Grading requirements

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You can find the Japanese terms in the glossary. The explanation for the notation used here is at the end of the table.

The Japanese Karate Club is affiliated with the Japan Karate Association - International and with the American Amateur Karate Federation. We use the following ranking system and grading requirements:

JKA KARATE-DO RANKING EXAMINATION GUIDE
For Rank Kata Kihon Kumite
Hachi Kyu
(8th kyu)
Back to top		 Heian Shodan
(Heian No.1)
  1. 6 oi-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke
  3. 3 gedan-barai
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke
  5. 3 shuto-uke (B)
  6. 6 mae-geri
  7. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, in Kiba-dachi (K)
  8. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
 One step sparring: oi-tsuki, 1J, 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration and basic external actions.
Shichi Kyu
(7th kyu)
Back to top		 Heian Nidan
(Heian No.2)
  1. 6 oi-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 gedan-barai / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  5. 3 shuto-uke (B)
  6. 3 mae-geri
  7. 3 mawashi-geri
  8. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  9. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
 Kihon ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture and external actions.
Roku Kyu
(6th kyu)
Back to top		 Heian Sandan
(Heian No.3)
  1. 6 san-bon-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 gedan-barai / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke / empi (K)
  5. 3 3 shuto-uke (B)/ nukite (F)
  6. 3 ren-geri
  7. 3 mawashi-ren-geri
  8. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  9. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
  10. 3 mae-geri / oi-tsuki
 Kihon ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C, mae-geri 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance and external actions.
Go Kyu
(5th kyu)
Back to top		 Heian Yondan
(Heian No.4)
  1. 6 san-bon-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 gedan-barai / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke / empi (K)
  5. 3 shuto-uke (B) / kizami-maegeri (B) / nukite (F)
  6. 3 ren-geri
  7. 3 mawashi-ren-geri
  8. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  9. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
  10. 3 R-maegeri / L-mawashigeri / R-gyaku-tsuki
 Kihon ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C, mae-geri 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance, accelaration, kiai and external actions.
Yon Kyu
(4th kyu)
Back to top		 Heian Godan
(Heian No.5)
  1. 6 san-bon-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 gedan-barai / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke / empi / tate-uraken (K)
  5. 3 shuto-uke (B) / kizami-maegeri (B) / nukite (F)
  6. 3 ren-geri
  7. 3 mawashi-ren-geri
  8. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  9. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
  10. 3 R-maegeri / L-yoko-kekomigeri / R-gyaku-tsuki
 Kihon ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C, mae-geri 1C, yoko-kekomi-geri 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance, accelaration, kiai, speed, breathing and external actions.
San Kyu
(3rd kyu
Back to top		 Tekki Shodan
(Tekki No.1)
  1. 6 san-bon-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 gedan-barai / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 soto-ude-uke / empi / tate-uraken (K)
  5. 3 shuto-uke (B) / kizami-mae-geri (B) / nukite (F)
  6. 3 uchi-ude-uke / gyaku-tsuki
  7. 3 C-L-kizami-mae-geri / J-R-mae-geri
  8. 3 C-L-kizami-mawashi-geri / J-R-mawashi-geri
  9. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  10. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
  11. 3 R-yoko-kekomi-geri / L-mawashi-geri / R-gyaku-tsuki
  12. 3 R-mawashi-geri / L-yoko-kekomi-geri / R-gyaku-tsuki
  13. 3 R-mae-geri / R-yoko-kekomi-geri to side (stationary)
  14. 3 L-mae-geri / L-yoko-kekomi-geri to side (stationary)
 Kihon ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C, mae-geri 1C, yoko-kekomi-geri 1C, ushiro-geri 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance, accelaration, kiai, speed, breathing and external actions.
Ni Kyu
(2nd kyu)
Back to top		 One of the following:
Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi, Jion		 Same as 3rd kyu Same as 3rd kyu
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance, accelaration, kiai, speed, breathing, feeling settled down and external actions.
Ik Kyu
(1st kyu)
Back to top		 Same as 2nd kyu Same as 2nd kyu, except for No.13 and 14 do:
3 stationary R-mae-geri / R-yoko-keage-geri to the side / R-yoko-kekomi-geri to the side
3 stationary L-mae-geri / L-yoko-keage-geri to the side / L-yoko-kekomi-geri to the side 		Same as 2nd kyu
CONSIDERATIONS: Same as 2nd kyu.
Shodan
(1st dan)
Back to top		 One of the four kata for 1st kyu (of your choice) and one of the six basic kata (by the examiner's choice)
  1. 3 san-bon-tsuki
  2. 3 age-uke / kizami-mae-geri / gyaku-tsuki
  3. 3 soto-ude-uke / yoko-empi / tate-uraken-uchi / gyaku-tsuki
  4. 3 shuto-uke (B) / kizami-mae-geri (B) / nukite (F)
  5. 3 uchi-ude-uke / {kizami-tsukikizami-mae-geri} / gyaku-tsuki
  6. 3 C-L-kizami-mae-geri / J-R-mae-geri
  7. 3 C-L-kizami-mawashi-geri / J-R-mawashi-geri
  8. 3 yoko-keage-geri, R and L, (K)
  9. 3 yoko-kekomi-geri, R and L (K)
  10. 3 L-kizami-kekomi-geri / R-mawashi-geri / L-gyaku-tsuki
  11. 3 L-kizami-mawashi-geri / L-kizami-kekomi-geri / R-oi-tsuki
  12. 3 stationary R-mae-geri / R-yoko-keage-geri to side / R-yoko-kekomi-geri to side / R-mawashi-geri to front
  13. 3 stationary L-mae-geri / L-yoko-keage-geri to side / L-yoko-kekomi-geri to side / L-mawashi-geri to front
  14. Control test (3 dimensional pencil test, or flame test)
 Jiyu ippon kumite: oi-tsuki 1J, 1C, mae-geri 1C, yoko-kekomi-geri 1C, ushiro-geri 1C
CONSIDERATIONS: Eye direction, concentration, stance, posture, timing, distance, accelaration, kiai, speed, breathing, feeling settled down and external actions.
Nidan
(2nd dan)
Back to top
One kata of your choice from the following 9:
  • Bassai Dai
  • Jion
  • Empi
  • Kanku Dai
  • Hangetsu
  • Jitte
  • Gankaku
  • Tekki Nidan
  • Tekki Sandan
and one of Bassai Dai, Jion, Empi or Kanku Dai (by the examiner's choice)
  1. 3 kizami-tsuki / mae-geri / oi-tsuki / zan-shin
  2. 3 yoko-keage-geri (K) / yoko-kekomi-geri (K)
  3. 3 kizami-tsuki / ushiro-geri / yoko-uraken-uchi / gyaku-tsuki / zan-shin
  4. 3 age-uke / mawashi-geri / yoko-uraken-uchi / oi-tsuki / zan-shin
  5. 3 stationary mae-geri / yoko-keage-geri / yoko-kekomi-geri / mawashi-geri / ushiro-geri
Free sparring (jiyu kumite) - defending, atacking, and regular ring and one of the following:
  • defense against weapon
  • defense from sitting position
  • defense against grabbing and holding attack
Sandan
(3rd dan)
Back to top
One kata of your choice from the following 9:
  • Bassai Dai
  • Jion
  • Empi
  • Kanku Dai
  • Hangetsu
  • Jitte
  • Gankaku
  • Tekki Nidan
  • Tekki Sandan
and one of the 15 kata (by the examiner's choice)
  • Jiyu kumite against another examinee
  • Jiyu kumite against a Sho-dan or lower level
  • Defense against attack exclusively selected by examiner

NOTATION:

underlined - Execute backwards
C - Chudan
J - Jodan
B - Back stance (Kokutsu dachi)
 K - Kiba dachi
F - Front stance (Zenkutsu dachi)
L - Left
R - Right
© 2006 Madison Japanese Karate Club, Vassil Peytchev