Requirements For Shodan

Candidates must:

1. Be at least 16 years of age.
2. Submit a copy of current AJJF membership card at the time of application, and have been a member 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.
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 Kata, Freestyle or Demo Contest - also submit Contest Score Sheets. Certificate of Participation will be excepted only for Demo Team Competitions.
   2. Other activities: mat clinics, Blackbelt classes, mat seminars, convention, jujitsu camp.
   3. Massage classes do not qualify as mat activities.
9. Request from Central Office a Time-In-Grade letter.
10. Effective June 15, 2008 Request for Back Ground Screen at least 8 weeks before exam.
11. 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?
12. 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. One athletic taping technique (to be selected by the examiners):
       • Shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, or ankle.
       • Take and pass a written Athletic Taping Examination.
    5. 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
13. Meet the standards of Ethics as set forth in the document Code of Conduct and Procedures for Conflict Resolution

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
• Central Office - regarding Time-In-Grade letter and forms
• Regional Manager or Regional Examination Coordinator - regarding dates, times, locations of exams.