7^th kyu requirements—striped blue belt.

The student will be able to:

·         repeat the five essentials.

·         define the terms maai, hanmi, irimi, and tenkan.

·         do rolls: front, back, and dives.

·         perform at level on a ki test.

·         perform specific techniques of Sensei’s choice.

·         perform techniques of the student’s choice.

·         answer questions.

6^th kyu requirements—blue belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 7^th kyu requirements.

·         do the basic eight.

·         explain and demonstrate one of the following aiki taiso: fune kogi undo, shomen uchi undo or kokyu ho undo.  (The student is expected to know the names.)  The choice of which one will be Sensei’s.

·         pass the aiki taiso’s ki test

·         show an application of technique using the selected aiki taiso (not one of the basic eight).

·         do the basic eight.

·         do samurai walk.

·         do kokyu dosa.

5^th kyu requirements—blue belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 6^th kyu requirements

·         explain and demonstrate aiki taiso, now including sayu undo and ude furi undo (or their moving versions).

·         do three katate-tori variations.

·         do three kate-tori variations.

·         demonstrate samurai walk turning and backward.

·         demonstrate proper landing for break fall.

4^th kyu requirements—purple belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 5^th kyu requirements

·         explain and demonstrate any aiki taiso.

·         do katate-tori variations, both ai hanmi and gyaku hanmi.

·         do kata-tori variations.

·         do three shomen-uchi variations.

·         do three yokomen-uchi variations.

·         do tenchi nage and sayu nage from a ryote-tori attack.

·         do a break fall.

·         do techniques of the student’s choice.

3^rd kyu requirements—purple belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 4^th kyu requirements.

·         explain and demonstrate a technique that exemplifies one of the five essentials.

·         do shomen-uchi variations.

·         do yokomen-uchi variations.

·         do three mune tsuki variations.

·         do three ryote-tori variations other than tenchi nage and sayu nage.

·         do nikyo (both sides) and kaiten nage (both irimi and tenkan) from a ryote mochi attack.

2^nd kyu requirements—brown belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 3^rd kyu requirements.

·         perform the basic eight with proper positioning of the uke and demonstrating complete control of uke at all times.

·         do mune tsuki variations.

·         do ryote-tori variations.

·         do ryote mochi variations.

·         do three ushiro-tori variations.

·         do three ushiro tekubi-tori variations.

·         do three variations of tanto-tori.

·         demonstrate yonkyo.

·         demonstrate sudori nage.

·         demonstrate boken kata, happo giri.

·         demonstrate jo kata, twenty-two movement.

·         do suwari waza.

·         do freestyle against one opponent.

·         do randori with two opponents.

1^st kyu requirements—brown belt

The student will be able to:

·         perform all 2^nd kyu requirements.

·         perform the basic eight with flow, ki extension, understanding and smoothness.

·         demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the aiki taiso and how the five essentials are embedded in them.

·         demonstrate a thorough knowledge of responses to any attack including: kata-tori, katate-tori, shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi, mune tsuki, ryote-tori, ryote mochi, ushiro-tori, ushiro tekubi-tori, ushiro hiji-tori, ushiro katata-tori.

·         demonstrate koshi nage.

·         do tanto tori variations until asked to stop.

·         do jo-tori variations until asked to stop.

·         do jo waza variations until asked to stop.

·         do hanmi hantachi.

·         do randori with three opponents.