Requirements For Sandan

Candidates must:

1. At the time of the examination, the candidate must have been an active and AJJF registered Nidan for a minimum of three consecutive years, and must hold a current AJJF registration for one full year preceding the Sandan exam.
2. Have been actively instructing their own classes for a minimum of three years, or started and maintained a registered AJJF school as school head for two years, or have been an assistant instructor, a minimum of two years.
   1. Submit a Sandan/Yodan Instructor Activity Form
3. Submit a copy of current AJJF registration card.
4. Submit a copy of current Red Cross Standard or Community First Aid card.
5. Submit a copy of current CPR card. CPR requirement can be met only with hands-on training.
6. Submit an Application for Examination.
7. 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]
8. Submit a notebook containing an organized list of all the arts being examined, with a short description of how to do each art.
9. Fulfill one of the following categories:
   1. Submit an activity sheet listing at least nine AJJF Sanctioned mat activities (three activities must have been attended during each of the three years preceding the exam), signed by each activity's director, or signed by him/herself if director, OR
   2. Serve a three-year term as an active member of the AJJF Operations Committee as a National Manager or Committee Chair AND submit an activity sheet listing at least six AJJF Sanctioned mat activities (two activities must have been attended during each of the three years preceding the exam), signed by each activity's director, or signed by him/herself if the director.
   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.
10. Request a Time-In-Grade Letter from the Examination Committee Chair.
11. 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.
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. Have in notebook, and subject to examination, a Yawara Stick Course.
15. Be able to demonstrate eight additional methods of resuscitation and basic Seifukujitsu.
16. Take a written examination, demonstrating knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology.
    1. The exam will cover: Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous and Circulatory systems.
    2. Refer to the Anatomy Study Guide for Sandan Exam.
       A written A&P Examination is valid for 1 year from the date it is taken and passed. Massage Module I examinations taken after September 10, 2005 DO NOT satisfy this requirement.

17. Be able to demonstrate:
    1. Any or all of the basic arts listed in Nidan and Shodan, as requested by a majority of the examining board.
    2. Shinyo No Maki
       1. Gyaku Hizagaruma
       2. Tsuki Hazushi Kotemaki
       3. Tsukikome Dome
       4. Sune Shime
       5. Saru Shime
       6. Tobi Tsuki Tenada
       7. Obi Otoshi
       8. Sennin Gake
       9. Mune Dori
       10. Tsurigane Otoshi
       11. Inazuma
       12. Denko
       13. Kasumi Dori
       14. Shishi Otoshi
18. Sandan and Yodan Exam Format Change (effective August 15, 2008)
    1. Each examiner shall choose 2 arts at random per course at the exam site for demonstration of Kata. It is expected that each candidate will demonstrate their understanding of the arts as they are described in the Kata Manual. For Shinnin, each examiner shall choose 5 arts at random for demonstration by the candidate.
    2. Each candidate shall perform 3 freestyle sessions, for a maximum time limit of 2 minutes each. The first session shall be seen after Yawara, and will primarily include the candidate's understanding of that course with appropriate transitions between each arts shown. The second session shall be seen after Nage Te, and will primarily include the candidate's understanding of that course with appropriate transitions between each art shown. The third session shall be seen after Shinnin, and will be a demonstration of the candidate's understanding of all that he/she has learned in DZR.
    3. The balance of the exam for each rank shall be as it is currently formatted.

Further Information

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

Forms

• Application for Examination
• Sensei Recommendation Letter
• 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.