Student Guide: Testing and Promotion - Juniors
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There are ten levels of rank for Juniors (ages eleven through fourteen years). Students achieve rank through a combination of practice time and formal evaluation (testing). Each student must satisfy the minimum number of classes and weeks of practice before being considered for evaluation to a new rank. At this Dojo all students start unranked as a "Beginner" (white belt) . The following table lists the minimum number of classes and weeks that a Junior student must practice before being considered for testing for a new rank.
| Rank | Belt Color | Classes | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jukyu-J (Tenth Kyu) | Orange w/ Black Stripe | 12 | 8 |
| Kukyu-J (Ninth Kyu) | Green | 16 | 8 |
| Hachikyu-J (Eighth Kyu) | Green w/ White Stripe | 20 | 12 |
| Shichikyu-J (Seventh Kyu) | Green w/ Blue Stripe | 24 | 12 |
| Rokyu-J (Sixth Kyu) | Green w/ Black Stripe | 28 | 12 |
| Gokyu-J (Fifth Kyu) | Blue | 32 | 16 |
| Yonkyu-J (Fourth Kyu) | Blue w/ White Stripe | 36 | 16 |
| Sankyu-J (Third Kyu) | Blue w/ Red Stripe | 40 | 20 |
| Nikyu-J (Second Kyu) | Blue w/ Brown Stripe | 44 | 20 |
| Ikkyu-J (First Kyu) | Blue w/ Black Stripe | 48 | 24 |
The number of classes and weeks required at each level are counted from the last testing date (or the date the student first began practicing). Students qualify for testing only after both the number of classs and weeks are met. The "Stripe" is a strip of colored cloth sewn lengthwise down the middle of the belt. A record of your practices will be kept at the Dojo. This record will list the date of your last promotion (or the date you started practicing), your current rank, and the number of practice classes and weeks since your last promotion. As you near the minimum class and week limits required for your next evaluation you should approach Sensei and inquire about that promotion. Sensei will then schedule a time to discuss the exact requirements for that evaluation with you, and to plan necessary practice and review sessions.Sensei will also give you an evaluation checklist, which will detail the skills that you will be asked to demonstrate at your evaluation.
In this way no promotion is ever overlooked or forgotten, nor is any evaluation a surprise. Properly followed this procedure ensures that you will have more than adequate preparation for each test, making that experience more a demonstration of your current knowledge than a experience that you feel you will "fail". Your evaluation is also a chance for you to reaffirm your growing skills in Aikido in front of your fellow students, friends, and family. It is a time to be happy in your success, and visitors are especially encouraged to come to class on evaluation days!
The running record of practices is obtained from the weekly sign-in rosters available at each class. For this reason it is vitally important that you sign in each and every time you attend an Aikido practice. If you forget to sign in at a class, or believe that the information on this running record may be incorrect, be sure to bring it to Sensei's attention immediately.
Aikido is aikido, whether practiced at the Prairie Aikikai dojo or elsewhere. Many students will travel to other places to practice Aikido, whether as part of a seminar, special camp, or just while away from the Prairie Aikikai on vacation. Your practice time while at these other Dojos counts towards your practice time for evaluation purposes. Just keep a running record of when you practice (what days), the number of hours practiced, and the kinds of things you did (arts practices, new things learned, etc.). Bring those back to the Prairie Aikikai dojo and they will be added to your cumulative attendance record. A friendly warning, though -- it is not uncommon for students who visit other Dojos to be asked to share new things they have learned once they return to the Prairie Aikikai! Try to remember at least one or two new "arts" while you practice at a different location so we may all benefit from your experience.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Guidelines for All Juniors Levels
Evaluations consist of specific items from the following lists. While specific arts and exercises are particular at each level a student may also be asked to demonstrate any (or all) of the requirements from a prior level during their test. In this way Aikido is viewed as a cumulative process, not simply a procedure of studying for a single test. Specific guidelines for each level are given on the following pages.
Students should be aware that these lists are for practice and training purposes only. Since each individual's abilities, personality, and desires from training vary it is only natural that each individual's evaluation may likewise vary. These pages are only intended to provide a listing of what abilities and knowledge are typically mastered at each level. It is between each individual student and Sensei to determine what that student's particular evaluation for any given rank will consist of and how (and when) it will be conducted.
Note: All arts are to be demonstrated (if possible) both Irimi and Tenkan. All Kata are to be demonstrated (if possible) from both left and right sides.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Jukyu-J
No instructor selected arts from prior level
No student selected arts
Koho tento
Jo: Holding and striking
Bokken: Holding and striking
Ki Test/Aiki taisos
No Swari Waza
Philosophy/Vocabulary
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Kukyu-J
No instructor selected arts from prior levels
No student selected arts
Koho tento (to standing and sitting)
One Blunt Object Tori
Ki Tests/Aiki Taisos
No Swari Waza
Philosophy/Vocabulary
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Hachikyu-J
Two instructor selected arts from prior level
No student selected arts
Forward roll, shikko
One Blunt Object Tori
Ki Tests/Aiki Taisos
No Swari Waza
Philosophy/Vocabulary
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Shichikyu-J
Two instructor selected arts from prior level
No student selected arts
Forward roll (stretch and go, shikko)
Two Blunt Object Tori
Ki Tests/Aiki Taisos
No Swari Waza
Philosophy/Vocabulary
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Rokyu-J
Two instructor selected arts from prior level
Two student selected arts
Back roll
Two Blunt Object Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
One art from Swari Waza: Katate Tori Ikkyo
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Gokyu-J
Three instructor selected arts from prior level
Two student selected arts
Side Slide
Two Blunt Object Tori
One Tanto Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Yonkyu-J
Three instructor selected arts from prior level
Two student selected arts
Running forward roll
Two Blunt Object Tori
One Tanto Tori
One Jo Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Sankyu-J
Three instructor selected arts from prior level
Three student selected arts
Five Ryokata Tori Exercises
Two Blunt Object Tori
Two Tanto Tori
Two Jo Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Nikyu-J
Four instructor selected arts from prior level
Four student selected arts
Ten Ryokata Tori Exercises
Two Blunt Object Tori
Two Tanto Tori
Two Jo Tori
One Bokken Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
Two arts from Swari Waza
One art from Hanmi Handatchi
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Specific Guidelines for Ikkyu-J
Four instructor selected arts from prior level
Four student selected arts
Fifteen Ryokata Tori Exercises
Two Blunt Object Tori
Two Tanto Tori
Two Jo Tori
Two Bokken Tori
Instructor Selected Ki Tests
Two arts from Swari Waza
Two art from Hanmi Handatchi
After a student has reached 15 years of age the student can test to Adult Sankyu following 70 classes four months of training.