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Grading Syllabus

The London Aikido Dojo follows the Tomiki Aikido grading system. Below you will find the complete syllabus for both Kyu (student) grades and Dan (black belt) grades. Each grade has specific requirements for core skills, techniques, and practical application.

Kyu Grade Syllabus

6th Kyu - White Belt

Minimum of 20 hours consistent practice in total

Core Skills

Unsoku

Complete (3 Sections)

Ukemi

Side and Back breakfall

Technique

Randori-no-kata 1-5

  1. Shomen-ate
  2. Ai-gamae-ate
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate
  4. Gedan-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate

Performed on candidate's 'natural' side, i.e. candidate's choice of left or right.

Application

Kakari-geiko

Single attacker: Open-handed attack which must include shomen-ate and yokomen-uchi.

5th Kyu - Yellow Belt

Minimum of 40 hours consistent practice

Core Skills

Tandoku-undo

Sections 1-3

Ukemi

Forward Roll

Technique

Randori-no-kata 1-10

  1. Shomen-ate
  2. Ai-gamae-ate
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate
  4. Gedan-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate
  6. Oshi-taoshi
  7. Ude-gaeshi
  8. Hiki-taoshi
  9. Ude-garame
  10. Waki-gatame

Performed left or right, examiner's choice.

Application

Kakari-geiko

Single attacker with or without tanto, to include shomen and yokomen (ai-gamae and gyaku-gamae) attacks.

4th Kyu - Orange Belt

More than 3 months as 5th Kyu. Minimum of 40 hours consistent practice as 5th Kyu recommended.

Core Skills

Tandoku-undo complete

Sections 1-5

Ukemi

Kote-gaeshi, supported

Shikko

Forward/Turning

Technique

Suwari-waza - 2 techniques

Candidate's choice, both students kneeling.

Randori-no-kata 1-14

  1. Shomen-ate
  2. Ai-gamae-ate
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate
  4. Gedan-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate
  6. Oshi-taoshi
  7. Ude-gaeshi
  8. Hiki-taoshi
  9. Ude-garame
  10. Waki-gatame
  11. Kote-hineri
  12. Kote-gaeshi
  13. Tenkai-kote-hineri
  14. Shiho-nage

Performed left or right, examiner's choice.

Application

Kakari-geiko

Grasp attacks, single wrist, ai-gamae and gyaku-gamae

Kakari-geiko

Single attacker with tanto

3rd Kyu - Green Belt

More than 3 months as 4th Kyu. Minimum of 40 hours consistent practice as 4th Kyu recommended.

Core Skills

Ukemi

Sumi-otoshi, supported.

Technique

Suwari-waza - 4 techniques

Candidate's choice, both students kneeling.

Randori-no-kata 1-17

  1. Shomen-ate
  2. Ai-gamae-ate
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate
  4. Gedan-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate
  6. Oshi-taoshi
  7. Ude-gaeshi
  8. Hiki-taoshi
  9. Ude-garame
  10. Waki-gatame
  11. Kote-hineri
  12. Kote-gaeshi
  13. Tenkai-kote-hineri
  14. Shiho-nage
  15. Mae-otoshi
  16. Sumi-otoshi
  17. Hiki-otoshi

Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza 1-5 (Counters)

  1. Shomen-ate - Waki-gatame
  2. Ai-gamae-ate - Kote-mawashi
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate - Gedan-ate
  4. Gedan-ate - Ai-gamae-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate - Tenkai-kote-hineri

Application

Kakari-geiko

Multiple attackers e.g. ninin-dori, with variation of attack, open-handed.

Hikitate-geiko

Single attacker with tanto to show movement by both tori & uke. Tori showing continuation and combination techniques.

2nd Kyu - Blue Belt

More than 6 months as 3rd Kyu. Minimum of 60 hours consistent practice as 3rd Kyu recommended.

Core Skills

Ukemi (floating/falling leaf)

Performed alone. Similar to koryu-dai-san No. 1 suwari-waza.

Shichi-hon-no-kuzushi 1-7

To show balance disturbance, circular movement and control - no breakfalls.

Technique

Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza 1-10 (Counters)

  1. Shomen-ate - Waki-gatame
  2. Ai-gamae-ate - Kote-mawashi
  3. Gyaku-gamae-ate - Gedan-ate
  4. Gedan-ate - Ai-gamae-ate
  5. Ushiro-ate - Tenkai-kote-hineri
  6. Oshi-taoshi - Kote-mawashi
  7. Hiki-taoshi - Tenkai-kote-hineri
  8. Kote-gaeshi - Kote-gaeshi
  9. Tenkai-kote-hineri - Waki-gatame
  10. Shiho-nage - Shiho-nage

Application

Kakari-geiko

Ninindori - mixed attacks, open-handed and grasps. Multiple attackers e.g. ninindori, with variations of attack, open-handed.

Hikitate-geiko

Single attacker with tanto to show movement by both tori & uke. Tori showing continuation and combination techniques.

1st Kyu - Brown Belt

More than 9 months as 2nd Kyu. Minimum of 120 hours consistent practice as 2nd Kyu.

Core Skills

Shichi-hon-no-kuzushi 1-14

To show balance disturbance, circular movement and control.

Kuzushi

Demonstration of a variety of balance disturbances for randori.

Technique

Koryu-dai-san - Suwari-waza Section A (8 techniques)

  1. Oshi-taoshi
  2. Gyaku-gamae-ate
  3. Kote-gaeshi
  4. Ryote-mochi-sukui-nage
  5. Tenkai-kote-hineri
  6. Shiho-nage
  7. Gedan-ate
  8. Hiji-kime

Application

Hikitate-geiko

Empty-handed (toshu). Tori showing continuation and combination techniques.

Randori

Single attacker with tanto - uke to use counters (variations of the first five techniques of the randori-no-kata).

Notes

  1. Candidate: From 5th Kyu onwards, and with the exception of koryu-dai-san, candidates will be expected to be able to demonstrate on left or right at examiner's choice.
  2. Coaches: gohon-no-kuzushi is recognised as a training method and should be incorporated into practice sessions.
  3. Coaches: tanto randori-no-kata is recognised as a training method and should be incorporated into practice sessions.
  4. At all levels after 6th Kyu, previous syllabus will be required at the discretion of the examiners.
  5. Duration, intensity and quantity of the 'Application' sections will be at the discretion of the examiners.

Dan Grade Syllabus

1st Dan - Black

1 year consistent practice as 1st Kyu

Technique

Koryu-dai-san, Section B and C

16 techniques (8+8)

Koryu-dai-yon complete

1-26 (14+12)

Application

Randori

Tanto and toshu (empty-handed)

Combinations and Counters

5 of each, candidate's choice

2nd Dan - Black

2 years consistent practice as 1st Dan

Technique

Koryu-dai-san, Section D, E and F

18 techniques (5+5+8)

Koryu-dai-ichi, Section A

1-5

Application

Randori as required

Tanto and toshu

3rd Dan - Black

3 years consistent practice as 2nd Dan

Technique

Koryu-dai-san complete

1-50 (8+8+8+5+5+8+8)

Koryu-dai-ichi complete

1-24 (5+7+6+6)

Application

Randori as required

Tanto and toshu

4th Dan - Black

4 years consistent practice as 3rd Dan

Technique

Koryu-dai-ni complete

16 (11+5)

Goshin-ho-no-Kata

1-19

Application

Randori as required

Tanto and toshu

5th Dan - Black

5 years consistent practice as 4th Dan

Technique

Koryu-dai-go complete

23 (7+5+6+5)

Goshin-ho-no-Kata

20-37

Application

Randori as required

Tanto and toshu

6th Dan - Black

6 years consistent practice as 5th Dan

Technique

Koryu-dai-roku

39 (5+10+7+5+4+4+4)

Goshin-ho-no-Kata

+15

Application

Randori as required

Tanto and toshu

Notes

  1. Candidates: koryu-no-kata - sections to be demonstrated will be chosen by the examiner.
  2. Examiner: koryu-no-kata - new sections at each level must be demonstrated, demonstration of previous sections is optional.
  3. Candidates: Upon attaining 6th Dan, students will have successfully performed all the current koryu-no-kata; koryu-dai-ichi, koryu-dai-ni, koryu-dai-san, koryu-dai-yon, koryu-dai-go, koryu-dai-roku.
  4. At any time examiners may ask to review previous parts of the syllabus.
  5. Character and attitude will be considered at each level. These include participation as a student in competitions and/or courses.
  6. 'Technique' and 'Application' sections are of equal value in the assessment.
  7. Age and physical ability will be taken into account throughout.