Testing Requirements

10th to 9th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke Chudan Soto-uke Mae-geri

(is forward movement is backward movement)

8th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke ChudanSoto-uke Shuto-uke Mae-geri

Kata: Heian Shodan

Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan

*  Examiners look predominantly for correct basic form

(is forward movement is backward movement)

7th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke Chudan Soto-uke Chudan Uchi-uke Shuto-uke Mae-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Heian Nidan

Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan

(is forward movement is backward movement)

6th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan-Uchi-uke Shuto-uke Mae-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Heian Sandan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan left/right

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

(is forward movement is backward movement)

5th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan-Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke Mae-geri Mawashi-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Heian Yondan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri left/right

(is forward movement is backward movement)

4th Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan-Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) Mae-geri Mawashi-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Heian Godan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri left/right

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

(is forward movement is backward movement)

3rd Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Sambon Renzuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) Mae-geri Mawashi-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Tekki Shodan

Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi left/right

(is forward movement is backward movement)

2nd Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Sambon Renzuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) Mae-geri Mawashi-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right

Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassaidai, Kankudai, Jion, Empi)—student may choose any of these

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi left/right

(is forward movement is backward movement)

1st Kyu

Kihon: Chudan Jun-zuki Sambon Renzuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi+Yoko Uraken (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) Mae-geri Rengeri (Chudan/Jodan) Mawashi-geri Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi) left/right

Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassaidai, Kankudai, Jion, Empi)—student may choose any of these

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi/Mawashi-geri one 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: Sambon Renzuki Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi+Yoko Uraken (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) Chudan-Uchi-uke+Kizami-zuki+Gyaku-tsuki Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) Mae-geri Rengeri (Chudan/Jodan) Yoko Ke-age /Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi, alternate feet) Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi) Mawashi-geri

Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassaidai, Kankudai, Jion, Empi)—student may choose any of these

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite tournament style

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

(is forward movement is backward movement)

2nd Dan

Kihon: Kizami-zuki+Sambon Renzuki Mae-geri+Jun-zuki Yoko Ke-age /Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi, alternate feet) Age-uke+Mawashi-geri+Yoko Uraken+Chudan Jun-zuki Yoko Ke-komi+Gyaku-tsuki (Zenkutsu-dachi) Mawashi-geri+Gyaku-tsuki (Zenkutsu-dachi); Mae-geri/Yoko Ke-komi/Ushiro-geri (Zenkutsu-dachi, same foot left/right)

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: Foundational techniques specified by examiner

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

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

 

4th Dan

Kihon: Foundational techniques specified by examiner

Kata: Student’s favorite Kata; also Sentei Kata (from Heian Shodan to Tekki Shodan) 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

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

Kumite: Jiyu Kumite

General: Question and Answer Session

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