Introduction
The junior kyu grades are intended for Aikido practitioners under the age of 13. Practitioners aged 13-15 can also achieve junior kyu grades if decided by the club. Junior kyu grades should be registered within the clubs, and Suomisport can be used for this purpose. Colored tags attached to both ends of the belt serve as markers for the completed belt grade. Aikido Federation diplomas are awarded for full kyu grades.
When a junior transitions to adult practices, the transition should be as motivating and appropriate as possible. Club instructors should consider on a case-by-case basis what solution is most suitable for each junior.
As a general rule, full junior kyu grades correspond to adult kyu grades. For example, if a junior has completed the entire 5th kyu for juniors (two blue tags), they can next attempt the adult 4th kyu if the instructor deems it appropriate. If a junior has only completed the first blue tag, they can attempt the adult 5th kyu next. If needed, a junior can also start attempting adult belt tests from the same grade they already have in juniors. In this case, for example, a junior who has achieved the 4th kyu in juniors would reattempt the 4th kyu belt test in adults.
Sometimes, there may be motivated juniors in the club whose junior belt grades are at risk of running out before they are old enough to transition to adult practices. In such cases, a junior who is at least 11 years old and has completed a full junior kyu grade can attempt the equivalent kyu grade as an adult belt test, registered with the federation. The condition for attempting the belt grade is an assessment by the junior’s coach and the recipient of the grading regarding the junior’s sufficient mental and physical maturity. Additionally, the condition for registering the belt grade with the federation is the purchase of an adult Aikido pass and payment of the grading fee defined by the federation.
During the adult belt grade test, the technique is assessed according to the adult requirements, and the grading recipient must have the Aikido Federation’s approved authority to conduct the grading for the specific belt grade.
Requirements in pdf-form.
Time limits
| Grade | Time |
|---|---|
| I yellow tag | 10 days of practice since starting |
| II yellow tags | 10 days of practice since obtaining I yellow tag |
| 8. kyu, III yellow tags | 10 days of practice since obtaining II yellow tags |
| I orange tag | 15 days of practice since obtaining 8.kyu |
| 7. kyu, II orange tags | 15 days of practice since obtaining I orange tag |
| I green tag | 15 days of practice since obtaining 7.kyu |
| 6. kyu , II green tags | 15 days of practice since obtaining I green tag |
| I blue tag | 20 days of practice since obtaining 6.kyu |
| 5. kyu, II blue tags | 20 days of practice since obtaining I blue tag |
| I brown stripe | 20 days of practice since obtaining 5.kyu |
| 4. kyu, II brown tags | 20 days of practice since obtaining I brown tag |
8. kyu
I yellow tag
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| dojo etiquette | dojo reiho |
| taisabaki | tenkan |
| ukemi | mae, ushiro |
| ikkyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori omote |
II yellow tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| taino-tenkan-ho | |
| kamae | tandoku, sotai |
| taisabaki | irimi-tenkan |
| ikkyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori ura |
| shihonage | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori omote |
III yellow tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| ikkyo-undo | |
| shomen-uchi | towards a partner |
| iriminage | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori |
| shihonage | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori ura |
| iriminage | tachiwaza shomen-uchi |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori 2 techniques of free choice |
7. kyu
I orange tag
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| shikko | mae,ushiro |
| nikyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori omote |
| kotegaeshi | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori omote, ura |
| tenchinage | tachiwaza ryotedori |
II orange tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| nikyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori ura |
| ikkyo | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori omote |
| kokyunage | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori |
| kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori 2 techniques of free choice |
6. kyu
I green tag
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| shikko | tenkan, irimi-tenkan |
| sankyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori omote, ura |
| shihonage | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori omote, ura |
| ikkyo | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori ura |
II green tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| ukemi | tobikoshi ukemi |
| ikkyo | tachiwaza shomen-uchi omote, ura |
| iriminage | suwariwaza shomen-uchi |
| ikkyo | suwariwaza shomen-uchi omote, ura |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza shomen-uchi 2 techniques of free choice |
5. kyu
I blue tag
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| ukemi | striking the tatami |
| nikyo | tachiwaza katatedori omote, ura |
| iriminage | tachiwaza guakuhanmi katatedori |
| nikyo | tachiwaza katadori omote, ura |
| iriminage | tachiwaza katadori |
II blue tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| kokyunage | tachiwaza gyakuhanmi katatedori |
| nikyo | tachiwaza shomen-uchi omote, ura |
| kotegaeshi | tachiwaza shomen-uchi |
| ikkyo | suwariwaza katadori omote, ura |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza katadori 2 techniques of free choice |
4. kyu
I brown tag
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| Yokomen-uchi | towards a partner |
| Kokyunage | tachiwaza guakuhanmi katatedori 2 different kinds |
| Sankyo | tachiwaza guakuhanmi katatedori omote, ura |
| Sankyo | tachiwaza shomen uchi omote, ura |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza yokomen-uchi |
II brown tags
| requirement | description |
|---|---|
| Ukemi | kotegaeshi ukemi |
| Kotegaeshi | tachiwaza guakuhanmi katatedori |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza yokomen uchi omote, ura |
| Nikyo | suwariwaza shomen uchi omote, ura |
| free technique | tachiwaza yokomen uchi 2 techniques of free choice |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza guakuhanmi katatedori |
