Grading criteria

A white belt is worn for all Kyu grades and a black belt for all Dan grades. Hakama is worn from 2nd Kyu.

  1. Ki-exercises Kenkotaiso (Health exercise)
    1. Turning the trunk by swinging the arms
    2. Stretching the trunk to the side by swinging the arms
    3. Stretching backward and forward by swinging the arms
    4. Shoulder blade exercise
    5. Moving the head forward and backward
    6. Turning the head side to side
    7. Bending at the knees and standing on tiptoe
    8. Stretching the knee
    9. Swinging both arms up and down while bending the knees
  2. Shokyu
    • Minimum 4 months training
    1. Standing
    2. Sitting seiza
    3. Sitting cross legged (Agura)
    4. Putting out one hand (Palm facing down)
    5. Breathing exercise sitting seiza (Kokyuho)
  3. 5th Kyu
    • Minimum 4 months training after Shokyu
    • Hitoriwasa
    1. Jo Kenko Taiso:
    2. Udefuri Undo
    3. Udefuri Choyaku Undo
    4. Tenkan Undo
    5. Sayu Undo
    6. Sayu Choyaku Undo
    7. Ushiro Ukemi Undo
    8. Zempo Kaiten Undo
    9. Shikko forward
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Katate Kosadori Kokyunage
    2. Katatedori Ryotemochi
    3. Kokyunage
    4. Katatedori Tenkan Kokyunage
    5. Katatedori Ryotemochi Tenkan
    6. Kokyunage UdemawashiZagi Ryotedori Kokyunage
  4. 4th Kyu
    • Minimum 4 months training after 5th Kyu
    • Hitoriwasa
    1. Jo Aiki Taiso:
    2. Funakogi Undo
    3. Ikkyo Undo
    4. Tenshin Undo
    5. Zengo Undo
    6. Happo Undo
    7. Mae Ukemi and Ushiro Ukemi (for each side 3 forward and 3 backward)
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Katatedori Ikkyo
    2. Munetsuki Ikkyo
    3. Munetsuki
    4. Koteoroshi
    5. Ryotemochi Koteoroshi
    6. Ushiro Ryotedori Zemponage
    7. Ushirokubishime
    8. Kokyunage Uragaeshi
    9. Ushiro Katatedori Ikkyo
  5. Chukyu
    • Minimum 4 months training after 4th Kyu
    1. Standing
    2. Sitting seiza
    3. Sitting cross legged (Agura)
    4. Putting out one hand (Palm facing down)
    5. Breathing exercise sitting seiza (Kokyuho)
    6. Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must do Kenkotaiso in the correct order
    7. Ki övningar
  6. 3rd Kyu
    • Minimum 6 months training after Chukyu
    • Hitoriwasa
    1. Koteoroshi Undo
    2. Nikyo Undo
    3. Tekubikosa Undo
    4. Hanmi-Gyakuhanmi Undo
    5. Ushirotori Undo
    6. UshiroTekubitori Zenshin Undo
    7. UshiroTekubitori Koshin Undo
    8. Shikko
    9. backward
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Jo and Jo: Shomenuchi, Yokomenuchi, Yokobarai, Douchi, Ashiuchi
    2. Katatedori Kokyunage Irimi
    3. Katatedori Kokyunage (get rid)
    4. Yokomenuchi Kokyunage
    5. Katatedori Shihonage (irmi/tenkan)
    6. Yokomenuchi Shihonage: (t-i, t-t, i-i, i-t)
    7. Ryotedori Zemponage
    8. Ushirodori Zemponage
    9. Tantodori: Munetsuki Koteoroshi
    10. Bokkendori: Shomenuchi Kokyunage
  7. 2nd Kyu
    • Minimum 6 months training after 3rd Kyu
    • Hitoriwasa
    1. One-hand bokken-exercises
    2. Moving bokken vertically
    3. Shomenuchi
    4. Moving bokken horizontally
    5. Cutting forward horizontally
    6. Shikko turning
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Zagi: Shomenuchi Ikkyo (irimi/tenkan)
    2. Katadori Ikkyo (irimi)
    3. Katadori Nikyo (irimi)
    4. Katadori Sankyo (irimi)
    5. Katadori Yonkyo (irimi)
    6. Yokomenuchi Kokyunage Irimi
    7. Shomenuchi Ikkyo (irimi/tenkan)
    8. Ushiro Ryokatadori Kokyunage
    9. Ushiro Ryokatadori Zemponage
    10. Jodori: Tsukikaeshi
    11. Jodori: Munetsuki Zemponage
    12. Hitorigake (one man attack)
  8. Jokyu
    • Minimum 6 months training after 2nd Kyu
    1. Standing
    2. Sitting seiza
    3. Sitting cross legged (Agura)
    4. Putting out one hand (Palm facing down)
    5. Standing with one foot forward
    6. Leaning backward
    7. Bending forward
    8. Standing on one foot and putting out one hand
    9. Standing up and sitting down in seiza
    10. Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must keep timing and rhythm with examiners count
    11. Ki övningar
  9. 1st Kyu
    • Minimum 8 months training after Jokyu
    • Hitoriwasa
    1. Jokyu
    2. Two-hand bokken exercises: Shomenuchi
    3. Tenshin
    4. Tsuki: (8 steps forward, 8 steps backward in chudan)
    5. Happogiri
    6. Jo 1
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Tsuzukiwaza 14 (Suwariwaza)
    2. Tsuzukiwaza 16 (Handachi)
    3. Tsuzukiwaza 1 (Katatedori) or free
    4. Tsuzukiwaza 3 (Katatedori Ryotemochi) or free
    5. Niningake (two men attack)
  10. Shoden
    • Minimum 8 months training after 1st Kyu
    1. Ki övningar
    2. Standing
    3. Sitting seiza
    4. Sitting cross legged (Agura)
    5. Putting out one hand (palm facing down)
    6. Standing with one foot and one arm forward
    7. Standing with one foot forward
    8. Standing on one foot and putting out one hand
    9. Standing up and sitting down in seiza
    10. Leaning backward on a partner
    11. Bending forward leaning on a partner
    12. Unraisable body
    13. Walking forward, while being held from behind
    14. Sitting cross legged (Agura) while being pushed
    15. Swinging both hands up
    16. Breathing exercise (Kokyuho)
    17. Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must count with the correct rhythm
  11. Shodan (1st)
    • Minimum 12 months training after 1st Kyu
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Tsuzukiwaza 11 (Katatedori) or free
    2. Tsuzukiwaza 13 (Katatedori Ryotemochi) or free
    3. Tsuzukiwaza 2 (Ushiro Katatedori) or free
    4. Tsuzukiwaza 8 (Yokomenuchi) or free
    5. Tsuzukiwaza 21
    6. (Tantodori 1)
    7. Tsuzukiwaza 25 (Jo and Bokken 1), examinee uses jo
    8. Tsuzukiwaza 27 (Happogiri with partner)
    9. Sanningake (three men attack)
  12. Chuden
    • Minimum 12 months training after Shodan (1st)
    • Disciplines 1–15
    • Ki övningar
    • Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must count with the correct rhythm.
    • Same requirement as Shoden, but more Ki and more strict.
  13. Nidan (2nd)
    • Minimum 18 months training after Chuden
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Tsuzukiwaza 4 (Ryotedori) or free
    2. Tsuzukiwaza 7 (Shomenuchi) or free
    3. Tsuzukiwaza 6 (Ushirotori) or free
    4. Tsuzukiwaza 15 (Ushiro Ryokatadori)
    5. Tsuzukiwaza 22 (Tantodori 2)
    6. Tsuzukiwaza 23 (Bokkendori)
    7. Tsuzukiwaza 26 (Jo and Bokken 2), examinee uses jo
    8. Tsuzukiwaza 28 (Bokken and Bokken)
  14. Joden
    • Minimum 2 years training after Nidan (2nd)
    • Disciplines 1–15
    • Ki övningar
    • Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must count with the correct rhythm.
    • Same requirement as Chuden, but more Ki and more strict.
  15. Sandan (3rd)
    • Minimum 2 years training after Joden
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    1. Tsuzukiwaza 5 (Ryokatadori)
    2. Tsuzukiwaza 9 (Tsuki-Keri)
    3. Tsuzukiwaza 12 (Ushirokatatedori)
    4. Tsuzukiwaza 18 (Yokomenuchi)
    5. Tsuzukiwaza 19 (Tsuki)
    6. Tsuzukiwaza 24 (Jodori)
    7. Tsuzukiwaza 25 (Jo and Bokken 1), examinee uses bokken
    8. Tsuzukiwaza 26 (Jo and Bokken 2), examinee uses bokken
    9. Tsuzukiwaza 10 (Taninzukake)
  16. Okuden
    • Minimum 2 years training after Sandan (3rd)
    • Disciplines 1–15
    • Ki övningar
    • Kenkotaiso (Health exercise) – Examinee must count with the correct rhythm.
    • Same requirement as Joden, but even more strict.
  17. Yondan (4th)
    • Minimum 3 years training after Okuden
    • Kumiwaza/Tsuzukiwaza
    • All Hitoriwaza
    1. Tsuzukiwaza 17 (Katadori Menuchi)
    2. Tsuzukiwaza 29 (Kumitachi 1)
    3. Tsuzukiwaza 30 (Kumitachi 2, Shinken)
    4. Tsuzukiwaza 20 (Jonage)
  18. Godan (5th) Minimum 5 years training after Yondan (4:e)
  19. Rokudan (6th) Minimum 5 years training after Godan (5:e)
  20. Nanadan (7th) Minimum 5 years training after Rokudan (6:e)
  21. Hachidan (8th) Minimum 5 years training after Nanadan (7:e)