Gradings are held twice a year and form an important part of a student’s progress. Besides offering essential feedback to both instructor and practitioner alike, gradings provide direction and a focus for learning.
Below is a summary of the requirements1 from your first test (5th Kyu) all the way to 4th degree black-belt (4th dan).
5th Kyu
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo (Shomen-Uchi), Ukemi (front, back)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-suburi 1~7, 6-no-jo
Fee: AUD30
4th Kyu
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days since 5th kyu
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Nikkyo (Shomen-Uchi), Ukemi (front, back)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-suburi 1~7, 6-no-jo, 31 no-kumi-jo
Fee: AUD30
3rd Kyu
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days since 4th kyu
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Sankyo (Shomen-Uchi), Ukemi (front, back)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-suburi 1~7, 6-no-jo, 31 no-kumi-jo, Ke-no-awase (right, left)
Fee: AUD40
2nd Kyu
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days since 3rd kyu
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Yonkyo (Shomen-Uchi), Ukemi (front, back, high)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-suburi 1~7, 6-no-jo, 31 no-kumi-jo, Ke-no-awase (right, left), Jo-no-suburi 1~13
Fee: AUD60
1st Kyu
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days since 2nd kyu
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi), Ukemi (front, back, high)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-suburi 1~7, 6-no-jo, 31 no-kumi-jo, Ke-no-awase (right, left), Jo-no-suburi 1~20
Fee: AUD80
1st Dan
Minimum age: 15 years
Minimum practice: 6 months / 80 training days since 1st kyu
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi), Nagewaza and Buki-dori (3 forms), Jiyuwaza (bare hands x 1 and ken x 1, 45 seconds minimum)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-Suburi 1~7, Jo-no-Suburi 1~20
Fee: JPY30,000
2nd Dan
Minimum age: 18 years
Minimum practice: 1 and a half years / 300 training days since 1st Dan
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi), Nagewaza and Buki-dori (3 forms), Jiyuwaza (bare hands x 2 and ken x 1, 1 minute minimum)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-Suburi 1~7, Jo-no-Suburi 1~20, Ken-no-awase (right, left, gohon, roppon, nanahon), 31 jo-no-kata and 13 jo-no-kata
Fee: JPY35,000
3rd Dan
(Conducted only by Saito Hitohiro Soke in Japan or at an internationally recognised seminar)
Minimum age: 25 years
Minimum practice: 2 and a half years / 500 training days since 2nd Dan
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza- Ikkyo-Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi/Yokomen-Uchi), Tachiwaza- Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi / Yokomen Uchi, different techniques from Suwariwaza), Nagewaza (4 forms), Buki-dori Jiyuwaza (ken x 1, jo x 1, tanken x 1, 1 minute 30 seconds minimum)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-Suburi 1~7, Happo-giri (Suburi Kata 1-2-6-7), Kumi Tachi 1~5, Kimusubi-no-Tachi, Jo-no-Suburi 1~20, 31 no-kumi-jo, 13 jo-no-awase
Fee: JPY50,000
4th Dan
(Conducted only by Saito Hitohiro Soke in Japan or at an internationally recognised seminar)
Minimum age: 30 years
Minimum practice: 3 and a half years / 600 training days since 3rd Dan
Taijutsu: Suwariwaza-Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi/Yokomen-Uchi), Tachiwaza- Ikkyo~Gokyo (Shomen-Uchi/Yokomen-Uchi, different techniques from Suwariwaza), Nagewaza (4 forms), Buki-dori Jiyuwaza (bare hands x 1, ken x 1, jo x 1, tanken x 1, 1 minute 30 seconds minimum)
Buki-waza: Ken-no-Suburi 1~7, Jo-no-Suburi 1~20, Ken-tai-Jo 1~7, kumijo 1~10 (11 including yon-no-ni)
Fee: JPY60,000
1 All gradings include: Tai-no-henko (kihon, ki-no-nagare), Morote-dori kokyu-nage, suwari-waza kokyu-ho