Testing Requirements

The Greater Hartford Aikikai follows the test requirements and rank system of the U.S. Aikido Federation, Eastern region. The federation's ranking system has only two colored belts, white (kyu) and black (dan). White belt ranks begin at six and continue to one. Black belt ranks begin at one and continue up. The federation grants ranks above third-degree black belt by automatic promotion in recognition for continued technical development and other achievements, such as becoming an instructor and training students to black belt level.

To advance in rank, students pass a test to determine if they can do the required techniques. To be eligible for a test, students complete the specified required practice hours, which begin from zero after each test.

U.S. Aikido Federation Test Requirements (Attack in regular type. Aikido technique in italic.)

4th kyu (yonku) 80 practice hours
Shômen-uchi nikyô (omote/ura)
Yokomen-uchi shihô-nage (omote/ura)
Tsuki irimi-nage
Ushiro tekubi-tori sankyô (omote/ura)
Ushiro ryôkata-tori kote-gaeshi (omote/ura)
Suwari-waza:
Shômen-uchi ikkyô (omote/ura)                 
Kata-tori nikyô (omote/ura)          
Kata-tori sankyô (omote/ura)

3rd kyu (sankyu) 100 practice hours
Yokomen-uchi irimi-nage (2 ways)
Yokomen-uchi kote-gaeshi (omote/ura)
Tsuki kaiten-nage (omote/ura)
Ushiro ryôkata-tori sankyô (omote/ura)
Morote-tori irimi-nage (2 ways)
Shômen-uchi sankyô (omote/ura)
Suwari-waza
Shômen-uchi iriminage (omote/ura)     
Shômen-uchi nikyô (omote/ura)
Hanmi handachi:
Katate-tori shihô-nage (omote/ura)
Katate-tori kaiten-nage (uchi/soto mawari)

2nd kyu (nikyu) 200 practice hours
Shômen-uchi shihô-nage (omote/ura)
Shômen-uchi kaiten-nage (omote/ura)
Yokomen-uchi gokyô (omote/ura)
Ushiro tekubi-tori shihô-nage (omote/ura)
Ushiro tekubi-tori jûji-nage
Ushiro kubi-jime koshi-nage
Morote-tori nikyô (omote/ura, 2 variations)
Hanmi handachi:
Shomen-uchi irimi-nage        
Katate-tori nikyô (omote/ura)                     
Yokomen-uchi kote-gaeshi (omote/ura)
Freestyle (2 people)

1st dan (shodan) 300 practice hours
All 1st kyû requirements
Tachi-tori
Jô-tori
Henka-waza
Freestyle (4 people)

2nd dan (nidan) 600 practice hours
Attend two seminars per year after 1st dan
All 1st dan requirements
Tachi-tori (2 people)
Freestyle (5 people)
Kaeshi-waza

3rd dan (sandan) 700 practice hours
Attend two seminars per year after 2nd dan
Requirements determined by examiner at exam time

Hanmi-handachi - attacker standing, defender sitting

Henka-waza – turning one technique into another

Jô-tori – defense against jô

Kaeshi-waza – reversing a technique

Katate-tori – one-handed grab to wrist

Kata-tori – one-handed grab to shoulder

Morote-tori – two-handed grab to wrist

Omote - front

Ryôte-tori – both wrists grabbed from the front

Shômen-uchi – strike to the forehead

Suwari-waza - seated techniques

Tachi-tori – defense against bokken

Tantô-tori – defense against knife

Tsuki – punch of thrust

Uchi & soto mawari – inside and outside movements

Ushiro kubi-shime – rear choke and wrist grab

Ushiro ryôkata-tori – shoulders grabbed from rear 

Ushiro tekubi-tori – wrists grabbed from the rear

Ushiro waza – techniques against attacks from rear

Ura - behind