Canadian Aikido Federation
Master List of Grading Requirements
NOTES:
1. All class/time requirements are minimum since the previous test.
2. Be prepared as both Nage and Uke.
3. Show Omote and Ura where appropriate.
4. Techniques from previous tests may be required.
5. CAF Examination Committee Notes are Appendix 2 to this document.

GOKYU(5th Kyu)

To Know the Basic Forms with Accuracy
Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
Attack60 DaysTachi-waza
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo
Training Required
Katate-doriShiho-nageSince Previous
Shomen-uchi
Irimi-nage
Rank Test
Suwari-waza
Ryote-dori
Kokyu-ho

YONKYU(4th Kyu)

To Have Proper Balance and Timing
Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
Attack80 DaysTachi-waza
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo
Training Required
Kata-dori
Nikyo
Since Previous
Yokomen-uchi
Shiho-nage
Rank Test
Shomen-uchi
Irimi-nage
Suwari-waza
Ryote-dori
Kokyu-ho

SANKYU
Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
100 Days
Tachi-waza
Training Required
Since Previous
Rank Test

Suwari-waza

Suwari-waza

Hanmi-handachi-waza
Tachi-wazaTechniques(3rd Kyu)

To Have Speed and Stability
AttackTechniques
Shomen-uchiIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Yokomen-uchi
Shiho-nage
Ryote-doriShiho-nage
Shomen-uchi
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi
Tsuki
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi
Ryote-doriTenchi-nage
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Ryote-dori
Kokyu-ho

NIKYU
Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
100 Days
Tachi-waza
Training Required
Since Previous
Rank TestTechniques(2nd Kyu)

To Have Power and Be Flowing
AttackTechniques
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Kata-doriIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Shomen-uchi
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi
Tsuki
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi
Katate-doriIrimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Kaiten-nage-(uchi & soto)
Ryote-doriTenchi-nage
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Kata-doriIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Ryote-dori
Kokyu-hoKatate-doriShiho-nageKatate-doriJiyu-waza ** The examiner will call the attack and nage will demonstrate five (5) different techniques for each attack.

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Canadian Aikido Federation
Master List of Grading Requirements
Please refer to Page 1 for Notes concerning Grading requirements.

IKKYU(1st Kyu)

To Be Able to Apply and Vary the Techniques
Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
AttackTechniques
120 Days
Tachi-waza
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Training Required
Kata-doriIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Since Previous
Yokomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Rank Test
Ushiro Ryote-doriIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Yokomen-uchi
Gokyo
Katate-doriShiho-nage
Ryote-doriShiho-nage
Shomen-uchi
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Kaiten-nage-(uchi & soto)
Tsuki
Irimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Kaiten-nage-(uchi & soto)
Katate-doriIrimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi, Kaiten-nage-(uchi & soto)
Ryote-doriTenchi-nage, Kokyu-ho
Suwari-waza
Shomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Kata-doriIkkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Yokomen-uchi
Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo
Ryote-dori
Kokyu-ho
Hanmi-handachi-waza
Katate-doriShiho-nage
Ryote-doriShiho-nageTachi-waza
Katate-doriJiyu-waza *Ryote-doriJiyu-waza *Morote-doriJiyu-waza ** The examiner will call the attack and nage will demonstrate five (5) different techniques for each attack.

SHODAN(1st Dan)

Minimum
Hanmi / Waza
Techniques
One Year andSuwari-waza
Unarmed techniques from all striking, thrusting and grasping attacks,
200 Days Training Hanmi-handachi-waza
including grasping any upper body parts from front or behind.
Since 1st Kyu Test Tachi-waza
Examples of techniques are provided in the Appendix and on the individual Shodan test sheet.

NIDAN(2nd Dan)

Minimum
All Shodan requirements, plus Tanto-dori andTwo Years and Futari-gake (two-person Ran-dori).
350 Days Training
Since 1st Dan Test Examples of techniques are provided in the Appendix and on the individual Nidan test sheet.

SANDAN(3rd Dan)

Minimum
All Nidan requirements, plus Tachi-dori, Jo-dori andThree Years and Taninzu-gake (multiple-person Ran-dori).
500 Days Training
Since 2nd Dan Test Examples of techniques are provided in the Appendix and on the individual Sandan test sheet.

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Canadian Aikido Federation
Appendix 1 (to Master List of Grading Requirements)
Sample Dan Test Requirements
NOTES:
These techniques were asked by Osawa Shihan during the examinations held in Toronto on 24 Sep 2011.
This appendix is included to provide an example of a typical dan test. However, it should be remembered thatat these levels the techniques required are at the discretion of the examiner and will vary from test-to-test.

SHODAN
Hanmi / Waza
Suwari-waza (zagi)
Suwari-waza (zagi)

Suwari-waza (zagi)

Hanmi-handachi

Suwari-waza(1st Dan)

AttackShomen-uchi
Kata-dori
Ushiro Ryote-doriMorote-dori
Shomen-uchi
Shomen-uchi, Yokomen-uchi, Morote-doriKatate-dori (gyaku-hanmi), Tsuki, Ushiro Ryote-doriKatate-dori (gyaku-hanmi), Ryote-doriKatate-dori, Shomen-uchi, Kata-dori-men-uchi
Tsuki, Ushiro Ryote-dori
Ryote-doriMorote-dori
Various attacks
Ryote-dori

NIDAN(2nd Dan)

Shodan techniques (listed above) plus the following:
Hanmi / Waza
AttackSuwari-waza
Shomen-uchi
Kata-doriTanto-dori
Futari-gake (two-person Ran-dori): Morote-dori
Futari-gake (two-person Ran-dori): Free attacks

SANDAN
Shodan and Nidan techniques (listed above) plus the following:
Hanmi / Waza
AttackHanmi-handachi-waza
Shomen-uchi
Hanmi-handachi-waza
Katate-dori
Suwari-waza
Shomen-uchi
Shomen-uchi
Hanmi-handachi-waza
Ushiro Ryokata-doriUshiro Ryokata-dori
Jo-doriTachi-doriv09, 20 July 2012

Techniques
Ikkyo (omote & ura)
Nikyo (omote & ura)
Sankyo (omote & ura)
Yonkyo (omote & ura)Irimi-nage
Irimi-nage
Kote-gaeshi
Shiho-nageShiho-nage
Kaiten-nageTenchi-nage
Kokyu-hoJiyu-waza
Kokyu-hoTechniques
Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo (omote & ura)
Nikyo
Kokyu-nageJiyu-waza(3rd Dan)
TechniquesIrimi-nage, Kote-gaeshi
Kaiten-nage
Kote-gaeshi
Kote-gaeshi
SankyoSankyo

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Canadian Aikido Federation
Appendix 2 (to Master List of Grading Requirements)
CAF Examination Committee Notes
The following notes were drafted by the CAF Examination Committee, and are effective as of 15 August 2012.
EXAMINATION COMMITTEE NOTE 1:
Techniques required for testing are the same as those required at Hombu. The examiner or examination
panel members can request demonstration of additional techniques at their discretion.

EXAMINATION COMMITTEE NOTE 2:
The following are the MINIMUM intervals required between tests in the CAF:
Testing for:5th Kyu
4th Kyu
3rd Kyu
2nd Kyu
1st Kyu
1st Dan
2nd Dan
3rd Dan
4th DanMinimum days practice sinceprevious promotion:
6080100100120200350500650

Minimum. time since previous
promotion:

1 year since 1st Kyu
2 years since 1st Dan
3 years since 2nd Dan
4 years since 3rd Dan

The above testing intervals are only minimum requirements. Some individuals may require many more days
than the minimally required days of practice to reach an acceptable level of technical competency. Theirinstructors (or the Examination Committee when necessary) must make reasonable judgment in this regard.

EXAMINATION COMMITTEE NOTE 3:
The Examination Committee will take into consideration various factors such as age, physical limitations, dojo
locations (being far away from dojo-populated cities where higher-ranked instructors teach and seminars are
conducted regularly), and other aspects of individual candidates. The Examination Committee can grant
permission on a case-by-case basis to test with fewer days or a shorter interval after the previous promotion
than required as "special cases," in order to be sensitive to specific circumstances of individual candidates.

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