Dan Grades - Meaning and Requirements

What does the shodan mean and what is the best way to prepare for it? What do the higher dan grades signify?

the 7 black-belt virtues

‘Aikido makes people happy’ - regular practice is an activity that helps us to grow as personalities... and to enjoy it! For this to succeed, we also need a serious side that lays the foundation for our development.

The holders of dan grades are role models within the dojo. Among other things, this means exemplifying the three cardinal virtues of always being open-minded, modest and kind. In addition, black belts are characterised by a special sense of responsibility, so that they are committed, obliging and punctual at keikos, seminars and other dojo activities. The seventh virtue is that they are supportive to their training partners - the other virtues are derived from this.

1. Open-minded - we are willing to learn new things and question our own skills, seeing mistakes as opportunities for growth
2. Modest - we treat the teacher as the sole authority on the mat and are grateful to our partners for learning from each other (we do not expect admiration for our skills, nor do we teach or correct others)
3. Kind - we treat everyone on the mat with the same kindness (we do not speak disparagingly about others)
4. Committed - we support the community, e.g. by keeping the dojo clean, helping out at events or by participating in free training to help others to prepare for exams
5. Obliging - we are reliable, e.g. by regularly attending keiko or by participating in all classes of seminars; during practice we focus on our assigned partners
6. Punctual - we are at the dojo on time before class or before the start of a seminar
7. Supportive - we practise with everyone and support them in making progress; we can best achieve this in class by giving each partner the ukemi they need to perform the technique successfully (we allow for mistakes, do not lecture, avoid talking during training)

In general, dan grades are perceived as representatives of the quality of the dojo, of technical expertise and - to an even greater extent - of personal development as an aikidoka. Their behaviour towards the aikido community determines how the dojo is perceived.

Examination, Grading, passage

An examination offers us the opportunity to present our development and the result of our preparation to the community, and thus consciously mark the transition to the next stage of our aikido journey. This creates a gain in self-confidence and connects us more strongly with the community.

The term “examination” is therefore a little misleading, because the assessment by the jury is not the most important part: first and foremost, it is a passage on the lifelong journey of aikido.

In this sense, the jury provides a framework for the formal process and sees itself as a guide for the transition to the next stage of the journey.^* Its assessment takes into account their history and individual challenges of the candidates. The feedback afterwards is intended to provide helpful hints as to where the best progress can be made in further development.

The term “grading” is used as a synonym for the examination/graduation. In our line of aikido, a “grade” does not signify a hierarchy, but a development stage with a specific field of topics on which the aikidoka concentrates (see chapter "Higher Dan Grades" below).

^*In principle, it is of course possible a candidate is not given the desired grade and may be asked to repeat the examination at a later date. This case is very rare and almost always has to do with the fact that the person concerned needs some additional preparation and a clearer picture of their grading goal. In our dojo, we support all candidates in their preparation so that the exam is successful. 

Meaning of the shodan

In aikido, the change from white to black belt means that we have completed our basic training by having learnt the most common techniques (kihon) and are able to apply them confidently. This can best be compared to completing an apprenticeship.

As with an apprenticeship, shodan is to be understood as the beginning of serious engagement with the art, as the start of a development that is increasingly more about freedom in dealing with the attack than about the specific technique. Familiarity with the techniques demonstrated in shodan is a prerequisite for being able to develop this freedom.

Dan grades occasionally teach (as a substitute), but the black belt in itself does not constitute a qualification as a teacher. Above all, shodan means that we start learning with a higher level of attention, because we now have a good basis on which to build.

Preparation for the Shodan

 Preparation for the shodan begins after the positive assessment by the dojo leader with the student's own decision to take the exam.

Formal requirements for the examination are 18 months of training, participation in at least 90 keikos and 4 shihan seminars after 1st kyu. The minimum age for taking the shodan grading is 18 years. (These conditions are stricter than the requirements of the Aikikai Association - the head of the dojo can reduce them in individual cases for particularly committed candidates).

Depending on personal development and training intensity, we plan 9-12 months of preparation time. During this time, we are supported by the teachers at the dojo. In addition to regular training, we prepare ourselves independently, in particular by attending seminars taught by members of the grading jury, and by organising extra-curricular trainings to prepare for the exam. The dojo organises mock gradings to help us prepare for the exam situation and discover the areas where we can make the most progress.

No matter how talented you already are - focussed preparation pays off!

Growing to meet the technical requirements and training intensively are two building blocks of a successful shodan exam - the third is that we take the 7 black-belt virtues described above to heart and make them part of our daily practice. During class, we pay particular attention to our own progress and are good ukes to everyone else.

3-6 months before the grading, we find one (or better two) ukes for our exam and practice with them as often as possible.

If we have prepared seriously, our teacher will recommend us to the shihan for the exam about a month before the exam. The official application forms for the Hombu Dojo will then be filled out. The Aikikai Tokyo charges an examination fee in the low three-digit range, which must be paid on the day of the grading. (If you cannot afford this, please contact us). For gradings with Jan Nevelius shihan, the three aikikai forms from the website of the Swedish Aikikai are required (button "Ansökan om dangradering - Shodan (zip)", English website version via Google Translate).

Please remember: your teachers and the jury want you to do well at the grading and that you enjoy it. With focussed preparation, you will succeed!

PS: You will be presented with your black belt immediately after the grading (courtesy of the dojo).

PPS: Make sure you give some token of appreciation to your ukes for helping you to succeed in the grading.

What if...?

As a rule of thumb for good preparation, you should feel calm about a month before the grading date, start looking forward to the day and be confident that you are well prepared.

What if I don't make progress so quickly? What if something comes up in my life? What if my teacher tells me to postpone?

The shodan grading is a stage on the path of your personal development, not an obligation or a competition. It must therefore suit your personal life situation - and above all, you should enjoy it! So if you realise that you don't feel ready, or if your life's circumstances do not allow you to take the exam in a relaxed manner, then it's perfectly fine to postpone the date (ideally before submitting the documents).

Trust your teachers: if they tell you to postpone, they have your best interest in mind – remember that they want you to succeed.

If you have any further questions, please speak to the head of the dojo.

Higher Dan Grades

The curriculum required for the higher dan levels is basically the same as for shodan. The virtues mentioned above also apply equally to all higher levels. So what distinguishes these examinations from shodan?

Nidan

Like the shodan, the nidan is also a technical examination, i.e. the focus here is on the clean and confident execution of the technical examination program. “A nidan is a very good shodan.”

• 3 years^* of training after shodan (200+ keikos)
• 9-12 months preparation time / 6+ shihan seminars
• 2 ukes
• Same range of techniques, but possibly more variations (e.g. “another variation for koshi-nage from katate-dori”)
• Jiyu-waza (tori-waza/uchi-waza)
• Tanto-dori (3× shomen-uchi, 3× yokomen-uchi, 3× chudan-tsuki, 1× ushiro-tsuki)
• Ninindori (3 variants) & randori (from ryokata-dori)

Sandan

Sandan demonstrates a greater sovereignty in the application of techniques and a significantly higher ability to adapt to uke and to include the space around the partners. All techniques show a pronounced zanshin.

• 4 years^* of training after nidan (300+ keikos)
• 12-18 months preparation time / 9+ shihan seminars
• 3 ukes
• Same range of techniques, more variations (e.g. “three different variations of koshi-nage from katate-dori”), possibly also more exotic techniques (e.g. “ushiro-kakae-dori kotegaeshi”)
• Jiyu-waza (tori-waza/uchi-waza)
• Tanto-dori (3× shomen-uchi, 3× yokomen-uchi, 3× chudan-tsuki, 1× ushiro-tsuki)
• Tachi-dori (5× shomen-uchi)
• Sanindori (2×) & randori (from shomen-uchi)

Yondan

Yondan is the last exam which is why it has a special significance. The emphasis here is on great freedom in the application of techniques, on the expression of the personal interpretation of aikido and on a presence that fills the entire room. Here, candidates should also show that they can confidently deal with very different ukes.

• 5 years^* of training after sandan (400+ keikos)
• 18-24 months preparation time / 12+ shihan seminars
• 4 ukes
• Only the first technique for each attack is announced, after that the examinees choose the techniques themselves (jiyu-waza); the announced technique can also be an exotic one (e.g. “jodan-tsuki juji-garami”)
• Jiyu-waza (tori-waza/uchi-waza)
• Tanto-dori (3× shomen-uchi, 3× yokomen-uchi, 3× chudan-tsuki, 1× ushiro-tsuki)
• Tachi-dori (5× shomen-uchi)
• Jo-dori (5× tsuki)
• Yonindori (2×) & randori (from shomen-uchi)

^*Minimum period plus 1 year; grading after minimum training period requires exceptionally high intensity of preparation

The requirements of the grading under Jan Nevelius shihan include the examination requirements of the Aikikai Tokyo and extend them. (In exceptional cases, the head of the dojo can reduce the above conditions to the less demanding Aikikai requirements for particularly committed candidates – after consultation with Jan Nevelius).

The examination fees set by Aikikai Tokyo for the higher dan grades increase from grade to grade.