Syllabus
The following table provides a guide for students in the requirements for obtaining each belt.
Kyu gradings
| Grading to | Kihon | Kumite | Kata |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Kyu | 1 Oi tsuki 2 Jodan age uke 3 Chudan soto uke 4 Mae geri |
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki | Kihon kata |
| 8th Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Chudan uchi uke 2 Shuto uke 3 Yoko geri keage 4 Yoko geri kekomi |
As previous | Heian Shodan |
| 7th Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Age uke, gyaku tsuki 2 Soto uke, gyaku tsuki 3 Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki |
As previous | Heian Nidan |
| 6th Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Sanbon tzuki 2 Soto uke, empi uchi |
Kihon Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from right and left sides | Heian Sandan |
| 5th Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai 2 Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken 3 Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki 4 Shuto uke, nukite |
As previous plus chudan mae geri attack | Heian Yondan |
| 4th Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gedan barai 2 Shuto uke, mae geri, nukite 3 Yoko geri kekomi (from zenkutsu dachi) 4 Mawashi geri |
As previous plus chudan yoko geri kekomi attack | Heian Godan |
| 3rd Kyu | As previous plus 1 Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai 2 Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai 3 Ushiro geri |
As previous plus jodan mawashi geri attack | Tekki Shodan |
| 2nd Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki 2 Yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki 3 Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 4 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki |
Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri kekomi, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only. | Bassai Dai |
| 1st Kyu | As previous plus: 1 Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki 2 Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki |
As previous | Bassai Dai |
Dan gradings
| Grading to | Kihon | Kumite | Kata |
|---|---|---|---|
| All begin from free-style kamae | List (a) Candidates choose from List (b) Examiner chooses from |
||
| 1st Dan | 1 Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki 2 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki 3 Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 4 Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 5 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 6 Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 7 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, yoko geri kekomi, uraken oi tsuki 8 Same leg mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri |
Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri kekomi, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. Jiyu Kumite |
(a) Bassai Dai (b) Any Heian kata or Tekki Shodan |
| 2nd Dan | 1 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki 2 Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 3 Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 4 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 5 Mae geri, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki 6 Mae geri, same leg mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 7 Mawashi geri, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki 8 Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki 9 Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan nagashi uke, gyaku tsuki, ushiro geri, uraken, oi tsuki 10 Same leg mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, ushiro geri, mawashu geri |
Jiyu Ippon Kumite – attacking with any 5 single, unannounced techniques. Jiyu Kumite |
(a) Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Niju Shiho, Jitte or Tekki Nidan (b) Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion or Hangetsu |
| 3rd Dan | Any 1st or 2nd Dan combination plus: 1 Kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri and step back ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki |
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – the same pre-arranged attacks as for 1st Dan grading. Jiyu Kumite |
(a) Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Goju Shiho Sho (b) Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Niju Shiho, Jitte or Tekki Nidan |
| 4th Dan | Any 1st, 2nd or 3rd Dan combination plus: Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, nihon tsuki, step back and with same arm block age uke, soto uke, gedan barai, uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, four turning gyaku tsuki attacks, turn behind with haito uchi, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri and step back, yoko geri keage to side and step back, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki |
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – attacking with any 5 single, unannounced techniques. Demonstration of 3 favourite Kumite tactics. Jiyu Kumite |
(a) Meikyo, Jiin, Wankan, Tekki Sandan or Goju Shiho Dai (b) Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Goju Shiho Sho |
| 5th Dan | As previous plus: A 1500 to 2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-do. |
As previous grading | (a) Any kata from Shodan syllabus and above (b) One or more kata from Shodan syllabus and above Demonstration of applications will be requested from performed katas |
| 6th Dan | As previous plus: A written karate CV and 1500/2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do (different to above) |
As previous grading | As previous grading |
Note: the grading examiner can request any kihon, kumite and kata from lower gradings