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When he starts practicing
AIKIDO, the student wears a white belt. After years of practice,
he can wear the HAKAMA (black robe). It is a sign of engagement
from the student to the art of Aikido. After many years of hard
training, he can wear a black belt and he is given the title of
SHODAN which means "first dan and ... beginner".
Each student is tested by his teacher (Sensei) at the moment of
changing grades. The student is tested for:
- his body movement
capacity (TAI),
- his technique accuracy (GI) and
- his mental
awareness (SHIN).
It is customary to test for the Shodan (black belt) in another dojo and with another teacher, like during a summer camp.
This does not apply when the dojo sensei is highly ranked.
Classification of students by grades:
| MUKYU
|
Beginner |
|
|
|
|
| 6 KYU
|
|
Rokyu |
| 5 KYU
|
60 days of practice |
Gokyu |
| 4
KYU
|
80 days of practice |
Yonkyu |
| 3 KYU
|
100 days of practice |
Sankyu |
| 2 KYU
|
200 days of practice |
Nikyu |
| 1 KYU
|
300 days of practice |
Ikkyu |
|
|
|
| 1 DAN
|
400 days of practice
|
Shodan |
| 2 DAN
|
600 days of practice
|
Nidan |
| 3 DAN
|
700 days of practice
|
Sandan |
| 4 DAN
|
|
Yondan |
| 5 DAN
|
|
Godan |
| 6 DAN
|
honorary
|
Rokudan |
| 7 DAN
|
honorary
|
Shichidan |
| 8 DAN
|
honorary
|
Hachidan |
| 9 DAN
|
honorary
|
Kyudan |
|
10 DAN
|
honorary
|
Jyudan |
The founder O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, his son
Kisshomaru Ueshiba and his grandson Moriteru Ueshiba are beyond
any ranking system in Aikido.
Other titles
| O-Sensei |
The
founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. |
| Kaiso |
The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. |
|
|
| Doshu |
The head of the way. The highest official authority in
the "International Aikido Federation".
|
|
|
| Dojo-cho |
The head of the dojo at world Aikido
Headquarters ("HOMBU DOJO") in Tokyo,Japan.
|
|
|
| Shihan |
Master instructor. Usually over 6th DAN. |
| Sensei |
Teacher. |
| Shidoin |
Instructor. |
| Fuku-shidoin |
Assistant instructor. |
|
|
| Sempai |
Student with a higher rank than yours. |
| Dohai |
Student of equal rank with you. |
| Kohai |
Student with a lower rank than yours. |
|
|
| Yudansha |
Student with a DAN grade (DAN). |
| Mudansha |
Student without a DAN grade (KYU). |
USAF Eastern
region Kyu testing requirements
by Y. Yamada Sensei
USAF Western region Kyu
testing requirements
by T.K. Chiba Sensei
|
