Below are the requirements to reach each "belt". Non-kata requirements may be adjusted by the sensei. Of course, when testing for a belt one may be quizzed on items for previous belts.

White Belt

• Show up, be interested, and behave.

Yellow Belt

• Minimum three months training
• Know Sensei Jones' history
• Know parts of Collamer-Jones school patch and motto
• Know the parts of the sword
• Count from one to ten in Japanese
• Demonstrate basic sword cuts and notos
• Demonstrate basic Iaido movement and footwork
• Perform and explain the Keshi Ryu series of katas:
• Maegoshi
• Musogaeshi
• Migi No Teki
• Mawaragaki
• Shiho

Orange Belt

• Minimum six months training
• Know the dojo rules
• Know the dojo oath
• Know the dojo traditions
• Demonstrate sword cuts, chiburi, and notos
• Demonstrate Iaido movement and footwork
• Perform and explain the Shin Do Muen Ryu series of katas
• Iwanami
• Ukifune Gaeshi
• Noarashi Gaeshi
• Utsusemi
• Matsukaze
• Zangetsu Hidari
• Zangetsu Migi
• Do To Gaeshi
• Raito Gaeshi
• Yo To
• In To
• Inazuma Gaeshi

Green Belt

• Minumum twelve months training
• Know sword protocol
• Write a paper on the book Zen In The Martial Arts
• Demonstrate improved sword techniques
• Demonstrate improved footwork and movement
• Perform and explain the Omori Ryu series of katas
• Shohatto
• Sato
• Uto
• Atarito
• Inyoshintai
• Ryuto
• Junto
• Gyakuto
• Seichuto
• Koranto
• Gyakute Inyoshintai
• Batto

Brown Belt

• Minimum eighteen months training
• Be able to assist in teaching
• Write a paper on the book The Book Of Five Rings.
• Demonstrate Iaido movement and sword techniques
• Perform and explain the Kendo Seitei-Gata series of katas
• Mae
• Ushiro
• Uke Nagashi
• Tsuka Ate
• Kesagiri
• Morote Zuki
• San Po Giri
• Ganmen Ate
• Soe Tezuki
• Shi Ho Giri

Black Belt

• Minimum two years training
• Be able to teach
• Write a paper on "What A Black Belt Means"
• Demonstrate mastery of Iaido movement and sword techniques
• Perform and explain the Muso Shinden Ryu Iai (Chuden, Hasagawa) series of katas
• Yokogumo
• Toraissoku
• Inazuma
• Okigumo
• Oroshi
• Iwanami
• Urokogaeshi
• Namikaeshi
• Takiotoshi
• Nukiuchi