The following text shows the grading requirements of the HDK e. V.
(Hessian Dan Association) for Ninjutsu through 4th Dan.
Each individual test requires the contents of the lower tests.
The test-contents can be demanded in any order by the tester.
The higher the grading the better all techniques must be done.
In brackets you find an explanation for the name of the technique.
It is nearly never a translation of the name.
- Jukyu
- Kukyu
- Hachikyu
- Nanakyu
- Rokkyu
- Gokyu
- Yonkyu
- Sankyu
- Nikyu
- Ikkyu
- Shodan
- Nidan
- Sandan
- Yondan
Jukyu (10th Kyu)
Belt:
white belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters.
Comments:
will not be tested.
Kukyu (9th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, no star.
Knowledge:
legal aspects of self-defense;
basic concepts / behaviour: Dojo Rei, counting from 'one' through 'ten', Obi (belt) tying, 'Yamme';
Junan Taiso (warming up).
Rolls:
rolling on padded ground (Kaiten): forward, backward ,and to both sides.
Kata:
Kamae No Kata;
Ichimonji No Kata (Kihon Happo 1);
Hicho No Kata (Kihon Happo 2);
Omote Gyaku Gata (Kihon Happo 4).
Defense:
Jodan Uke (upper block);
Gedan Uke (lower block).
Striking techniques:
Fudo Ken (closed fist);
Shuto (cupped hand).
Kicking techniques:
Zenpo Geri (forward stumping kick);
Sokuho Geri (sideward stumping kick).
Hachikyu (8th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, one silverstar above.
Knowledge:
effects of applied techniques.
Fall:
breakfalls on padded ground (Ukemi):
forward, backward ,and to both sides.
Kata:
Chi No Kata (Sanshin No Kata 1);
Sui No Kata (Sanshin No Kata 2);
Ka No Kata (Sanshin No Kata 3);
Ura Gyaku No Kata (Kihon Happo 6);
Omote Gyaku Dori Soshite Tsuki No Kata (Kihon Happo 5).
Striking techniques:
Shikan Ken (nuckle strike);
San Shitanken (three-finger-strike).
Throws:
O Soto Nage / O Soto Gake (big outside-throw).
Nanakyu (7th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, two silverstars above.
Moving methods:
Roppo Tobi (6-way leaping);
O Ten (handspring sideways).
Kata:
Jumonji No Kata (Kihon Happo 3);
Ganseki Nage (Kihon Happo 8).
Grab escapes:
Te Hodoki (wrist grabbing).
Striking techniques:
Shako Ken (handclaw);
Boshiken (thumb fist).
Rokkyu (6th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, three silverstars above.
Rolls:
Kaiten without using hands;
Kaiten while picking up an item.
Moving methods:
O Ten (handspring on one hand).
Kata:
Fu No Kata (Sanshin No Kata 4);
Ku No Kata (Sanshin No Kata 5).
Joint locks:
Muso Dori (elbow lock).
Body grab escapes:
Tai Hodoki (body grabbing).
Kicking techniques:
Koho Geri (backward kick).
Throws:
Itami Nage (painful throw).
Armed techniques:
Hanbo Jutsu (Kamae and basic techniques against unarmed attacker).
Gokyu (5th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, four silverstars above.
Fall:
flying breakfall left and right.
Rolls:
hitting while rolling (with partner).
Kata:
Musha Dori (Kihon Happo 7).
Striking techniques:
Shuki Ken (elbow strike);
Tai Ken (body strike).
Joint locks:
Hon Gyaku (wrist lock sidewards).
Throws:
Harai Goshi (hip sweep).
Armed techniques:
Muto Dori (unarmed blade evasion).
Yonkyu (4th Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, one goldstar above.
Striking techniques:
Koppo Ken (nuckle strike);
Sokki Ken (knee strike).
Kicking techniques:
Kata Ashi Tobi Geri (leaping kick with one foot);
Kakushi Geri (hidden kick).
Defense:
Keri Kudaki (defense against kicks).
Joint locks:
Omote Oni Kudaki (outside arm-lock).
Throws:
Haneage (upwards snapping leg).
Armed techniques:
Kusari Fundo Jutsu (basic rope strikes [without partner and
also against a target]).
Sankyu (3rd Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, two goldstars above.
Striking techniques:
Shitan Ken (fingertip strike).
Kicking techniques:
Ryo Ashi Geri (dobble feet kick).
Joint locks:
Ura Oni Kudaki (inside arm-lock).
Throws:
Ryu Sui Iki ('sacrifice drops'):
Tomoe Nage (head throw);
Tachi Nagare (body drop);
Yoko Nagare (sideward drop);
Te Makura ('hand-pillow' throw);
Kuruma (wheel [roll with Tomoe Nage]).
Armed techniques:
Ken Jutsu (Kamae and basic cuts from different Kamae).
Nikyu (2nd Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, three goldstars above.
Striking techniques:
Happa Ken (air pressure strike).
Joint locks:
Ura Take Ori / Omote Take Ori (wrist lock, 'breaking bamboo').
Throws:
Gyaku Nage (Joint-lock-throw).
Choking techniques:
Shime Waza Go Kata (5 chokes):
Hon Jime (basic choke);
Gyaku Jime (reversed choke);
Itami Jime (painful choke);
Sankaku Jime (triangle choke);
Do Jime (torso choke).
Suwari Gata;
Shikko (walk upon knees).
Armed techniques:
Ken Jutsu including Shoto (basic techniques):
Placing Shoto and Daito into the belt;
Kenjutsu Shinobi Iai (pulling out);
Nouto (putting in);
Ikkyu (1st Kyu)
Belt:
green or red belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with white characters, four goldstars above.
Knowledge:
Kyusho (Atemi Jutsu in use);
Metsubushi (using blinding-powder).
Kata:
Henka of Torite Kihon Kata Goho (Variations of Kihon Happo 4
through 8).
Striking techniques:
Shishin Ken (one-finger-strike).
Kicking techniques:
Soku Gyaku Geri (snapping kick).
Joint locks:
O Gyaku ('turnaround').
Throws:
Uchimata Uchigake (inside throw);
Taki Otoshi (cataract drop).
Armed techniques:
Bo Jutsu (Kamae and basic strikes).
Dan-grading-sceme
Shodan (1st Dan)
Belt:
black Belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with black characters, no star.
Preconditions:
a minimum of three years training (two years as an exception);
minimum age is 18 years (if suggested by two Dan-grades [minimum Nidan]
also 16 years);
first Aid Course (not more then two years ago).
Knowledge:
Junan Taiso;
Taihen Jutsu (rolls on hard ground);
Kihon Happo / Kihon Happo Kumite;
Sanshin No Kata / Sanshin No Kata Kumite;
Applied Tehodoki, Taihodoki and Ho Ken Ju Roppo.
Comments:
the above mentioned skills should be already tested
during the Kyu-grades. A Dan-grade has to be able to explain
these basic skills to beginners.
Chokes:
Shime Waza (only as a part of an attack or of a hold):
Hon Jime;
Gyaku Jime;
Itami Jime;
Sankaku Jime;
Do Jime.
Joint locks (Gyaku Waza as an attack and as a defense):
Take Ori (Omote Take Ori / Ura Take Ori);
Omote Kote Gyaku Dori;
Ura Kote Gyaku Dori;
Hon Gyaku;
Omote Oni Kudaki;
Ura Oni Kudaki;
Musha Dori;
Muso Dori;
O Gyaku.
Throws (Nage No Kata as an attack and as a defense):
Ganseki Nage;
Harai Goshi;
Gyaku Nage;
Taki Otoshi;
O Soto Gake / O Soto Nage;
Uchimata Uchigake;
Hane Age;
Itami Nage.
Ryu Sui Iki:
Tomoe Nage;
Tachi Nage;
Yoko Nagare;
Te Makura;
Kuruma.
Suwari Gata:
Mae Shikko / Ushiro Shikko;
defense from Za Kamae against attacks from Za Kamae.
Futaijutsu:
unarmed defense against two attackers attacking
at the same time.
Armed techniques:
Muto Dori:
defense against a Tanto;
defense against a Ken.
Hanbo Jutsu:
basic Kamae;
basic hits and strikes;
basic locks and holds.
Kusari Fundo:
defense against an unarmed attack;
defense against an armed attack.
Tanbo Jutsu / Jutte Jutsu:
basic Kamae;
defense against an unarmed attack;
defense against an armed attack.
Tanto Jutsu:
basic Kamae;
defense against an unarmed attack;
defense against an armed attack.
Theory:
Ninjutsu;
Bujinkan Dojo;
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Soke;
Toshitsugu Takamatsu Sensei;
The nine Ryu Ha;
Definition of self-defense;
Nidan (2nd Dan)
Belt:
black belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with black characters, one silverstar above.
Preconditions:
not earlier than one year after Shodan-test.
Knowledge:
complete contents of Kyu- and Shodan-tests.
Comments:
important is the flow and the combination of different techniques
fitting to the situation;
mastering of various combat-distances (Maai).
Tai Jutsu:
defense from a sitting position against a standing attacker;
defense from a lieing position against a standing attacker.
Budo Gu:
Bo Jutsu (as an attack and as a defense):
Tsuki (thrust);
Uchi (strike);
Furi (hurl);
defense with Bo against Ken.
Sandan (3rd Dan)
Belt:
black belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with black characters, two silverstars above.
Preconditions:
not earlier than one year after Nidan-test.
Knowledge:
complete contents of Kyu-, Shodan- and Nidan-tests.
Comments:
important is the skillful use of the attackers energy.
(that means using a minimum of ones own muscle power).
Budo Gu:
very high skill level:
Bo Jutsu
Naginata Jutsu
Yari Jutsu
Kusari Fundo Jutsu (defense against unarmed and armed attack;
holding and binding techniques;
Te Hodoki and Tai Hodoki).
Yondan (4th Dan)
Belt:
black belt.
Patches:
Bujinkan-patch with black characters, three silverstars above.
Preconditions:
not earlier than one year after Sandan-test.
Knowledge:
complete contents of Kyu-, Shodan-, Nidan- and Sandan-tests.
(crucial point: as attacking techniques).
Comments:
the attacker (the one who is tested) has to be able to name
all his or her attacks.
Budo Gu:
very high skill level in using two weapon at a time:
Shoto / Daito
Tanto / Tanto
Tanbo / Tanbo (Jutte / Jutte)
Bo / Ken
Yari / Ken
Naginata / Ken