" Learn How You Can Achieve Good Aikido Grading Ranks and Certificates. Fast-Track Your Aiki Skills to a Whole New Level! "

Usually Aikido grading ranks and certificates are not the main focus of students who practise the art of Aikido. But it's always good to have some feedback to be sure that you are on the right track in your training.

Most styles of Aikido do offer their students a path that leads through a series of Aikido ranks. But it does vary quite a lot on how many levels there are and the importance of each Aikido certificate.

In many clubs and associations there are only two belts... white and black. There are of course many different levels that you'll need to achieve and often an Aikido grading allows you to pressure test yourself in stressful but controlled circumstances.

Once you have achieved the Aikido ranks of black belt, you'll be a Dan grade and have the right to wear the hakama, which is a pleated divided skirt.

But this is at the discretion of your Instructor, as some organisations don't allow lower dan grades to wear them in general training, but only at formal seminars.

Also, some organisations see their dan grades as degrees, so you may be a 1st degree not 1st dan.

5th Kyu - 30 days of practice

4th Kyu - 40 days of practice after obtaining 5th Kyu

3rd Kyu - 50 days of practice after obtaining 4th Kyu

2nd Kyu - 50 days of practice after obtaining 3rd Kyu

1st Kyu - 60 days of practice after obtaining 2nd Kyu

1st Dan - 70 days of practice after obtaining 1st Kyu

2nd Dan - Minimum 1 year since 1st dan, with 200 days of practice

3rd Dan - Minimum 2 years since 2nd dan, with 300 days of practice

4th Dan - Minimum 3 years since 3rd dan, with 400 days of practice

Of course, other associations, organisations, systems and styles are different, but this gives you a good idea of the work involved.

In the West it is more common for students to expect Aikido grading ranks, certificates and coloured belts. This is because people have been brought up based on hundreds of tests and confirmation of their skill levels in every area of their society. They tend to crave recognition!

The Aikido Yoshinkan group I trained with in the UK used the following...

8th kyu - white belt

7th kyu - yellow belt

6th kyu - green belt

5th kyu - blue belt

4th kyu - orange belt

3rd kyu - brown belt

2nd kyu - brown belt

1st kyu - brown belt

1st Dan + - black belt

We had an aikido grading system that involved plenty of hard work, and Aikido ranks and an Aikido certificate were very difficult to achieve. This was because many students hoped for an easy path through the grades, and stopped training because it was so difficult to advance.

This was a good way of filtering out the weaker students who only had one eye on their training and the other eye on their ego. Unfortunately, this led to reduced student numbers, and many people came and went. But the most important thing is to protect the art and avoid diluting it.

When it comes down to it your Aikido grading, Aikido ranks and Aikido certificate will not help you as you go through difficult situations in your life, but solid Aikido skills and Aiki principles will.

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