Kuribayashi Takanori
7th Dan Aikido
Shihan
www.shihan.az
Azerbaijan Aikido Examination Committee
Aikikai Aikido Clubs Public Union is the only official aikido organization recognized by Aikikai and the International Aikido Federation in Azerbaijan, which is confirmed by relevant certificates. Our Public Union is the only legal organization that has the right to represent Azerbaijan in the international arena. Our organization is the only official organization that has the right to take exams for Kyu and Dan degrees according to the Aikikai (IAF) charter. Kyu and Dan degrees issued by us, as well as instructor licenses, give the right to represent Azerbaijan in the international world.
AIKIKAI Hombu Dojo examination (head examiner) curator Kuribayashi Takanori Shihan.
Ilham Guliyev
5th Dan Aikido
Chief examiner
www.sensei.az
Sanan Hasanzadeh
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.aikikan.az
Arzu Mikayilov
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.hombu.az
Elnur Nematov
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.shinjutsu.az
Tofig Najafov
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.sakura.az
Clubs that are members of the Examination Committee
10 clubs have been officially registered under the Union: “Aikikan” Martial Arts Club, “Emin” Aikido Club, “Hombu Dojo Azerbaijan” Aikido Aikido Club, “IDDO” Aikido Aikikai Club, “Katana Aikido Sports Club” Public Union, “Cynology” Sports Club Public Union, “Sakura” Aikido Aikikai Club, “Shinjutsu Aikido Sports Club” Public Union and Tajikistan Aikido Club. The clubs under the Union conduct examinations with an independent examination commission in accordance with the legislation and international rules. The chief examiners for the clubs are members of the Union’s chief examination commission. The examination commission is composed of Ilham Guliyev, Sanan Hasanzadeh, Arzu Mikayilov, Elnur Nematov, Tofig Najafov, Ruslan Mammadov, Rovshan Nazarov, Anar Ganjiyev, Emin Hasanov, Aygun Mirzali and Fotex Tabarov. Four people from each of the four schools are selected from the board and form the Union’s General Examination Commission. According to international standards, the chairman of the Examination Commission is the chairman of the Union.
Examination commission for clubs
The Examination Committee is divided into two parts. The first team is the General Examination Commission of the Union. The Commission manages the admission of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan degree exams. The second team consists of the examination commissions of the clubs under the Union. The General Examination Commission (or High Dan Degree Commission) is responsible for the admission of exams and compliance with the examination rules, and if new rules are adopted, preparing the staff according to the new rules. The second team carries out the admission of the Kyu and Dan exams of the clubs under the Union.
Ruslan Mammadov
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.freestayl.az
Rovshan Nazarov
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.iddo.az
Anar Ganjiyev
4th Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.katana.az
Emin Hasanov
3rd Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.emin.az
Aygun Mirzali
2nd Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.cynology.az
Fotekh Tabarov
1st Dan Aikido
Examiner
www.tajikistan.az
Club Examiners
Examiner: Sanan Hasanzadeh
Assistant: Emil Yusifov
Assistant: Ramil
Examiner: Elnur Nematov
Examiner: Emin Hasanov
Assistant: Fakhri Gafarli
Examiner: Arzu Mikayilov
Assistant: Ikram Rzayev
Assistant: Togrul Manafli
Examiner: Rovshan Nazarov
Assistant: Movla Musayev
Assistant: Hafiz Mustafa
Examiner: Anar Ganjiyev
Assistant: Elvin Alizade
Assistant: Turan Ibrahimli
Examiner: Ilham Guliyev
Assistant: Aygun Mirzali
Assistant: Tajeddin Afandiyev
Examiner: Tofig Najafov
Assistant: Nazim Karimli
Assistant: Orkhan Jafarov
Examiner: Ruslan Mammadov
Examiner: Emil Gurbanov
Assistant: Mikhail Volkov
Examiner: Elnur Nematov
Assistant: Fakhri Gafarli
Assistant: Ruslan Musayev
Examiner: Fotekh Tabarov
Examiner: Dzhomakhon Abdulloev
Assistant:
Tajikistan Aikido Club
Tajikistan Aikido Club has been operating under the supervision of Sakura Aikido Aikido Club under the Public Union of Azerbaijan Aikido Aikido Clubs since January 3, 2025.
Support for the Tajikistan Aikido Club
As a member of the Aikikai Foundation and the International Aikido Federation, in order to support the development of aikido in Tajikistan, we have begun organizing and developing a program for conducting Kyu and Dan exams in accordance with the rules on behalf of AIKIKAI at the Tajikistan Aikido Club. According to the program, starting from 2025 and until 2033, the Tajik team will have 2 people with the 4th Dan degree and will train other Dan degree holders, and then obtain the HRO of the Aikikai Foundation and become a member of the International Aikido Federation.
How and by whom is the examination for degrees conducted
Starting from 01.12.2024, the examination admission from the 6th Kyu (6th Kyu rank to 1st Kyu rank) to the 4th Dan (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan) ranks is entrusted to the examination commission of the clubs under the union. In this regard, the examination commissions in the clubs of the union are certified and the examination admission is entrusted to the commission staff of the clubs. The Examination Commission must have 1 examiner and 2 assistants in the clubs. The club chief examiner must have a minimum 4th Dan rank. 1 member of the examination commission for the club must be part of the Examination Committee of the Union. The composition of the Examination Committee of the Union is formed by selecting 1 person from all clubs. The chairman and chief examiner of the Examination Commission of the Union is the chairman of the union. Only a person with a 4th Dan or higher rank can be appointed as a chief examiner for the commission for clubs. It is strictly forbidden to appoint 2nd and 3rd Dan holders as examiners! If necessary, if the club leader’s rank is at the 3rd Dan level, the club may be allowed to accept examinations up to the 6th Kyu and 2nd Dan level by appointing a 4th Dan curator.
Who is allowed to register in the Aikikai Foundation under the name of degree examiner?
On 01.12.2017, the first aikido player registered as an examiner for Kyu and Dan grades in Azerbaijan at the Aikikai Foundation was Ilham Guliyev, the chairman of the union’s examination committee. Starting from 2017, it was allowed to take exams for the 1st and 2nd Dan grades on behalf of Ilham Guliyev. Starting from 2020, it was allowed to take exams for the 3rd Dan grade. In addition, for the 4th Dan grade, permission was obtained from the AIKIKAI authority each time. Starting from January 5, 2025, it was allowed to take exams for the 4th Dan grade.
On 01.07.2024, according to the decision of the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Aikido Exam Committee, the Chairman of the Aikikan Martial Arts Club, Sanan Hasanzadeh, and the Chairman of the Sakura Aikido Aikikai Club, Tofig Najafov, were allowed to take exams for the 1st and 2nd Dan degrees for their club staff and have the degrees approved by the Aikikai Foundation with the status of examiner. This decision has not yet come into force at the Aikikai Foundation!
In addition, on 01.12.2024, Sanan Hasanzadeh and Tofig Najafova received permission to take exams for the 3rd and 4th Dan degrees for the staff of their clubs.
- Permission to certify 3rd Dan grades with examiner status at the Aikikai Foundation will be granted to an instructor who has obtained a 5th Dan grade and is the club leader.
- Permission to certify 4th Dan grades with examiner status at the Aikikai Foundation will be granted to an instructor who has obtained the 6th Dan grade and is the club leader.
Supplements to the Examination Admission Rules
- Starting from 12.05.2022, the instructors of the aikido dojos within the relevant clubs under the union were allowed to take exams for their students for 6-3 Kyu exam levels. According to international rules, every student must take the exam in his/her own dojo.
- A common exam can be held only if the groups agree to take the joint exam of the groups under the clubs.
- 2-1 The examination board for the Kyu degrees is authorized to accept the examination if the examination committee of the club is in full.
- Joint admissions to 2-1 Kyu degrees are allowed by clubs under Union. This situation is allowed if there is a joint decision of the collegium of the clubs.
* From 01.01.2023, a 10-7 kyu degree exam system will be established for personnel aged 6-10.
* It is prohibited to give a 5 kyu degree to a student who is not yet 10 years old.
* It is prohibited to give a 2 kyu degree exam to personnel aged 6-13.
* After reaching the age of 13, an exam for 2 kyu can be given.
* After reaching the age of 14, an exam for 1 kyu can be given.
Required rules
1) What date did the student start training?
2) What date did the final grade exam take place?
3) Have the relevant documents been submitted to the office?
4) Does the student’s age allow him to take the exam for the 3-1 kyu grades?
5) Has the fee for the exam been submitted?
6) Does the student’s physical fitness meet the standards?
7) Is he morally worthy to be awarded the 2-1 Kyu and Dan grades?
Examination Rules
Exam admission conditions
In the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” public union, the exam is conducted only for members of the association.
Before applying for the examination, the candidate must ensure that he meets the requirements for admission to the examination. Acceptance conditions are specified as a minimum.
An applicant may be admitted to the examination if he:
- Regularly engages in one of the clubs of the public association “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” at least 3 times a week during the calendar year;
- At the time of submission of the application form, in the clubs of the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” public union, there must be no delay in teaching experience and the annual membership fee for the intended degree;
- He must have an application for participation in the exam by the instructor of the group he is engaged in.
Procedure for submitting an application for the exam
1. The application for the examination for the Dan degree is submitted to the head of the club by the instructors of the groups of the respective clubs no later than 1 month after the club and for the Kyu degree no later than 15 days.
2. Before the exam (3 days before the exam), the approved list is submitted to the secretariat of the Exam Commission by the management of the respective clubs:
- Registration fee according to the examination rates;
- Budo-passport (Yudansha and kyu degree book).
3. At the end of the exam, a protocol on the Attestation results is drawn up. The results of the attestation are published on the official website of Aikikai Aikido Clubs once every six months.
4. If the candidate fails the exam, 90% of the registration fee will be refunded. The next attestation for Kyu is possible during the next exam (after 6 months for 2 and 1 kyu), and for Dan no earlier than 1 year.
5. If paragraph 2 of the rules is not fulfilled, the candidate is not allowed to take the exam. The next Attestation is possible at the appointment of the appointed exam according to the “Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Clubs” calendar.
6. The chairman Examination Commissionof the “Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Clubs” (chairman of the public union) has the right to suspend the participation of the candidate in the examination for Dan degrees. The decision to suspend the entrance exam for the 1 Dan and 2 Dan degrees is notified to the candidate no later than 5 calendar days before the day of the exam, and no later than 10 days for the 3 Dan and higher degrees.
Rules for confirming the exam result
1. After 3 days of taking the Kyu exam, the protocol of the exam is submitted to the office manager of the union. The Chairman of the Examination Commission approves the results within 5 days from the date of receipt of the examination protocol.
2. Based on the results of the exam, the candidate who successfully passes the exam receives a certificate (and budo passport) according to the specified pattern. Starting from the 2nd Kyu degree, after registration, the student receives a membership card (card).
3. If questions arise based on the results of the exam, the chairman of the exam commission requests clarification of the issue by the exam commission staff of the relevant clubs that accepted the exam.


Supplements
* The exam should be held outside of training. If this is not possible, the exam will be held on the last day of every month during the session.
* Applications, protocol and payment schedule of students participating in the exam should be submitted to the office manager and financial manager of the respective clubs no later than 3 (three) days before the exam.
* The chief instructor of the club approves the exam protocol and submits the document to the head of the club.
* The new degree is confirmed by the signature of the person who took the exam (examiner) on the budopasports of the students.
* Shodan owners cannot be assistants.
* If there are enough sandan and yondan owners together, nidan owners cannot become assistants.
* Attendance, behavior, age and moral preparation of the student should be taken into account for participation in the exam.
* The exam committee and students should not leave the hall during the exam for any reason.
* The examination commission must ask all the requirements and questions in a clear and serious manner.
* After the student completes the program, the assistants’ opinions are studied by the examiner and a decision is made based on the general opinion.
* The student should not be given concessions during the exam.
* Even if the student performs very poorly, the exam syllabus should be asked in full.
* As the exam grade increases, the requirements increase and become stricter.
* During the exam, the student should not be deliberately tired.
* It is forbidden to show personal bias in the student.
* It is prohibited to claim techniques not in the Aikikai Hombu Dojo degree program.
* The student is suspended from the exam in the following cases:
He does not know the names of techniques and remembers them only when he sees them.
When unable to perform the basic techniques included in kihon nage and osae waza.
When the requirements of the program of the previous degree are poorly fulfilled.
When a technique is operated too rough and using force.
*If the student is late for the exam, he will not be admitted to the exam.


The team's physical training head coach and rules
In order for the physical training of the members of the Union to comply with the standards, a training session is held by the brown and black belt staff 4 times a year by an authorized representative of the examination commission. The head coach of the staff is Sensei Ruslan Mammadov. The physical training program includes: ………………………..
Members of the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” Public Union who do not pay the annual membership fee are not allowed to participate in the exam.