Requirements For Shodan

Candidates must:

1. Be at least 16 years of age.
2. Submit a copy of current AJJF registration card at the time of application, and have been registered for one continuous year prior to the exam date.
3. Submit a copy of current Red Cross Standard or Community First Aid card.
4. Submit a copy of current CPR card. CPR requirement can be met only with hands-on training.
5. Submit an Application for Examination.
6. Submit a Letter of Recommendation from Sensei (in a sealed envelope) stating, in part, willingness to assume responsibility for applicant. [See Letter of Recommendation form]
7. Submit a notebook containing an organized list of all the arts being examined, with a short description of how to do each art.
8. Submit an Activity Sheet listing at least three AJJF sanctioned mat activities attended in the year preceding the exam, signed by each activity's director.
   1. At least one activity must be a Kata, Freestyle, Sumo or Demo Team Contest:
      1. Submit contest score sheets for Kata and/or Freestyle Contests
      2. Submit a flow sheet with final placements for Sumo Contests
      3. Submit a certificate of participation for Demo Team Competitions:
         1. A certificate of participation will be accepted ONLY for Demo Team Competitions.
   2. Other activities include, but are not limited to: mat clinics, Blackbelt classes, mat seminars, conventions, jujitsu camps:
      1. All activities MUST be posted on the AJJF Online Calendar of Events
      2. Blackbelt classes MUST be open to participation by all registered AJJF students of appropriate rank.
   3. Individual massage classes DO NOT qualify as mat activities.
      1. A copy of a DZRSI MOD 1 Certificate will count as one mat activity if completed within one year of the exam. Massage updates and certificates from MOD 2 or MOD 3 do not count as mat activities.
9. Request a Time-In-Grade Letter from the Examination Committee Chair.
10. Submit a copy of a successfully completed taping exam given by an approved examiner within the past 12 months. Submitted taping examinations must include all pages of the examination, including candidate name, complete scores, examiner signature, and date of exam.
    1. If the candidate is unable to complete the taping exam in advance, he/she must submit an Application for Examination at least 30 days in advance with a request to take the taping exam on the day of the mat examination. Exam coordinators will assist the candidate in finding a pre-exam taping opportunity or to accommodate taping examinations on the mat exam day.
11. Request for Back Ground Screen at least 8 weeks before exam.
12. Meet the standards of Ethics as set forth in the document Code of Conduct and Procedures for Conflict Resolution.
13. Find out from Examinations Committee Chair or Regional Examination Coordinator:
    1. Should the candidate mail documents, or bring them to the exam?
    2. Does the candidate need to pre-register for the exam date?
    3. How much is the fee for examinations?
14. Be prepared to demonstrate:
    1. As listed in the current AJJF Kata Manual:
       • Yawara
       • Goshin Jitsu
       • Nage No Kata
       • Shime No Kata
       • Oku No Kata
    2. Shinnin No Maki #1 through 10
    3. Eight Kappo:
       • Se Katsu
       • Ashi Katsu
       • Nuki Katsu
       • Kin Katsu
       • Hanaji Tome
       • Hon Katsu
       • Tanden Katsu
       • Eri Katsu
    4. Blocks, Kicks, Strikes, Tanto (knife) defenses, Tanju (gun) defenses:
       BLOCKS
       1. Jodan Uke - Upper level block (as in overhead knife attack)
       2. Nagashi Uke - Parry block (as in Hagai Shime)
       3. Shuto Uke - Knife hand block (as in Yama Arashi)
       4. Gedan Uke - Low level block (as from a groin kick)
       KICKS
       1. Tonbogaeri - Judo Roll with kick to groin
       2. Mae Geri - Upward Front Kick
          1. Kick to knee or leg
          2. Kick to groin
          3. Kick to solar plexus or face
       3. Yoko Geri - Kick with side of foot
       4. Mawashi Geri - Roundhouse kick to uke side
          Optional Kicks:
       5. Ryo Ashi Geri - Double foot kick to chest, tori land in face fall
       6. Mae Tobi Geri - Jumping snap kick to face, also called "hitch kick"
       STRIKES (1 through 5: uke punches first, tori blocks then demonstrates strike)
       1. Kasumi Dori - Hash knife (side of hand) to side of uke neck
       2. Hibara Uchi - Front elbow blow upward into uke ribs
       3. Sei Getsu - Jab into solar plexus
       4. Hon Getsu - Jab below navel
       5. Ate Mi
          1. Hash knife (side of hand) to side of uke jaw
          2. Heel of hand under chin
          3. Heel of hand under nose
          4. Hash knife (side of hand) to temple
       6. Kin Geri - Uke front bear hug. Tori break bear hug and knee to groin.
       TANTO (Knife)
       1. Hibara Hazushi - Side stab escape
       2. Katate Hazushi - Overhead stab escape
       3. Tsukikomi Hazushi - Straight stab escape
       4. Ryote Dome - Underhand stab escape
       TANJU (Gun)
       1. Me Hazushi - Face escape (formerly called "Gan" Hazushi)
       2. Mune Hazushi - Chest escape
       3. Hibara Hazushi: Ichi, Ni, San, Shi - Side escape
          1. Right side, front
          2. Right side, rear
          3. Left side, rear
          4. Left side, front
       4. Ushiro Hazushi: Ichi, Ni - Rear escape
          1. Upper
          2. Lower

Further Information

• "Examination for Blackbelt"
• "Regulations, Policies, Procedures For Blackbelt Exams"

Forms

• Application for Examination
• Sensei Recommendation Letter
• AJJF Taping Examination (sample test)
• Examination Activity Record Sheet

Publications

• AJJF Kata Manual
• Code of Conduct and Procedures for Conflict Resolution
• AJJF Taping Manual

Contacts

• Senior Professor
• Board of Professors
• Examinations Committee Chair - regarding exam procedures, Time-In-Grade letter, and forms
• Regional Manager or Regional Examination Coordinator - regarding dates, times, locations of exams.