There are fourteen training categories from which the student must practice techniques for each rank. With exception of one category (Instructor Directed) the student may select the appropriate number of any technique in each category. For example, if the student is training for Rokkyu rank, two wrist grab escapes are required. The student may select any two of the wrist grab escapes demonstrated in the manual, or with permission of the instructor, the student may substitute other wrist grab escapes in lieu of those in the manual. This freedom of choice allows the student to select techniques that are more specific to the student's needs.

At the same time, the instructor may select any of the suggested techniques listed in the Instructor Directed category or may require other techniques as desired. This allows instructors, who study other martial arts, to incorporate techniques from that art into the student's training.

The following chart summarizes the required number of new techniques that must be learned at each rank level from Rokkyu through Shodan. When the student tests for rank, he/she must perform all technical requirements for the rank with skill and demonstrate the techniques learned for all previous ranks. The total number of required techniques to be examined at each rank are located in the Rank Examination Appendix of the USJA JuJitsu Manual manual.