Beginners - The Exam Syllabus

The following tables provide guidelines for students wishing to advance through Shotokan Grading. They describe the range and level of technique expected of students at each grade. Please note that the Kata is prescribed and will not vary. Previously examined Kata must also be maintained at a good level as these may be called upon during any advance examination.


Kyu - White to Brown belt
Dan - Black Belt
Novice, 9th Kyu to 1st Kyu 1st Kyu to 4th Dan
Novice to 9th Kyu - White to Orange
9th Kyu to 8th Kyu - Orange to Red
8th Kyu to 7th kyu - Red to Yellow
7th Kyu to 6th Kyu - Yellow to Green
6th Kyu to 5th Kyu - Green to Purple
5th Kyu to 4th Kyu - Purple to Purple & White
4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu - Purple & White to Brown
3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu - remains Brown
2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu - remains Brown
Black Belt 1st Dan - 1st Kyu to 1st Dan
Black Belt 2nd Dan - 1st Dan to 2nd Dan
Black Belt 3rd Dan - 2nd Dan to 3rd Dan
Black Belt 4th Dan - 3rd Dan to 4th Dan
Dan Grading - Prescribed Kata

Novice to 9th Kyu - White to Orange belt
KIHON KATA KUMITE

1 Jodan oi tsuki
2 Chudan oi tsukiattacks
3 Jodan age uke
4 Chudan soto ude uke
5 Chudan uchi uke
6 Jodan mae geri
7 Chudan mae geri
8 Yoko geri keage
+ use of front stance and Kiba Dachi

Kihon Sanbon or Gohon Kumite
Jodan Chudan

9th Kyu to 8th Kyu - Orange to Red belt
KIHON KATA KUMITE
as previous grading +:
1 Chudan shuto uke
2 Yoko geri kekomi
+ use of back stance
Heian Shodan
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite

8th Kyu to 7th kyu - Red to Yellow belt
KIHON KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading +:
1 Sanbon tsuki
2 Age uke, gyaku tsuki
3 Soto uke. gyaku nukite
4 Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki
Heian Nidan
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite
as above + correct distance & timing

7th Kyu to 6th Kyu - Yellow to Green belt
KIHON KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading +:
1 Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
2 Soto uke, empi uchi - stance change
3 Shuto Uke, Nukite - stance switch
4 Mae ren geri (changing legs)
Heian Sandan
Kihon Ippon Kumite with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from left & right attack

6th Kyu to 5th Kyu ‑ Green to Purple belt
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading +:1
Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken
2 Uchi uke, kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki
3 Shuto uke, front leg mae geri, nukite
4 leg changing with all kicks
Heian Yondan
mae geri and yoko gerikekomi attacks

5th Kyu to 4th Kyu - Purple to Purple & White belt
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading +:
1 Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki Godan
2 Maewashi geri
Heian

4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu - Purple & White to Brown belt
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading plus+:
1 Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
2 Uchi uke, kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
3 Ushiro geri
Tekki Shodan
maewashi geri attack
ushiro geri attack

3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu - remains Brown
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
as previous grading +:
1 Kizame tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
2 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
3 Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
4 Maewashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki maewashi geri and
5 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
6 simple kicking combinations
Bassai Dai
Ju Ippon Kumite with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, and chudan yoko geri, jodan chudan ushiro geri attacks

2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu - remains Brown
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE

as previous grading +:

Mae geri, yoko geri, maewashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki.

Bassai Dai
Ju Kumite Students should also be able to perform Kanku Dai, Jion, Empi & Hangetsu

Black Belt Examination Syllabus - All begin from free-style kamae
1st Kyu to 1st Dan
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
1 Kizame tuski, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
2 Mae geri, Oi tsuki, Gyaku tsuki
3 Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
4 Maewashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
5 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
6 Mae geri, yoko geri, maewashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
7 Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, maewashi geri. uraken, oi tsuki
8 Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, maewashi geri.
as prescribed
Ju Ippon Kumite with jodan and chudan oi tsuki mae-geri, yoko geri, maewashi geri & ushiro geri Ju Kumite

1st Dan to 2nd Dan

KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
1 Mae geri, oi tsuki, Gyaku tsuki
2 Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
3 Maewashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
4 Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
5 Mae geri chudan, same leg maewashi geri jodan, uraken, gyaku tsuki

6 Maewashi geri jodan ,same leg yoko gerikekomi chudan, uraken, gyaku tsuki
7 Mae geri, yoko geri, maewashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
8 Mae geri step forward, move front foot back, use rear leg yoko geri, maewashigeri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
9 Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, maewashi geri, all whilst maintaining balance
as prescribed
Ju Ippon Kumite - any 5 attacks, not pre-arranged
Ju Kumite

2nd Dan to 3rd Dan
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE

Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations +:
Kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, maewashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri and step back ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki.

as prescribed
Ju Ippon Kumite not pre arranged
Kaishu Ippon Kumite - pre-arranged attacks
 Ju Kumite

3rd Dan to 4th Dan
KIHON
KATA
KUMITE
Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus:
Kizame tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, ren tsuki, step back age uke, soto uke, gedan barai anduke with same arm, kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, four turning gyaku tsuki attacks,turn behind with haito uchi, maewashi geri,uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri and step back, yoko geri keage to side and return to stance, and finally step forward with maewashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken and gyaku tsuki.
A written Karate CV and a 1500-2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate
As prescribed +
a practical demonstration of requested applications from choice Kata
Kaishu Ippon Kumite - any 5 attacks, not pre-arranged
Demonstration of between 3 and 5 favorite kumite combinations
Ju Kumite

Dan Grading - Prescribed Kata
NAME OF KATA
FREE CHOICE
EXAMINERS CHOICE
All Heian & Tekki Shodan
n/a
for all Dan exams
Bassai Dai
Jion
Enpi
Hangetsu
Kanku Dai
Bassai Sho
Kanku Sho
Jitte
Niju Shiho
Sochin
Tekki Nidan
Jiin
Chinte
Ganka Ku
Wankan
Rohai
Tekki Sandan
Unsu
Gojo Shiho Dai
Gojo Shiho Sho

for 1st Dan exams
for 1st Dan exams
for 1st Dan exams
for 1st Dan exams
for 1st Dan exams
for 2nd Dan exams
for 2nd Dan exams
for 2nd Dan exams
for 2nd Dan exams
for 2nd Dan exams
n/a
n/a
for 3rd Dan exams
for 3rd Dan exams
n/a
n/a
n/a
for 4th Dan exams
for 4th Dan exams
for 4th Dan exams

for 2nd Dan + exams
for 2nd Dan + exams
for 2nd Dan + exams
for 2nd Dan + exams
for 2nd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 3rd Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
for 4th Dan + exams
Note: For each grade, students should be able to perform any Kata from their free choice group. The examiner may test this knowledge, without expecting the same high level of performance as the actual Kata chosen.