AOKS Promotion Requirements

Required for all promotions:

• All dues must be current.
• Must be a current AKANA member.
• All patches must be in correct place on uniform.
• Respect must be exemplified outside of dojo.
• Every promotion is based on attitude.
• Must have required stamps on promotion attendance card.
• Must have required time-in.
• All tape stripes are required.
• Material is accumulative at Green Belt, Red Belt, and Black Belt Levels.

Stripe Testing will be held the last week of each month.

• White  Stripe - Self-defense Waza
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts
• Orange Stripe - Sequences 
• Green Stripe - Weapon Kata
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique/Sparring/Pad Drills
• Red Stripe - Empty-hand Kata

Yellow Stripe Belt - Black Stripe Belt  

• Must be a Beginner AKANA member. 
• Must have 24 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• No certain time-in is required for SE rank.
• All tape stripes are required.

Stripe Testing

• White Stripe - Knowledge of Self-defense Waza (1-6) according to time-in (executed from a fighting stance).
• Yellow Stripe - Knowledge of Grab Arts (1-6) according to time-in (executed with instructors as uke).
• Orange Stripe - Knowledge of Sequences according to time-in (stances, blocks, strikes, and kicks).
• Green Stripe - Knowledge of Bo Pivot Form & Nunchuck Pivot Form according to time-in.
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique (1-8)/Sparring/Pad Drills according to time-in.
• Red Stripe - Knowledge of Left & Right Pivot Form according to time-in.

White Stripe Yellow Belt - White Stripe Black Belt

• Must be at least 9 years old. 
• Must show a maturity level of physical and mental development.
• Responsible for same solid belt rank requirements listed below
• Material does not have to be performed at the same physical and mental maturity level of a solid belt rank.
• Will be evaluated for solid belt rank when age and maturity requirements are met.  Will not necessarily have to start at solid yellow belt.

Yellow Belt - Green Belt 

• Must be at least 13 years old. 
• Must show a maturity level of discipline and respect.
• Must be a Beginner AKANA member.
• Each rank requires 24 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Every promotion requires 2 months time-in.
• Two tournament stars are required. 
• Beginner Sun & Moon Patch is required. 
• Two Kata Bronze Tomoe Patch is required. 

Yellow Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-3
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-3
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 1
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-4
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form

Gold Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-6
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-6
• Orange Stripe - Elbow Sequence 1
• Green Stripe - Nunchuck Pivot Form
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-6
• Red Stripe - H-Pattern 1

Orange Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-9
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-9
• Orange Stripe - Blocking Sequence 1
• Green Stripe - Two-Man Bo Set (1)
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-8
• Red Stripe - H-Pattern 2

Green Belt

• White Stripe - Grab Arts 1-12
• Yellow Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-12
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 1 (1-12), Blocking Sequence 1 (1-12), Elbow Sequence 1 (1-12)
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1)
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-8
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3

Light Blue Belt - Red Belt

• Must be an Intermediate AKANA member.
• Each rank requires 36 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Every promotion requires 3 months time-in.
• Four tournament stars are required.
• Intermediate Sun & Moon Patch is required.
• Five Kata Silver Tomoe Patch is required.

Light Blue Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-15
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-15
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 2
• Green Stripe - Bo Kata 1 
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-12
• Red Stripe - Lion Form

Dark Blue Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-18
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-18
• Orange Stripe - Elbow Sequence 2
• Green Stripe - Two-Man Bo Set (2)
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-14
• Red Stripe - Swift Like the Deer

Purple Belt 

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-21
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-21
• Orange Stripe - Blocking Sequence 2
• Green Stripe - Tonfa Kata 1 or Nunchuck Kata 1
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-16
• Red Stripe - White Crane 1

Red Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-24
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-24
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 2 (1-24), Blocking Sequence 2 (1-24), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24)
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Tonfa Kata 1 or Nunchuck Kata 1
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-18
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1 

Light Brown Belt -  Black Belt

• Must be an Advanced AKANA member.
• Each rank requires 48 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Every promotion requires 4 months time-in.
• Six tournament stars are required.
• Advanced Sun & Moon Patch is required.
• International White Crane Patch is required.
• Seven Kata Diamond Tomoe Patch is required.

 Light Brown Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-27
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-27
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3
• Green Stripe - Tonfa Pivot Form
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-20
• Red Stripe - Naihanchi Sho

Medium Brown Belt 

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-30
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-30
• Orange Stripe - Blocking Sequence 3
• Green Stripe - Tonfa Kata 1
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-22
• Red Stripe - Sanchin

Dark Brown Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-33
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-33
• Orange Stripe - Elbow Sequence 2 on both sides
• Green Stripe - Sai Pivot Form
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-24
• Red Stripe - Bassai Dai

Shodan Black Belt

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-36
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-36
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3 (1-36), Blocking Sequence 3 (1-36), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24) on both sides
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Nunchuck Kata 1, Tonfa Kata 1, Sai Pivot Form, 1 empty-hand kata with any weapon
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-27
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1, Naihanchi Sho, Sanchin, Bassai Dai

 Nidan Black Belt

• Must be a Yudansha AKANA member.
• Requires 150 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Requires 12-24 months time-in.
• Eight tournament stars are required.
• Yudansha Sun & Moon Patch is required.
• Ten Kata Tomoe Patch is required.

Tape stripes

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-12 with alternative finish
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-12 with alternative finish
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3 (1-36), Blocking Sequence 3 (1-36), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24) on both sides
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Nunchuck Kata 1, Tonfa Kata 1, Sai Pivot Form, Bo Kata 2, Two-Man Bo Set (3),  2 empty-hand kata with any weapon 
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-27
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1, Naihanchi Sho, Sanchin, Bassai Dai, Naihanchi Ni, White Crane 2, Empi, 5-Animal Form

Sandan Black Belt

• Must be a Yudansha AKANA member.
• Requires 300 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Requires 24-36 months time-in.
• Ten tournament stars are required. 
• 2 Yudansha Sun & Moon Patches are required.
• Five Kata Black Belt Tomoe Patch is required.

Tape stripes

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-24 with alternative finish 
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-24 with alternative finish 
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3 (1-36), Blocking Sequence 3 (1-36), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24) on both sides
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Nunchuck Kata 1, Tonfa Kata 1, Sai Pivot Form, Bo Kata 2, Two-Man Bo Set (3), Two-Man Bo Set (4),  3 empty-hand kata with any weapon 
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-27
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1, Naihanchi Sho, Sanchin, Bassai Dai, Naihanchi Ni, White Crane 2, Empi, 5-Animal Form, Naihanchi San, White Crane 3, Go Pei Sho, Dan Enn Sho,  Sun & Moon Form

Yondan Black Belt

• Must be a Yudansha AKANA member.
• Requires 450 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Requires 36-48 months time-in.
• 3 Yudansha Sun & Moon Patches are required.
• Teaching credentials are required.
• Seventeen Kata Gold Diamond Tomoe Patch is required.

Tape stripes

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-36 with alternative finish 
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-36 with alternative finish 
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3 (1-36), Blocking Sequence 3 (1-36), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24) on both sides
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Nunchuck Kata 1, Tonfa Kata 1, Sai Pivot Form, Bo Kata 2, Two-Man Bo Set (3), Two-Man Bo Set (4), 4 empty-hand kata with any weapon 
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-27
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1, Naihanchi Sho, Sanchin, Bassai Dai, Naihanchi Ni, White Crane 2, Empi, 5-Animal Form, Naihanchi San, White Crane 3, Go Pei Sho, Dan Enn Sho,  Sun & Moon Form, O'Naihanchi, White Crane 4, Unsu

Godan Black Belt

• Must be a Yudansha AKANA member.
• Requires 600 class hours stamped on promotion card.
• Requires 48-60 months time-in.
• Teacher of Teachers credential is required.
• Gold Pinnacle Tomoe with Ruby as a possibility.
• Mushin, Warrior Sweat, and Firewalk Award is required.

Tape stripes

• White Stripe - Self-defense Waza 1-36 with alternative finish performed in sets
• Yellow Stripe - Grab Arts 1-36 with alternative finish performed in sets
• Orange Stripe - Stance Sequence 3 (1-36), Blocking Sequence 3 (1-36), Elbow Sequence 2 (1-24) on both sides
• Green Stripe - Bo Pivot Form, Nunchuck Pivot Form, Two-Man Bo Set (1) Bo Kata 1, Two-Man Bo Set (2), Nunchuck Kata 1, Tonfa Kata 1, Sai Pivot Form, Bo Kata 2, Two-Man Bo Set (3), Two-Man Bo Set (4), 5 empty-hand kata with any weapon 
• Blue Stripe - Fighting Technique 1-27
• Red Stripe - Left & Right Pivot Form, H-Pattern 1, H-Pattern 2, H-Pattern 3, Lion Form, Swift Like the Deer, White Crane 1, Naihanchi Sho, Sanchin, Bassai Dai, Naihanchi Ni, White Crane 2, Empi, 5-Animal Form, Naihanchi San, White Crane 3, Go Pei Sho, Dan Enn Sho,  Sun & Moon Form, O'Naihanchi, White Crane 4, Unsu, White Crane 5, Gojushiho, Nan Dan Sho, Suparinpei