At Aikido Mugenami, we offer four levels of Qualified Instructors as specified below. The requirements outlined below represent minimum requirements and not all Aikido Mugenami members meeting these requirements will be offered the designation of a Qualified Instructor just because they meet these requirements. Emphasis is placed more on making a meaningful contribution to teaching and promoting Aikido than rank itself.

Chief Instructor - reserved for the head of the Aikido Mugenami organization.

Qualified Instructor (Shidoin) - An Aikido Mugenami yudansha (black belt) team member who is operating an independent dojo and has chosen to affiliate with Aikido Mugenami. These are typically yudansha who were not a direct student of Mugenami Dojo, but who joined the organization as an independently operating Dojo Cho.

Members of Aikido Mugenami’s yudansha team holding the rank of sandan or above, and who operate a fulltime dojo also qualify for shidoin status.

Assistant Instructor (Fuku Shidoin) - A member of Aikido Mugenami’s yudansha team who operates a club or dojo as a student instructor of the Mugenami Dojo, or who regularly teaches at Mugenami Dojo.

Instructor’s Assistant (Jyoshu) - A member of Aikido Mugenami, whether or not a yudansha team member, who assists in operating a club or dojo as a student instructor of Mugenami Dojo. Assisting generally means giving part time instruction in one or more programs, or regularly filling in for primary instructors when they are away.