GRADING LEVELS

JKAA adopts and implements the grading level system set by JKA HQ. Under this system, there are 10 ‘Kyu’ levels and 10 ‘Dan’ (black belt) levels.

Beginners will generally start their karate journey with no “kyu” grade level. In order to progress through the grading levels, students will need to undergo a grading process. This requires students to perform a prescribed set of karate techniques in front a panel of JKA-accredited examiners, to demonstrate that they have met the standard required for the grade being tested.

Set out below are the different grading levels from 10th Kyu up to 1st Dan, with the relevant grading syllabus. To view the complete grading syllabus (including syllabus for all Dan grades), please CLICK HERE.

To see JKA HQ’s Kyu and Dan Rank Certification System, please CLICK HERE.

 

10th Kyu

White Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 10th Kyu:

KIHON

In place basics in SHIZEN TAI

    1. CHUUDAN CHOKUZUKI
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE
    4. GEDAN BARAI
    5. MAEGERI (HEISOKU DACHI, GEDAN KAKIWAKE)

* “GOREI” command (From right side in turn for each Waza)

 

9th Kyu

Yellow Belt – White Stripe

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 9th Kyu:

KIHON

In place basics in SHIZEN TAI

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE,
    4. MAEGERI (ZENKUTSUDACHI, GEDAN KAKIWAKE)

* “GOREI” command (From right side two action in turn for each WAZA)

 

8th Kyu

Yellow Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 8th Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step in)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
    4. GEDAN BARAI (step in)
    5. KOKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in HEISOKU DACHI, right and left 2 times each)

KATA

TAIKYOKU SHOUDAN

KUMITE

GOHON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI

 

7th Kyu

Orange Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 7th Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, stepping in, right and left)

KATA

HEIAN SHOUDAN

KUMITE

GOHON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI

 

6th Kyu

Green Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 6th Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)

KATA

HEIAN NIDAN

KUMITE

KIHON IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left

 

5th Kyu

Blue Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 5th Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, CHUUDAN GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)

KATA

HEIAN SANDAN

KUMITE

KIHON IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right and left, (in GEDAN KAKIWAKE)

 

4th Kyu

Purple Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 4th Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)

KATA

HEIAN YONDAN

KUMITE

KIHON IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right and left, (in GEDAN KAKIWAKE)
    4. CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right and left

 

3rd Kyu

Brown Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 3rd Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. REN GERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
    8. MAWASHIGERI
    9. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    10. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)

KATA

HEIAN GODAN

KUMITE

KIHON IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right and left, (in GEDAN KAKIWAKE)
    4. CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right and left

 

2nd Kyu

Brown Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 2nd Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE in ZENKUTSU DACHI, changing stance to KIBA DACHI, YOKO ENPI, YOKO URAKEN UCHI (step in)
    4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
    6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    7. REN GERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE, CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
    8. MAWASHI GERI (step in)
    9. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    10. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in ZENKUTSUDATI) (step in)

KATA

TEKKI SHODAN

KUMITE

JIYUU IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right
    4. CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right

 

1st Kyu

Brown Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 1st Kyu:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
    3. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    4. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, YOKO ENPI, YOKO URAKEN UCHI (ZENKUTSU DACHI changing stance to KIBA DACHI) (step in)
    5. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
    6. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
    7. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    8. RENGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
    9. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
    10. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
    11. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)

KATA

Student’s choice:

    1. BASSAI DAI; or
    2. KANKU DAI; or
    3. ENPI; or
    4. JION

KUMITE

JIYUU IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right
    4. CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right
    5. JOUDAN or CHUUDAN MAWASHIGERI – right

 

1st Dan

Black Belt

Grading Syllabus

Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 1st Dan:

KIHON

IDOU KIHON – Moving basics

    1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
    2. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
    3. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
    4. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, YOKOENPI, YOKOURA KENUCHI, GYAKUZUKI (ZENKUTSU DACHI changing stance to KIBA DACHI changing stance to ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
    5. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, KIZAMI ZUKI, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
    6. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
    7. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
    8. RENGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
    9. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
    10. YOKOGERI KEAGE (KIBADACHI – right and left) (step in)
    11. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI)

KATA

Student’s choice:

    1. BASSAI DAI; or
    2. KANKU DAI; or
    3. ENPI; or
    4. JION

KUMITE

JIYUU IPPON KUMITE

    1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    2. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right
    3. CHUUDAN MAEGERI – right
    4. CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right
    5. JOUDAN or CHUUDAN MAWASHIGERI – right
 

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