Requirements For Nidan

Candidates must:

1. Have a minimum of two consecutive years, prior to the exam, as an active and AJJF registered Shodan and hold current membership at the time of the Nidan exam. *
2. Submit a copy of current AJJF membership card.
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, signed by each activity's director, attended per year for the two years preceding the exam, and score sheets from at least one Freestyle or Kata Contest, or Demo Team Contest Participation certificate within the last 12 months. Massage classes do not qualify as mat activities.
9. Request from Central Office a Time-In-Grade letter.
10. Find out from Examinations Committee Chair or Regional Examination Coordinator:
    1. Should candidate mail his/her 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?
11. Be able to demonstrate effectively all Shodan requirements, any variations as requested by the examiners, and Shinin No Maki 1 through 36.
    1. Perform one athletic taping technique (to be selected by the examiners):
    • Shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee or ankle.
    • Take and pass a written Athletic Taping Examination.
12. Meet the standards of Ethics as set forth in the document Code of Conduct and Procedures for Conflict Resolution

    * A candidate who received a Dojo Shodan rank before 1976 may apply for an AJJF Nidan exam. Any candidate who received a Dojo Shodan rank after 1976 must also have passed an AJJF Shodan examination to apply for an AJJF Nidan examination.

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.

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