GRADING
Exams
Program
Aikikai Aikido grading system. Kyu exams are held in June and December. Dan exams are held in June.
Kyu: June, December
Dan: June
Submit the application form and fee before the exam.
| Level | Prerequisite | Examination Content | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikkyo | Nikyo | Sankyo | Yonkyo | Gokyo | Shihonage | Iriminage | Kotegaeshi | Kaitennage | Tenchinage | Jiyu waza | Kokyu-ho | ||
| 5th Kyu | 30 days of practice | Shomen-uchi | — | — | — | — | Katadori | Shomen-uchi | — | — | — | — | zagi |
| 4th Kyu | 40 days of practice after 5th Kyu | Shomen-uchi | Katadori | — | — | — | Yokomen-uchi | Shomen-uchi | — | — | — | — | zagi |
| 3rd Kyu | 50 days of practice after 4th Kyu | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza) | — | Ryotedori, Yokomen-uchi | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki | — | Ryote dori | — | zagi |
| 2nd Kyu | 50 days of practice after 3rd Kyu | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza) | — | Katadori, Hanmi-handachi | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki (tachi waza), Katatedori | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki (tachi waza), Katatedori | Kata tedori | Ryote dori | Kata tedori | zagi |
| 1st Kyu | 60 days of practice after 2nd Kyu | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Yokomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza), Ushiro Ryotedori | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Yokomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza), Ushiro Ryotedori | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Yokomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza), Ushiro Ryotedori | Shomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Yokomen-uchi (zagi and tachi waza), Katadori (zagi and tachi waza), Ushiro Ryotedori | Yokomen-uchi | Katatedori, Ryotedori (Hanmi-handachi waza & tachi waza) | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki, Katatedori | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki, Katatedori | Shomen-uchi, Tsuki, Katatedori | Ryote dori | Kata tedori, Ryote dori, Moro tedori | zagi and tachi waza |
| 1st Dan | 70 days of practice after 1st Kyu (15 years or older) | Unarmed techniques (zagi, hami-handachi waza, tachi waza) for shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi (strikes), tsuki (thrusts), all forms of grasping shoulders, elbows, collar, wrists and hands; all techniques from the rear. | |||||||||||
| 2nd Dan | Minimum 1 year since 1st Dan, with 200 days of practice | Same as 1st Dan plus Tanto-dori and Futarigake (with two ukes). Submit an article on an Aikido-related subject. | |||||||||||
| 3rd Dan | Minimum 2 years since 2nd Dan, with 300 days of practice | Same as 2nd Dan plus Tachi-dori, Jo-dori and Taninzugake (more than three ukes). Submit an article on an assigned topic. | |||||||||||
| 4th Dan | Minimum 3 years since 3rd Dan, with 400 days of practice (22 years or older) | Jiyu waza for all of the above plus a short essay. | |||||||||||
Notes
- Zagi (suwari waza): sitting.
- Hanmi-handachi waza: sitting vs. standing.
- Tachi waza: standing.
- Be sure you have the required number of practice days before applying. Application forms and fees should be filed 3 days before the examination.
- Essays and articles should be filed 3 days before the examination.
- Successful completion of summer and winter training will be taken into consideration.
- Minimum age for 1st Dan is 15 years, and for 4th Dan is 22 years.
- Examinations shall be taken at the dojo where you normally practice. If you wish to take an examination at a different dojo, approval of both dojos is required.
- Morotedori is two hands holding one hand.
- As a rule partners (uke) in an examination should be of the same rank.
- Continue doing the same technique, left and right, ura and omote, until the examiner says "Stop".
Documents
⚠ With the rollout of the Aikikai Electronic System (launch — February 2027), application forms have been updated. For exams held on or after June 1, 2026, please use only these new forms. Available in PDF (for handwritten filling) and Excel (for electronic entry). Final submission must be in PDF or on paper.
FORM A
PDF
Cover Sheet
Transitional period
FORM B
PDF
Aikikai Enrollment
Transitional period
FORM C
PDF
Examination Application
Transitional period
FORM D
PDF
Yudansha Book (Budo Passport) & Support Payment
Transitional period