Grading for children

Grading for children is held in June and November. All children (except those who have only just started practicing) are graded.

9th kyu (A, B, C) (yellow obi): ki development: unbendable arm, standing with mind and body unified, sitting seiza with mind and body unified, sitting down and standing up with mind and body unified; aiki exercises: half back roll, shake wrists technique; kumi waza: katate kosadori kokyu nage, munatsuki koteoroshi (katame), kokyu dosa.

8th kyu, 7th kyu (A, B, C) (0range obi): ki development: same as 9th kyu; aiki exercises: in addition to 9th kyu, boat rowing technique, first teaching technique, front and back technique; kumi waza: shomenuchi kokyu nage, munatsuki koteoroshi, katatori ikkyo (irimi, tenkan), katate kosadori kokyu nage, kokyu dosa.

6th kyu (A, B, C) (blue obi): ki development: hold one arm out with mind and body unified, raise both arms with mind and body unified, bend backwards with mind and body unified, bend forward with mind and body unified; aiki exercises: in addition to 7th kyu, eight directions technique, wrist crossing technique (above), wrist crossing technique (below); kumi waza: shomenuchi kokyu nage, yokomenuchi shiho nage (irimi, tenkan), ryotedori tenchi nage　(irimi, tenkan), munatsuki kaiten nage, katatedori shiho nage, kokyu dosa.

5th kyu (blue obi): same as adult criteria
4th kyu (purple obi): same as adult criteria
3rd kyu (purple obi): same as adult criteria
2nd kyu (brown obi): same as adult criteria
1st kyu (brown obi): same as adult criteria

Children must be at least 15 years old to test for shodan (1st degree black obi).