Aikido Promotion Requirements

Rank	Belt Color	Total Hours in Aikido	Minimum Age	Time in Grade	Total Time in Aikido
Gokyu	Yellow	20	16	3 months	1 month
Yonkyu	Green	40	16	3 months	3 months
Sankyu	Brown	80	16	3 months	6 months
Nikyu	Brown	120	16	3 months	9 months
Ikkyu	Brown	160	16	3 months	1 year
Shodan	Black	250	16	6 months	1-1.5 years
Nidan	Black	500	18	1 year	2 years
Sandan	Black	850	20	2 years	4 years
Yondan	Black	1100	22	2 years	6 years
Godan	Black	1600	25	2 years	8 years
Rokyudan	Red and White	2600	29	3 years	11 years
Shichidan	Red and White	4600	37	8 years	19 years
Hachidan	Red and White	6600	45	8 years	27 years

Technical Requirements
Rank	Belt Color
Gokyu	tegatana no kata; hanasu no kata
Yonkyu	tegatana no kata; hanasu no kata; kihara randori exercises
Sankyu	tegatana no kata; hanasu no kata; additional randori exercises; ni ju san 1-5
Nikyu	previous requirements; ni ju san 1-11; basic ukemi
Ikkyu	previous requirements; ni ju san 1-16; advanced ukemi
Shodan	previous requirements; ni ju san 1-23; owaza 1-5; vocabulary
Nidan	advanced skills in all areas; owaza 1-10; san kata 1-16
Sandan	san kata 1-34; yon kata 1-14, advancement of all skills especially in the areas of teaching the application of the principles of our system and of Aikido
Yondan	This is a PhD. level rank and the candidate must demonstrate extraordinary knowledge of all Aikido principles, Fugakukai katas and techniques, a total commitment to the art of Aikido and the teaching thereof is required
Godan	assistant professor, advancement of all skills required
Rokudan	full professor, extra-ordinary teaching and leadership skill required
Shichidan	professor emeritus, must be an outstanding contributor to the art and all of its precepts and techniques whether physical or spiritual
Hachidan	must have demonstrated continuing contributions to Aikido and exerted a continuing positive service to the Fugakukai, its members and ideals
Kudan	red belt awarded by a committee of full professors
Judan	red belt awarded by a committee of full professors