LCA News
Santa Cruz Aikido Summer Retreat July 5-9 2006

PROMOTION CRITERIA

As in other Japanese Martial Arts, we use the “kyu” and “dan” system of ranking. As an adult, one begins at 6th kyu and ascends up the ranks to 1st kyu in a progressive hierarchy of colored belts which represent ascending levels of proficiency, experience and training time. The dan ranks are the black belt ranks and begin at shodan, which literally means beginning grade and progress up from there to ni dan, second grade san dan third grade and so on.

For each rank, there are certain minimal requirements, including number of training days and of course, an appropriate level of competence in the physical techniques. Attitude, character, service, seriousness and diligence are all important measures for promotion and are taken into consideration.

Because of the nature of the Aikido philosophy, which promotes harmony and non conflict, and because Aikido is not a sport, competitive matches are nonexistent. Instead a demonstration of the art becomes the criteria for promotion. This demonstration is conducted in a highly supportive, non competitive yet sharp and challenging atmosphere. The student learns from being “put on the spot” in a way that is not possible to duplicate in regular class. For the instructor, the demonstration is a way to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of his teaching by carefully observing the students.

It is important to remember that these demonstrations are not to be viewed as putting on an exhibition for entertainment purposes, like a movie or circus. Nor are people to be compared and gauged against each other.

The potential negative side of ranking is that the student can become obsessed with or overly attached to attaining it. These people tend to have a big emotional let down after obtaining a rank and are likely to quit training after a certain level is attained.

Some teachers in the martial arts world, put too much emphasis on rank and/or promote their students much too quickly. Many teachers are over ranked themselves. This is a big problem which can lead to false feelings of ability and accomplishment and an over-desire to move up soon to the next rank, with a sacrifice in the quality of training, but at a large financial profit to the school with hefty promotion fees. These promotions are aimed at superficial and or flashy technical demonstrations of physical skill only. These students may have certain physical skills but tend to not be aware of the importance and value of the training process itself, or the deeper principles underlying the art they are studying.

If approached properly, the promotion through the various ranks represent challenges to meet, stimulate desire to learn more and represent a feeling of accomplishment and recognition of that accomplishment by the instructor and fellow students. Upon achieving each rank the student is encouraged to look forward to the next level of accomplishment. I hope all of my students enjoy each day of their training and enjoy being who and where they are in their training without over concern for rank. The training process itself is its own reward and the rank comes too.

Technical Requirements

Shomen uchi ikkyo
Ai dori ikkyo

Shomen uchi irimi nage
Ai dori irimi nage

Katate dori shiho nage

Katate dori kokyu nage

Suwari waza kokyu ho

Morote dori kokyu nage

Suwari waza kokyu ho

Ryote dori shiho nage
Ushiro ryote dori shiho nage

ushiro ryote dori kokyu nage

Suwari waza kokyu ho

Suwari waza and tachi waza yokomen uchi gokyo with tanto

Ushiro ryote dori juji garami nage

Variations from:
  Ai dori
  Katate dori
  Ryote dori
  Ushiro ryote dori
  Morote dori
  Tsuki
  Shomen uchi
  Yokomen uchi

Jiyu waza

Suwari waza kokyu ho

variations:
  tanto held at chest
  tsuki with tanto
  tanto held at back

Same three techniques from:
  Yokomen uchi
  Tsuki
  Katate dori
  Ushiro ryote dori

Hanmi handachi and tachi waza variations from:
  Ai dori
  Katate dori
  Kata dori
  Ryokata dori
  Ushiro ryote dori
  Ushiro ryokata dori
  Ushiro katate dori kubi shime
  Shomen uchi
  Yokomen uchi
  Tsuki

Jiyu waza

Suwari waza kokyu ho

All of the 1st kyu requirements plus;

Koshi nage; three different variations

Tanto dori with yokomen stab and slash variations
Knife at throat from behind

Tachi dori

Jo dori

San nin gake (three person attack)

Suwari waza kokyu ho