Dan and Kyu Standards at Jeju Oseung Dojo
Separately from the standards of the Hombu Dojo and the Korea Aikido Federation, Jeju Oseung Dojo has its own dan and kyu standards. Reflecting the character of a dojo centered on adult members that has long practiced classical swordsmanship alongside aikido, its distinctive features are that it sets longer training-day requirements and includes weapons work with the jo and bokken in its examinations.
Principles of Examination
- You start at 4th kyu. The first examination is 4th kyu, not 5th kyu as at the Hombu Dojo.
- Training days are counted in units of 100. 4th kyu requires 100 total training days, and after that you must train another 100 days for each kyu before you can apply.
- Techniques are examined cumulatively. A person applying for a higher kyu performs all the techniques from 4th kyu up to the kyu applied for. Even the same technique is judged by the level of completeness appropriate to the kyu applied for.
- Attendance at dojo events counts toward evaluation. Attending dojo events such as training camps, seminars (koshukai, 講習会), and demonstrations (enbukai, 演武会) earns extra credit in the examination.
- The required documents and fees are submitted to the head examiner before the examination.
Kyu Examinations
| Kyu | Eligibility | Techniques examined |
|---|---|---|
| 4th kyu | At least 100 total training days | Body movement: ukemi (koho ukemi, koho kaiten ukemi, zenpo kaiten ukemi), tai sabaki, basic strikes, ikkyo undo (front and back, four directions; standing and seated), shikko (forward and backward), partner exercises in body movement Tachi waza: ikkyo (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ai-hanmi katate-dori, shomen-uchi), kokyu nage (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, morote-dori), sumi otoshi (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori) |
| 3rd kyu | At least 200 total training days, at least 100 days after 4th kyu | Weapons: the 20 basic jo movements Tachi waza: nikyo and sankyo (mune-dori, morote-dori, yokomen-uchi), irimi nage (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ai-hanmi katate-dori, shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi), tenchi nage (ryote-dori) |
| 2nd kyu | At least 300 total training days, at least 100 days after 3rd kyu | Weapons: 13-count jo awase, basic sword techniques Tachi waza: yonkyo (ryote-dori, ushiro ryote-dori, tsuki), shiho nage and kote gaeshi (morote-dori, tsuki, ryote-dori, ushiro ryote-dori), aiki otoshi (ushiro ryokata-dori, ryokata-dori), uchi kaiten nage and osae (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ai-hanmi katate-dori, ryote-dori, ushiro ryote-dori) Suwari waza: irimi nage and kote gaeshi (tsuki, yokomen-uchi) Jiyu waza: gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ai-hanmi katate-dori, morote-dori, ryote-dori |
| 1st kyu | At least 400 total training days, at least 100 days after 2nd kyu | Weapons: the 31-count jo Tachi waza: gokyo (tanto-dori, shown in suwari waza) (shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi, tsuki), juji nage (morote-dori, ushiro ryote-dori, ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime), soto kaiten nage and osae (shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi, tsuki), koshi nage (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ai-hanmi katate-dori, ushiro ryote-dori, ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime), ikkyo kaeshi (shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi, tsuki) Hanmi handachi waza: shiho nage and kote gaeshi (gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, ryote-dori, yokomen-uchi) Suwari waza: irimi nage and kote gaeshi (tsuki, yokomen-uchi) Jiyu waza: ushiro ryote-dori, shomen-uchi, yokomen-uchi, tsuki |
Dan Examinations
| Dan | Eligibility | Techniques examined |
|---|---|---|
| Shodan | At least 500 total training days, at least 100 days after 1st kyu | Weapons: 7 ken awase, 8 jo awase Tachi waza: katadori men-uchi (ikkyo to yonkyo, irimi nage, kote gaeshi, two variations each), shiho nage; chudan tsuki (irimi nage, kote gaeshi, uchi and soto kaiten nage, koshi nage); ushiro ryokata-dori (irimi nage, aiki otoshi, sankyo); ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime (ikkyo to yonkyo, juji nage, ude garami) Hanmi handachi waza: yokomen-uchi (ikkyo to yonkyo, kote gaeshi), gyaku-hanmi katate-dori (shiho nage, irimi nage), ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime (sankyo nage) Suwari waza: ryote-dori and shomen-uchi (ikkyo to yonkyo, kote gaeshi, irimi nage), suwari waza kokyu-ho (three variations) Jiyu waza: jiyu waza against the eight basic attacks |
| 2nd dan | At least 700 total training days, at least 300 days after shodan | Weapons: 5 ken kumitachi, 7 jo kumijo Tachi waza: ryokata-dori (ikkyo to yonkyo, irimi nage), jodan tsuki (ude garami, shiho nage, kaiten osae), ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime (ikkyo to yonkyo, aiki otoshi, kokyu nage, koshi nage) Renzoku waza (continuous techniques): from nikyo (ura) against tsuki into kote gaeshi, irimi nage, and shiho nage; jiyu waza from sankyo (ura) against yokomen-uchi; jiyu waza from ikkyo kaeshi against shomen-uchi Kaeshi waza (counter techniques): from ikkyo (omote) against shomen-uchi into irimi nage, kote gaeshi, and ikkyo; from nikyo (ura) against gyaku-hanmi katate-dori into irimi nage, nikyo, and sankyo; from kote gaeshi against tsuki into irimi nage, shiho nage, and kote gaeshi Tanto-dori: yokomen-uchi (shiho nage, gokyo), tsuki (hiji kime, sankyo), shomen-uchi (irimi nage, kote gaeshi) Hanmi handachi waza: jiyu waza against shomen-uchi; ushiro ryokata-dori (ikkyo to yonkyo, kokyu nage, kote gaeshi) Suwari waza: katadori (ikkyo to yonkyo, irimi nage), jiyu waza against tsuki Jiyu waza: futari-dori (held by two) — after nikyo and kokyu nage (two variations), jiyu waza against two attackers |
| 3rd dan | At least 1,000 total training days, at least 300 days after 2nd dan | Weapons: kumitachi variations (ken no riai), 5 joai Tachi-dori (sword taking): shomen-giri and yokomen-giri (three variations each), tsuki (one variation) Jo-dori (staff taking): tsuki (three variations), jiyu waza when your jo is grabbed Tachi waza: morote-dori (irimi nage and shiho nage, three variations each, jiyu waza), ushiro ryohiji-dori (ikkyo to yonkyo, kote gaeshi, irimi nage, aiki otoshi, kokyu nage), chudan tsuki (sankyo, yonkyo, irimi nage, two variations each, jiyu waza), ushiro katate-dori kubi-shime (koshi nage, two variations) Henka oyo waza (variations and applications): when the lapel is grabbed and twisted (nikyo, irimi nage, ashi-dori), morote-dori kokyu-ho (three variations: basic, when the elbow is lifted, when twisted), when grabbed from behind with the arms under the armpits (irimi nage) Kaeshi waza: three from shiho nage, three from sankyo (ura), and from irimi nage into irimi nage (two variations), sankyo, and kaiten nage Tanto-dori: yokomen-uchi and tsuki (three variations each), shomen-uchi (kote gaeshi, sankyo, koshi nage), threatening with the knife while holding the shoulder or the back of the collar (two variations each) Hanmi handachi waza: jiyu waza against gyaku-hanmi katate-dori, jiyu waza against yokomen-uchi Suwari waza: jiyu waza against (chudan) tsuki, jiyu waza against yokomen-uchi Jiyu waza: futari-dori — after shiho nage, yonkyo, and kokyu nage, against three attackers (free attack) |
| 4th dan | At least 1,400 total training days, at least 400 days after 3rd dan | Techniques: kumitachi variations (tai no riai), 10 shin kumijo, all techniques from 2nd and 3rd dan, jiyu waza against four attackers Paper: write on one of the themes “How to teach beginners” or “What I have gained through aikido training” and submit it with the examination form |
These tables include techniques that this book does not cover. Techniques such as sumi otoshi, juji nage, and koshi nage, and weapons work with the jo and bokken, you will learn directly from your instructor at the dojo. Chapters 1 to 5 of this book contain the basic movements, basic techniques, and applied techniques that underlie all of them.
Let us just note a few new terms.
- Hanmi handachi waza (半身半立ち技): Techniques applied while you are kneeling and your partner attacks standing.
- Jiyu waza (自由技): Rather than a set technique against a set attack, you apply techniques freely, one after another.
- Awase (合わせ): Training in which two people with sword or staff match each other’s movements.
Last updated November 1, 2026 · This book continues to be revised after publication.
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