 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.
2. Many techniques have omote (front) and ura (rear) variations which you must demonstrate.
3. Many techniques have applications against both static and dynamic attacks, which you must know.
4. In certain cases a particular variation of a technique is required and is noted above; you are encouraged,
however, to demonstrate additional variations.
5. 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.
6. Requirements of attendance at Aikido Seminar, Camps, and Instructor Seminars are fulfilled only by AAA/AAI
events.
7. All test candidates must complete the following prior to testing:
    •  Dojo dues must be paid in full
    •  AAA or AAI annual dues must be paid up to date
    •  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.