Introduction
Kyu-grade requirements
The current requirements for kyu-grades of Finland Aikikai came into effect 12.1.2019 and they were updated 8.9.2019. Click for requirements in pdf-format.
These kyu-grade requirements are for aikido practitioners above the age of 13.
To take a kyu exam, the participant must fill out the registration form by the deadline set by the examiner and pay the examination fee defined annually by Finland Aikikai. Participants need to have the Aikido passport of Finland Aikikai. The participants will receive a Finland Aikikai kyu-diploma for each grade awarded in examinations.
The clubs register kyu grades in Suomisport register (www.suomisport.fi) and the fees are charged based on the grades registered.
As a sign of obtained grades, members with 6. – 4. kyu use a white belt. Those with 3. – 1. kyu can use a brown belt and hakama.
Levels in Kyu grades
The techniques named by the examiner should always be performed as basic techniques (kihonwaza) from standing still. Basic techniques are performed as kata. In free techniques (jiyuwaza) you can use applied techniques (oyowaza) and variations of basic techniques (henkawaza). Free techniques (jiyuwaza) are performed from motion and joint locks are not used at the end of the technique.
Additions to the requirements by Clubs
Instructors and graduation examiners can add club specific requirements. Additions must to be made in writing and sent to the Educational Committee of Finland Aikikai.
Time limits
| Grade | Time required |
|---|---|
| 6. kyu | 20 days of practice |
| 5. kyu | 30 days of practice |
| 4. kyu | 40 days of practice |
| 3. kyu | 50 days of practice |
| 2. kyu | 50 days of practice |
| 1. kyu | 60 days of practice |
6. kyu
Learning objectives
- Body posture is straight
- The candidate can identify migi (right) and hidari (left) hanmi, taisabaki (tenkan, irimitenkan) and can do mae and ushiro ukemi from the knee and from standing (suwari- and tachiwaza) (migi/hidari)
- Swing ushiro-ukemi (migi/hidari)
- Rolling ushiro ukemi (left and right)
- The candidate recognises the difference between omote and ura
- The candidate understands dojo etiquette and examination etiquette
- The candidate can perform the techniques without guidance or model example formally (as kata)
Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza aihanmi katatedori |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Additional exercises
- Basic postures (kamae)
- Turning in tachi- and suwariwaza (taisabaki)
- Ikkyo-undo
- Tainotenkan-ho (body turn)
- Shomen and yokomen uchi strikes
- Aiming for a balanced hanmi
5. kyu
Learning objectives
- Suorituksessa kiinnitetään huomiota kehon rentouttamiseen
- Tegatanan (kämmensyrjä) käyttö, shomen- ja yokomen uchi lyönnit ja näiden lyöntien vastaanotto
- Ikkyo-undo (huomio polvien ja lantion käyttöön, käsien ojentaminen eteen ja alas)
- Shikko eteen ja taakse
- Tekniikoiden suoritus ilman toistuvia uudelleen yrityksiä, sekä alustava käsitys etäisyydestä
Techniques
| Nimi | Kuvaus |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza shomen uchi katatedori |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza katatedori |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza shomen uchi |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Katatedori = gyaku hanmi
Lisäharjoitteet
- Moving with shikko (mae, ushiro, tenkan type of exercises)
- Shomen and yokomen uchi strikes
- Different exercises for moving and encountering the uke
- Mae-ukemi over an obstacle
- Break fall / high fall ukemi staying in the tatami
- Nikyo wrist lock
4. kyu
Learning objectives
- Entering outside (shomen uchi) and inside (yokomen uchi), encountering, and placement of tori
- Forms of techniques with joint locks are clear and differences between the lock types are understood.
- Control of space at short distance (katadori)
- Systematic performance of the techniques and proper distance start to show in the performance (there is no need to increase the speed), ukemi staying in the tatami, clear form of yokomen and shomen uchi, breaking uke’s balance in katadori grip
- The candidate understands the difference between omote and ura and can show the difference in the techniques.
Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Nikyo | tachiwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza yokomen uchi |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza shomen uchi |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Additional exercises
- Shikko movement
- Kakarigeiko kokyunage type of practice (multiple ukes attacking in line)
- Shiho- and hachi-undo (ikkyo undo practice to four/eight directions)
- Suwariwaza shomen uchi ikkyo and nikyo
- Kotegaeshi from different grip attacks
- Ryotedori tenchinage
- Katatedori kokyuho
- Introduction to different tsuki attacks
- Munedori vs. katadori
- Different exercises for contact distance and breaking the balance of uke
3. kyu
Learning objectives
- Movement and placement in techniques both in sitting (suwariwaza) and standing (tachiwaza) forms
- Clear joint lock grips and mechanics
- Use of timing is visible in techniques, and the role of distance and breaking uke’s balance is understood
- Performance of high fall ukemi from hip height is recommended. Learning the differences between basic technique (kihonwaza) and variations (oyowaza) begins
- Consistent and fluent encounters with strikes and technique, exemplary dojo etiquette
- Can function as uke in joint lock techniques and understands the role of uke in throwing techniques
Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi |
| Nikyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi |
| Sankyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi |
| Yonkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza ryotedori yokomen uchi |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza shomen uchi tsuki |
| Kotegaeshi | tachiwaza shomen uchi tsuki |
| Tenchinage | tachiwaza ryotedori |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza katatedori |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Katatedori = gyaku hanmi
Tsuki = chudan and jodan
Additional exercises
- Moving in shikko
- Kakarigeiko kokyunage practice
- Introduction of koshinage
- Uchikaitennage (inner rotation under the arm)
- Sotokaitenosae (outer rotation under the arm)
- Ryotedori kokyunage variations
- Shomen uchi uchikaiten sankyo
- Sotokaitennage
- Suwariwaza iriminage
- Introduction of hanmi-handachiwaza (uke standing, tori sitting)
- Practicing more demanding high falls (koshinage and shihonage ukemi)
2. kyu
Learning objectives
- Toriwaza from a short distance (katadori)
- Applying katatedori (aihanmi, gyakuhanmi) techniques to two-hand (morotedori) attacks
- Rhythm and breaking balance with rythm changes are visible in movement
- Learning of hanmi handachiwaza (uke standing, tori sitting) begins
- The candidate understands ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo techniques from tachi- and suwariwaza, breaking uke’s balance and changes of joint locks are clear. The execution of techniques shows proper distance and timing in the examination
- The candidate can perform the techniques both standing still and from movement
- A continuity of movement is visible in jiyuwaza
- Can function as uke in both techniques including joint locks as well as throwing techniques
Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Nikyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Sankyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Yonkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katadori |
| Shihonage | hamni handachiwaza katatedori |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katatedoritachiwaza tsuki |
| Kotegaeshi | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katatedoritachiwaza tsuki |
| Kaitennage | tachiwaza katatedori |
| Tenchinage | tachiwaza ryotedori |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza ryotedori yokomen uchi morotedori |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Katatedori = gyaku hanmi
Tsuki = chudan and jodan
Kaitennage = uchi- and sotokaitennage
Additional exercises
- Different types of kicks as well as morotedori jujigarami, ryokatadori kokyunage and ushirowaza kokyunage, koshinage and sotokaitennage are introduced
1. kyu
Learning objectives
- The candidate recognises the difference between gokyo and ikkyo
- Staying concentrated throughout the exam
- Rhythm and breaking balance with rhythm changes are clearly visible
- The techniques, joint locks, changing of grip positions, and joint locks at the end of techniques are clear. The body posture is upright/straight during techniques
- Understands the importance of kihonwaza in aikido
- Can function as uke in joint lock and throw techniques
Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi yokomen uchi katadoriushirowaza ryotedori |
| Nikyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi yokomen uchi katadoriushirowaza ryotedori |
| Sankyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi yokomen uchi katadoriushirowaza ryotedori |
| Yonkyo | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi yokomen uchi katadoriushirowaza ryotedori |
| Gokyo | tachiwaza yokomen uchi |
| Shihonage | tachiwaza ja hamni handachiwaza katatedori ryotedori |
| Iriminage | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katatedoritachiwaza tsuki |
| Kotegaeshi | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katatedoritachiwaza tsuki |
| Kaitennage | tachiwaza ja suwariwaza shomen uchi katatedoritachiwaza tsuki |
| Tenchinage | tachiwaza ryotedori |
| Jiyuwaza | tachiwaza ryotedori morotedoriushirowaza ryotedori |
| Kokyuho | suwariwaza ryotedori |
Katatedori = gyaku hanmi
Tsuki = chudan and jodan
Kaitennage = uchi- and sotokaitennage
Additional exercises
- Practicing the techniques not included in the examination technique list such as koshinage, hijikimeosae, uchikaiten sankyo, aikiotoshi
- Introduction to different less frequently used attack forms such as ushiro eridori, katatedori kubishime, maegeri, munedori, katadori menuchi, ushiroryokatadori, ushiroryohijidori and rare attack – technique combinations (maegeri iriminage, chudan tsuki sotokaitennage)
- Broadening the practice of jiyuwaza to include toriwaza jiyuwaza and uchiwaza jiyuwaza
- Start to reflect on similarities and differences between attack forms and techniques
- Introduction of ameno torifune (rowing exercise)
