Testing Requirements

10th Kyu

Kihon: In place Basics in Shizen-Tai

Chuudan Choku-zuki | Joudan Age-uke | Chuudan Soto-uke | Gedan Barai | Mae-geri (Heisoku-dachi, Gedan Kakiwake)

10th to 9th Kyu

Kihon: In place Basics in Shizen-Tai to Zenkutsu-dachi and back to Shizen-Tai

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke | Chuudan Soto-uke | Mae-geri (Zenkutsu-dachi, Gedan Kakiwake)

9th to 8th Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke | Chudan Soto-uke | Gedan-Barai | Shuto-uke (Kokutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Yoko-geri Ke-age (Heisoku-dachi, right and left, 2 times each)

Kata: Taikyoku Shodan

Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki

*  Examiners look predominantly for correct basic form

(is forward movement is backward movement)

7th Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke | Chuudan Soto-uke | Chuudan Uchi-uke | Shuto-uke (Kokutsu dachi) |Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left

Kata: Heian Shodan

Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki

(is forward movement is backward movement)

6th Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke | Chudan Soto-uke | Chuudan-Uchi-uke | Shuto-uke (Kokutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Kiba-dachi) right/left

Kata: Heian Nidan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki right/left

(is forward movement is backward movement)

5th Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chudan-Uchi-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Shuto-uke (Kokutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kiba-dachi) right/left

Kata: Heian Sandan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Maegeri right/left

*  Examiners look for correct pivoting of the hips during renzoku-waza, and clear grasp of the hand techniques

(is forward movement is backward movement)

4th Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chuudan-Uchi-uke + Gyaku-zuki| Shuto-uke + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi)| Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Kiba-dachi) right/left

Kata: Heian Yondan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Mae-geri / Chuudan Yoko-geri Ke-komi right/left

*  Examiners are looking for appropriate degree of strength and sharpness of execution in each technique (Kihon, Kata, Kumite)

(is forward movement is backward movement)

3rd Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chuudan Soto-uke | Chuudan Uchi-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Ren-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) Chuudan / Joudan | Mawashi-geri | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Kiba-dachi) right/left

Kata: Heian Godan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Mae-geri / Chuudan Yoko-geri Ke-komi right/left

(is forward movement is backward movement)

2nd Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki Chuudan Soto-uke + Yoko Empi + Yoko Uraken Uchi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) | Chudan Uchi-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Shuto-uke + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Ren-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) Chuudan / Joudan | Mawashi-geri | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi)

Kata: Tekki Shodan

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Mae-geri / Chuudan Yoko-geri Ke-komi right side

(is forward movement is backward movement)

1st Kyu

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Sanbon Ren-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki |Chuudan Soto-uke + Yoko Enpi + Yoko Uraken-Uchi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) | Chudan Uchi-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Shuto-uke + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Ren-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) Chuudan / Joudan | Mawashi-geri | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi)

Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, Enpi)—student may choose any of these

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Mae-geri / Chuudan Yoko-geri Ke-komi / Joudan or Chuudan Mawashi-geri right side

*  Examiners look for ease and naturalness of execution, for speedy and powerful kime, and for smooth, instantaneous, dynamic elasticity of delivery.

(is forward movement is backward movement)

1st Dan

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Sanbon Ren-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Gyaku-zuki | Chuudan Soto-uke + Yoko Enpi + Yoko Uraken-Uchi + Gyaku-zuki (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Chuudan Uchi-uke + Kizami-zuki + Gyaku-zuki | Shuto-uke + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri (Gedan Kakiwake) | Rengeri (Gedan Kakiwake) Chuudan / Joudan | Mawashi-geri | Yoko Ke-age (Kiba-dachi) Right/left | Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi)

Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, Enpi)—student may choose any of these

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Joudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Jun-zuki / Chuudan Mae-geri / Chuudan Yoko-geri Ke-komi / Joudan or Chuudan Mawashi-geri right side

*  Examiners test for basic understanding and functional ability in the foundational techniques of karate.

(is forward movement is backward movement)

2nd Dan

Kihon: Moving Basics

Chuudan Jun-zuki | Sanbon Ren-zuki | Joudan Age-uke + Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki (Block with same arm) | Uchi-uke + Kizami-zuki + Gyaku-zuki (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Shuto-uke + Kizami Mae-geri + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Rengeri (Gedan Kakiwake) Chuudan / Joudan | Yoko Ke-age + Yoko Ke-komi (Kiba-dachi, alternate feet) | Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mawashi-geri | Age-uke + Mawashi-geri + Yoko Uraken-Uchi + Chuudan Jun-zuki

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

*  Examiners test for understanding and proficiency in the foundational techniques of karate.

(is forward movement is backward movement)

3rd Dan

Kihon: Moving Basics

Joudan Kizami-zuki + Joudan Jun-zuki + Chuudan Gyaku-zuki (free kamae) | Joudan Age-uke + Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki (Block with same arm) | Chuudan Uchi-uke + Kizami-zuki + Gyaku-zuki (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Shuto-uke + Kizami Mae-geri + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Joudan Age-uke + Mawashi-geri + Yoko Uraken-uchi + Chudan Jun-zuki | Mae-geri+Gyaku-zuki + Yoko Ke-komi+Gyaku=zuki + Mawashi-geri+Gyaku-zuki (alternate feet)

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

*  Examiners test for understanding and proficiency in the standard techniques of karate.

 

4th Dan

Kihon: Moving Basics

Sanbon Renzuki | Joudan Age-uke + Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki (Block with same arm) | Chuudan Uchi-uke + Kizami-zuki + Gyaku-zuki (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Shuto-uke + Kizami Mae-geri + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri + Jun-zuki | Mae-geri + Gyaku-zuki | Yoko Ke-komi + Gyaku-zuki | Mawashi-geri + Gyaku-zuki | Mae-geri + Yoko-Kekomi + Ushiro-geri (Zenkutsu-dachi + same feet right and left)

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata; also Shitei Kata (from Heian Shodan to Tekki Nidan) specified by examiner

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

*  Examiners test for understanding and mastery of all karate techniques; for an understanding of the philosophy of karate; for an ability to apply these fundamentals and functional aspects in practice; and for an ability to instruct

 

5th Dan

Kihon: Moving Basics

Sanbon Renzuki | Joudan Age-uke + Chuudan Soto-uke + Gyaku-zuki (Block with same arm) | Chuudan Uchi-uke + Kizami-zuki + Gyaku-zuki (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Shuto-uke + Kizami Mae-geri + Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) | Mae-geri + Joudan Jun-zuki + Chuudan Gyaku-zuki | Yoko Ke-komi + Gyaku-zuki | Mawashi-geri + Gyaku-zuki | Mae-geri + Yoko Ke-komi + Mawashi-geri (alternate feet) | Mae-geri + Yoko-Kekomi + Ushiro-geri (Zenkutsu-dachi + same feet right and left)

Kata: Gyaku-zuki; Student’s favorite Kata; also Shitei Kata (from Heian Shodan to Tekki Sandan) specified by examiner; Question and Answer Session

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

*  Examiners test for high-level mastery of karate techniques, and the ability to apply technique in one’s own unique way

 

6th Dan

Kihon: Specified by Examiner

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata; Sentei Kata (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion) specified by examiner; Question and Answer Session

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

Question and Answer Session on technique

Submit a report on technique on the exam day

*  Must demonstrate high-level mastery of both the physical and mental aspects of karate training

 

7th Dan

Kihon: Specified by Examiner

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata; Question and Answer Session

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

Question and Answer Session on technique

Submit a report on technique on the exam day

*  Must demonstrate extensive, matured mastery of both the physical and mental aspects of karate training

 

8th, 9th, 10th Dan

Recommendation by Shihankai

*  Must demonstrate total mastery of the secrets of karate, both physical and mental, and show an extraordinary level of spiritual development