Does the AJA test individuals for black belt grades?
The AJA does not normally become involved in the national testing of yudansha grade candidates. In certain rare cases the National Black Belt Board will consider candidates for promotion, but only to Nidan or higher grades. The AJA, as an organization, will not test candidates for Shodan; that is normally left to individual schools or dojos to manage through their normal training cycle and formal testing. In cases where no AJA dojo is nearby, one can also work through the Budoshin Jujitsu Yudanshakai (http://www.budoshin.com/home.htm) to earn a black belt, but the requirements are as stringent – or more so – than to earn a Shodan through a regular school.
