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Grading
All students are invited to grade regularly which enables a regular measure of progress that is recognised internationally. These grading take the form of a demonstration of techniques for each particular level and get more challenging with progress. There are 7 Kyu or beginners grades before progressing to the Dan or senior levels. Colored belts are worn for junior students and black belts for senior students. Tests are carried out every few months with students progressing through the early grades every few months to the Dan grades which can take years.
A dedicated student can expect to be recognised as a Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in a little over three years. Our club can grade students to Sandan (3rd degree balck belt) with the Kyu certificates being issued from us and Dan levels being issued from Master Koretoshi Maruyama in Japan. We recognise all aikidoka at their current level regardless of where they have previously studied.
The grading syllabbus can be found at http://brisbaneaikido.com
Syllabus Foundations
Techniques are examined at 3 different levels:
- Kotai (static) level
- Juntai (moving)
- Ryutai (freestyle)
Techniques begin with Katatedori style attacks (hand grabs) where accurate positioning of the body is developed through precise clearly described movements and footwork (such as moon shadow lizard legs). This teaches not only the correct distance and timing for these attacks but is also identical for Juntai and Ryutai style attacks such as shomenuchi and munetsuki as well as more dynamic attacks in more advanced gradings.
By 3rd Kyu the syllabus is beginning to move away from examining rigid forms allowing the student to express themselves in freestyle (tanninzugake) style practice.
7th Kyu White Belt
Here the student learns the exterior forms through big tenkan leads, big movements and ki extension, these later become smaller and more direct. There is no hand work at this stage
6th Kyu White Belt
The concept of ura and omote body positions is examined here, teaching about getting off the line.
The use of the hands in technique is explored (hopefully thoughthe students ki extension isn't drawn to focusing on the hands)
The relationship of waza to technique is also clearly demonstrated as three waza in the same order they are put into the warmups (change hanmi, moon shadow lizard legs and cutting) form the basis for both ikkyo techniques (later we see the same waza used to create shionage)
5th KyuYellow Belt
We move from katatedori to katadori techniques. here the students use of the tanden is tested. Whilst the ikkyo techniques of 6th remain principally the same this time it is more internalised to the tanden and students must lean to use this power in their techniques.
Dynamic attacks are also introduced, the techniques to be used being based on those previously demonstrated
shomenuchi irimi nage (katate kosa dori kokyunage)
yokomen uchi shionage (katatedori ikkyo omote) - there is a turn here before the cut don to form shionage
4th Kyu Orange Belt
munetsuki kotegaeshi appears (same movements as katate kosa dori kokyunage ) with the circles shrinking and becoming more internalised
more techniques based on hanmi changing, MSF-LL style stepping and cutting (nikkyo and ushirotekubidori)
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3rd Kyu Green Belt
ikkyo-yonkyo are examined, showing control of partners tanden through progressively removed control via limb segments. The first of the tanninzugake attacks begins to appear.
By third kyu the student should have a good understanding of static based practice and the delivery of power using their tanden. thus the syllabus begins to relax rigid form and begin to allow the student to develop more individually.
2nd Kyu Brown Belt
The real beginning with seniority here as katadori techniques prepare them for frontal assault type attacks that are examined in tanninzugakes later in the grading. Weapons are also examined for the first time both through tanninzugake testing calm under preassure from tanto and bokken attackes. The weapons katas are also examined looking at higher levels of ki extension and insights into aikido from weapons practice.
1st Kyu Brown Belt with Hakama
A straight tanninzugake grading designed to put the student under repeated preassure to see how they respond, thus testing calm under preassure. this highlights movements and areas to be worked on for shodan
Kokyu dosa is examined
Shodan Black Belt 1st Dan
The beginner level of aikido, by this time the student has been exposed to the complete syllabus of Aikido Yuishinkai (presumably also techniques beyond the grading syllabus). The grading prepares the student for ni-dan and sandan level understanding in the coming years
Nidan, Sandan Black Belt 2nd, 3rd Dan
As the last of the gradings in our school these. These show a mastery of the schools syllabus, good control and care of uke and individual style begins to emerge more completely at this time. 4 and five person multiple attacks are added to look at the students movement under preasure
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