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
1^st	Yellow	1^st Degree	5	2 months	12
2^nd	Yellow	2^nd Degree	6	2 months	12
3^rd	Orange	3^rd Degree	7	3 months	24
4^th	Orange	4^th Degree	8	3 months	24
5^th	Green	5^th Degree	9	4 months	48
6^th	Green	6^th Degree	10	4 months	60
7^th	Blue	7^th Degree	11	5 months	72
8^th	Blue	8^th Degree	12	5 months	84
9^th	Purple	9^th Degree	13	6 months	96
10^th	Purple	10^th Degree	14	6 months	108
11^th	Brown	11^th Degree	14	8 months	120
12^th	Brown	12^th Degree	16	8 months	132

Conversion Chart
(17 Years of Age & Older)

Youth Ranks	Adult Equivalent
2^nd - 4^th Degree	9^th - 6^th Kyu Exam for Ryoku
5^th - 8^th Degree	5^th Kyu Exam for Gokyu
9^th - 10^th Degree	4^th Kyu Exam for Yonkyu
11^th Degree	1^st - 3^rd Kyu Exam for Sankyu
12^th Degree	1^st - 3^rd 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
6^th	Yellow	Rokyu	17	4 Months	72
5^th	Orange	Gokyu	17	5 months	84
4^th	Green	Yonkyu	17	6 months	96
3^rd	Brown	Sankyu	17	6 months	108
2^nd	Brown	Nikyu	17	8 months	120
1^st	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 3^rd Dan. Promotions to 4^th 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
1^st	Black	Shodan	20	9 Months	144	N/A
2^nd	Black	Nidan	21	1 Year	156	N/A
3^rd	Black	Sandan	23	2 Years	168	N/A
4^th	Red & Black or Black	Yondan	26	3 Years	180	Renshi
5^th	Red & Black or Black	Godan	30	4 Years	N/A	Renshi
6^th	Red & Black or Black	Rokudan	35	5 Years	N/A	Kyoshi
7^th	Red & Black or Black	Shichidan	42	7 Years	N/A	Kyoshi
8^th	Red & Black or Black	Hachidan	50	8 Years	N/A	Kyoshi
9^th	Red or Black	Kudan	59	9 Years	N/A	Hanshi
10^th	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 - Recommendation for Promotion, Junior Ranks

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

USJA (ACE) Aikido Certified Examiner - Program Summary

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

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 Senior Aikido Kyu 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 - Aikido Master Level Examiner

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