The Aikido Grading system is split between kyu (lower level) and Dan (higher black belt level) grades. There are 6 kyu grades, where students will wear corresponding belt colors to signify their grade. Starting at white, going through yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. Junior kyu grades normally have 'mons' (three for each belt) for each grade in the Aikido Grading system. This means a junior white belt could go through 3 mons (levels) and the same for yellow, orange etc through to brown. Dan level belts do not have any mons. The Kyu grading of Aikido is based on formal tests of attck and defense, whereby the student alternates position between 'uke' (receiver of the technique) and 'tori' (the performer of the technique).
Aikido Grading SyllabusAs determined by Aikido Organizations such as the BAA |
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| 6th Kyu | White Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
Application: |
Unsoku - Complete (3 Sections)
Ukemi - Side and Back breakfall 1. Shomen-ate 2. Ai-gamae-ate 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate 4. Gedan-ate 5. Ushiro-ate Performed on candidate's 'natural' side. i.e. candidate's choice of left or right. Kakarigeiko - Single attacker, Open-handed attack which must include Shomen-ate and Yokomen-uchi. |
Timescale:
More than 2 months from start date. Minimum of 20 hours practise. |
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| 5th Kyu | Yellow Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
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Tandoku-undo - Sections 1-3
Ukemi - Forward Roll Randori-no-kata (1-5and 6-10) 1. Shomen-ate 2. Ai-gamae-ate 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate 4. Gedan-ate 5. Ushiro-ate 6. Oshi-taoshi 7. Ude-gaeshi 8. Hiki-taoshi 9. Ude-garame / Ude-hineri 10. Waki-gatame Performed left or right, examiner's choice. Kakarigeiko - Single attacker with or without Tanto, to include Shomen and Yokomen (Aigamae and Gyakugamae) attacks.
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Timescale:
More than 2 months as 6th Kyu. Minimum of 20 hours practise as 6th Kyu. |
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| 4th Kyu | Orange Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
Application:
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Tandoku-undo - complete (Sections 1-5)
Ukemi - Kote-gaeshi, supported Shikko - Forward & Turning Suwari-waza - 2 techniques Randori-no-kata (1-5 + 6-10 + 11-14) 1. Shomen-ate 2. Ai-gamae-ate 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate 4. Gedan-ate 5. Ushiro-ate 6. Oshi-taoshi 7. Ude-gaeshi 8. Hiki-taoshi 9. Ude-garame / Ude-hineri 10. Waki-gatame 11. Kote-hineri 12. Kote-gaeshi 13. Tenkai-kote-hineri 14. Shiho-nage / Tenkai Kote Gaeshi Performed left or right, examiner's choice. Kakarigeiko - Grasp attacks, Aigamae and Gyakugamae. Tanto Kakarigeiko - Single attacker with Tanto. |
Timescale:
More than 4 months as 5th Kyu. Minimum of 40 hours practise as 5th Kyu. |
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| 3rd Kyu | Green Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
Application: |
Ukemi - Sumi-otoshi, supported.
Suwari-waza - 4 techniques (Candidate's choice, both students kneeling) Randori-no-kata (17 techniques) (1-5 + 6-10 + 11-14 + 15-17) 1. Shomen-ate 2. Ai-gamae-ate 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate 4. Gedan-ate 5. Ushiro-ate 6. Oshi-taoshi 7. Ude-gaeshi 8. Hiki-taoshi 9. Ude-garame / Ude-hineri 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 Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza 1-5 Counters 1-5 (5 techniques) 1. Shomen-ate - Waki-gatame 2. Ai-gamae-ate - Kote-mawashi 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate - Gedan-ate 4. Gedan-ate - Ai-gamae-ate 5. Ushiro-ate - Tenkai-kote-hineri Kakarigeiko - Multiple attackers e.g. Ninindori, with variation of attack, open-handed. Hikitategeiko - Single attacker with Tanto. Objective: Movement - 'passive' (no counters) |
Timescale:
More than 4 months as 4th Kyu. Minimum of 40 hours practise as 4th Kyu. |
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| 2nd Kyu | Blue Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
Application: |
Ukemi - floating/falling leaf
(Performed alone. Similar to Koryu-Dai-San. No. 1 Suwari-waza) (To show balance disturbance, circular movement and control - no breakfalls) Randori-no-kata 1-17 (17 techniques) Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza 1-10 Counters 1-10 (10 techniques) 1. Shomen-ate - Waki-gatame 2. Ai-gamae-ate - Kote-mawashi 3. Gyaku-gamae-ate - Gedan-ate 4. Gedan-ate - Ai-gamae-ate 5. Ushiro-ate - Tenkai-kote-hineri 6. Oshi-taoshi - Kote-mawashi 7. Hiki-taoshi - Tenkai-kote-hineri 8. Kote-gaeshi - Kote-gaeshi 9. Tenkai-kote-hineri - Waki-gatame 10. Shiho-nage - Shiho-nage / Tenkai Kote Gaeshi Kakarigeiko - Ninindori Hikitategeiko - Single attacker with Tanto - 'active' (with counters). |
Timescale:
More than 6 months as 3rd Kyu. Minimum of 60 hours practise as 3rd Kyu. |
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| 1st Kyu | Brown Belt | Core Skills:
Technique:
Application: |
Shichi-hon-no-kuzushi 1-14 (Omote) plus (Urawaza)
(To show balance disturbance, circular movement and control - with breakfalls) Randori-no-kata 1-17 (17 techniques) Counters 1-10 (10 techniques) Kuzushi - Demonstration of a variety of balance disturbances for randori. Koryu-dai-san 1. Oshi-taoshi 2. Gyaku-gamae-ate 3. Kote-gaeshi 4. Ryote-mochi-sukui-nage 5. Tenkai-kote-hineri 6. Shiho-nage / Tenkai Kote Gaeshi 7. Gedan-ate 8. Hiji-kime Suwari-waza Section A (8 techniques) Hikitategeiko - Empty-handed (Toshu) |
Timescale:
More than 9 months as 2nd Kyu. Minimum of 120 hours practise as 2nd Kyu. |
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Notes: 2. Candidate: From 5th Kyu onwards, and with the exception of Koryu-Dai-San, candidates will be expected to be able to demonstrate on left or right at examiner's choice. 3. Coaches: Gohon-no-Kuzushi, currently shown in BAA syllabus at 2nd Kyu, is recognised as a training method and should be incorporated into practice sessions. 4. Coaches: Tanto Randori-no-Kata is recognised as a training method and should be incorporated into practice sessions. 5. At all levels after 6th Kyu, previous syllabus will be required at the discretion of the examiners. 6. Duration, intensity and quantity of the ‘Application’ sections will be at the discretion of the examiners. |
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Aikido Grading at Dan Level |
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| 1st Dan | Black | Technique:
Application: |
Koryu-Dai-San -Section B and C - 16 (8+8) Randori - Tanto and Toshu (empty-handed) |
Timescale: 1 year consistent practice as 1st Kyu |
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| 2nd Dan | Black | Technique:
Application: |
Koryu-Dai-San - Section D, E and F - 18 (5+5+8) Koryu-Dai-Ichi, Section A - 1-5 Randori as required - Tanto and Toshu |
Timescale: 2 years consistent practice as 1st Dan |
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| 3rd Dan | Black | Technique:
Application:
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Koryu-Dai-San complete - 1-50 (8+8+8+5+5+8+8) Koryu-Dai-Ichi complete - 1-24 (5+7+6+6) Randori as required - Tanto and Toshu |
Timescale: 3 years consistent practice as 2nd Dan |
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| 4th Dan | Black | Technique:
Application:
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Koryu-Dai-Ni complete - 16 (11+5) Goshin-ho-no-Kata - 1-19 (8+5+2+2+2) Randori as required - Tanto and Toshu |
Timescale: 4 years consistent practice as 3rd Dan |
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| 5th Dan | Black | Technique:
Application:
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Koryu-Dai-Go complete - 23 (7+5+6+5) Goshin-ho-no-Kata - 20-37 Randori as required - Tanto and Toshu |
Timescale: 5 years consistent practice as 4th Dan |
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| 6th Dan | Black | Technique:
Application:
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Koryu-Dai-Roku - 39 (5+10+7+5+4+4+4) Note 3 Goshin-ho-no-Kata - +15 Randori as required - Tanto and Toshu |
Timescale: 6 years consistent practice as 5th Dan |
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Notes: 1. Candidates: Koryu-no-Kata – sections to be demonstrated will be chosen by the examiner. 2. Examiner: Koryu-no-Kata – new sections at each level must be demonstrated, demonstration of previous sections is optional. 3. Candidates: Upon attaining 6 Dan, students will have successfully performed all the current Koryu-no-Kata; Koryu-Dai-Ichi, Koryu-Dai-Ni, Koryu-Dai-San, Koryu-Dai-Yon, Koryu-Dai-Go, Koryu-Dai-Roku. 4. At any time examiners may ask to review previous parts of the syllabus. 5. Character and attitude will be considered at each level. These include participation as a student in competitions and/or courses. 6. ‘Technique’ and ‘Application’ sections are of equal value in the assessment. 7. Age and physical ability will be taken into account throughout.
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