Karate Gradings

Karate Gradings

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How It Works

Gradings take place every 3 months usually.

To be eligible to grade students must have completed the minimum training period and have attended the minimum number of lessons.

All grading students must have a karate suit, bearing the IKA badge.

All members must have an up to date BIKO licence and membership.

IN SHOTOKAN KARATE STUDENTS PROGRESS THROUGH A BELT SYSTEM WITH EACH LEVEL HAVING A DIFFERENT COLOUR. EACH LEVEL BEFORE BLACK BELT ARE KNOWN AS KYU GRADES.

Every Kyu grade has its own syllabus that needs to be learnt and during the grading progress this syllabus will be marked on a number of factors. If the student reaches the desired standard they will pass their grading and move on to their new Kyu grade.

10th & 9th Kyu

①Chudan Oi-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Kakiwake gedan kamae

⑥Mae-geri（step forward）

From Kiba-dachi

⑦Yoko ke-komi (both sides)

Kata

Heian Shodan

(Performed to the count)
Kumite

Gohon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
8th Kyu

From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae

①Chudan Oi-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Kakiwake gedan kamae

⑥Mae-geri（step forward）

From Kiba-dachi

⑦Yoko ke-komi (both sides) / Yoko ke-age (both sides)

Kata

Heian Shodan

Kumite

Gohon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
7th Kyu

①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）

From Jiyu-na-kamae

⑦Mae-geri（step forward）
⑧Mawashi-geri（step forward）

From Kiba-dachi

⑨Yoko ke-age（step forward）
⑩Yoko ke-komi（step forward）
Kata

Heian Nidan

Kumite

Gohon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
6th Kyu

①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）

From Jiyu-na-kamae

⑦Mae-geri（step forward）
⑧Mawashi-geri（step forward）

From Kiba-dachi

⑨Yoko ke-age（step forward）
⑩Yoko ke-komi（step forward）
Kata

Heian Sandan

Kumite

Gohon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
5th Kyu

①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai (step backward)

From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae

⑦Mae-geri, Oi-zuki（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑧Mawashi-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊Keep the hand at same position before kicking

From Kiba-dachi

⑨Yoko ke-age switch legs Yoko ke-komi
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑩Turning & stepping forward Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki

Kata

Heian Yondan

Junro-Shodan

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
4th Kyu

From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae

①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai (step backward)

From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae

⑦Mae-geri, Oi-zuki（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑧Mawashi-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊Keep the hand at same position before kicking

From Kiba-dachi

⑨Yoko ke-age switch legs Yoko ke-komi
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑩Turning & stepping forward Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki

Kata

Heian Godan

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
3rd Kyu

① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)

Kata

Tekki Shodan

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
2nd Kyu

① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)

Kata

Bassai Dai

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
1st Kyu

① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）

Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae

⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)

Kata

Bassai Dai

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
1st Dan

①Long step forward Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Long step backward Jodan Age-uke, Front leg Mae-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi, Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
⑤Mae-geri Oi-zuki, Mawashi-geri Gyaku-zuki, Ushiro-geri Gyaku-zuki, Ura Mawashi-geri Gyaku-zuki (both sides）
⑥From Zenkutsu-dachi, Jiyu-na-kamae, same leg Yoko Ke-age, Yoko Ke-komi, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Jiyu-na-kamae (both sides are acceptable, choose either left or right side)
⑦Yose ashi (move the back leg half step) Kizami-zuki, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑧Move with front leg forward, Gyaku-zuki, change side Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑨Move with front leg forward, Mae-geri, Oi-zuki, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）

*Attention to the seventh combination of the Shodan syllabus, yose ashi is compulsory. The Dan test candidate must move the back leg half step, then perform a Kizami-zuki, Gyaku-zuki combination.
Kata

Tokui Kata

Candidates choice of:

Bassai-Dai
Kanku-Dai
Enpi
Jion

Shitei Kata

Examiners choice of:

Heian-Shodan to Heian Godan
Tekki-Shodan
Junro-Shodan to Junro-Godan

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite

Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri

Jiyu Kumite

Free Sparring
2nd Dan

Kata

Tokui Kata

Kata of choice

Shitei Kata

Examiners choice of:

Bassai-Dai
Kanku-Dai
Enpi
Jion
Hangetsu
Junro-Kata
Gankaku
Jitte

Kumite

Jiyu Kumite
Red Dragons

Our red Dragons's take Red Orange Green Blue purple brown and black belts before transferring to Karate Kids at around 6 yrs old.

After transferring they will next grade to a yellow belt.

Red Dragons

Ages 3-5
LEARN MORE
Junior Team

Ages 6-17
LEARN MORE
Competition Squad

Ages 6-17
LEARN MORE
Private Sessions

Ages 6-17
LEARN MORE

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