Ranking Structure

The Rank Structure at the Goshin Budokan USA Shubukan Hombu Martial Arts Center has three Mon levels: 1) Junior Degree Level, 2) Senior Kyu Level, and 3) Senior Step Level. Ranks & Certificates will be awarded according to the following Promotion Chart. (This ranking structure applies to all arts taught at the Shubukan Ryu)

 

Junior Degree Belt Ranks
(under 17 Years of Age)

Level Color Patch Age Min Time
in Grade
# of
Class Days
1st Yellow 1st Degree 5 2 months 12
2nd Yellow 2nd Degree 6 2 months 12
3rd Orange 3rd Degree 7 3 months 24
4th Orange 4th Degree 8 3 months 24
5th Green 5th Degree 9 4 months 48
6th Green 6th Degree 10 4 months 60
7th Blue 7th Degree 11 5 months 72
8th Blue 8th Degree 12 5 months 84
9th Purple 9th Degree 13 6 months 96
10th Purple 10th Degree 14 6 months 108
11th Brown 11th Degree 14 8 months 120
12th Brown 12th Degree 16 8 months 132

Conversion Chart
(17 Years of Age & Older)

Youth Ranks Adult Equivalent
2nd - 4th Degree 9th - 6th Kyu Exam for Ryoku
5th - 8th Degree 5th Kyu Exam for Gokyu
9th - 10th Degree 4th Kyu Exam for Yonkyu
11th Degree 1st - 3rd Kyu Exam for Sankyu
12th Degree 1st - 3rd Kyu Exam for Nikyu

Important Note: If, at time of conversion, the Youth candidate decides not to test for 11th or 12th Kyu, or decides to wait, he/she will be given the rank below the one that would have been awarded had he/she successfully passed the test.

Senior Kyu Belt Ranks

Class Color Patch Age Min Time
in Grade
# of
Class Days
6th Yellow Rokyu 17 4 Months 72
5th Orange Gokyu 17 5 months 84
4th Green Yonkyu 17 6 months 96
3rd Brown Sankyu 17 6 months 108
2nd Brown Nikyu 17 8 months 120
1st Brown Ikkyu 17 8 months 132

Note Regarding Time In Grade

Time in grade may be waived by Dojocho based on prior martial arts training and / or current Kyu level or Dan grade. There is no formal testing after 3rd Dan. Promotions to 4th Dan and higher will be based on the student's contributions to the martial arts, teaching ability, continued training in Shubukan Martial Arts and a formal recommendation by the Shubukan Dojocho.

Students should be ready to test at any time as all Kyu exams are unannounced. Shubukan Black Belt exams are scheduled twice a year by the Dojocho.

 

Note: Students advancing from Youth to Adult will be given an Examination to establish their qualifications, using the above chart as a guide. As a general rule, Youth ages 5 – 16 will train in the Youth/Shonenbu Class, and Youth ages 17 and above will train in the Adult class.

 

 

Senior Black Belt Step Ranks

Step Belt Color Patch Min Age Min Time
in Grade
# of
Class Days
Instructor Rank
1st Black Shodan 20 9 Months 144 N/A
2nd Black Nidan 21 1 Year 156 N/A
3rd Black Sandan 23 2 Years 168 N/A
4th Red & Black or Black Yondan 26 3 Years 180 Renshi
5th Red & Black or Black Godan 30 4 Years N/A Renshi
6th Red & Black or Black Rokudan 35 5 Years N/A Kyoshi
7th Red & Black or Black Shichidan 42 7 Years N/A Kyoshi
8th Red & Black or Black Hachidan 50 8 Years N/A Kyoshi
9th Red or Black Kudan 59 9 Years N/A Hanshi
10th Special White or Black Judan 69 10 Years N/A Hanshi
USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Request for Validation, Senior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Request for Validation, Senior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Recommendation for Promotion, Junior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Recommendation for Promotion, Junior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Recommendation for Promotion, Senior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Recommendation for Promotion, Senior Ranks

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner - Program Summary

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner - Program Summary

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner's Division Training Manual

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner's Division Training Manual

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner Division - Policy on Rank Promotions

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner Division - Policy on Rank Promotions

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Junior Aikido Mon Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Junior Aikido Mon Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Senior Aikido Kyu Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Senior Aikido Kyu Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Black Belt Aikido Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Black Belt Aikido Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Black Belt Aikido Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Certificate of Black Belt Aikido Rank

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division Patch

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division Patch

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Aikido Master Level Examiner

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Aikido Master Level Examiner

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Committee/Promotion Board

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiners Division - Committee/Promotion Board