The following shows the Kata you will be asked to perform for each grading.
It also provides a guide to the Basic Techniques and Kumite you may be asked to perform for each grade.
(CLICK HERE TO SEE A GLOSSARY GIVING THE TRANSLATION OF THE JAPANESE NAMES)
Click on your next grade to see the syllabus.
Click here to download a PDF file of the Grading Syllabus.
GRADING FROM: WHITE TO 1ST RED STRIPE or FROM 1ST RED STRIPE TO 2ND RED STRIPE
Little Warriors (Juniors) only
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
1. Oi-zuki jodan
2. Oi-zuki chudan
3. Age-uke
4. Soto-uke
5. Uchi-uke
6. Mae-Geri chudan
7. Mae-Geri jodan

GRADING FROM: WHITE (or 2nd Stripe) to 9th Kyu (ORANGE)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
1. Oi-zuki jodan
2. Oi-zuki chudan
3. Age-uke
4. Soto-uke
5. Uchi-uke
6. Mae-Geri chudan
7. Mae-Geri jodan
KATA
KIHON
KUMITE
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite (Basic 3 or 5 step sparring)
Attack and Defense
Jodan – Age-uke
Chudan – Soto-uke
Mae-Geri – Gedan-Barai

GRADING FROM: 9th Kyu (ORANGE) to 8th Kyu (RED)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
as previous grading plus:
1. Shuto-uke in Kokutsu-Dachi
2. Mae-Geri jodan
3. Yoko geri keage from Kiba-Dachi
4. Yoko geri kikome from Kiba-Dachi
KATA
HEIAN SHODAN
KUMITE
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite (Basic 3 or 5 step sparring)
Attack and Defense
Jodan – Age-uke
Chudan – Soto-uke
Mae-Geri – Gedan-Barai

GRADING FROM: 8th Kyu (RED) to 7th Kyu (YELLOW)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
as previous grading plus:
1. Sanbon zuki
2. Age uke, gyaku zuki
3. Soto uke, gyaku zuki
4. Uche uki, gyaku zuki
KATA
HEIAN NIDAN
KUMITE
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite (Basic 3 or 5 step sparring)
Attack and Defense
Jodan – Age-uke
Chudan – Soto-uke
Mae-Geri – Gedan-Barai

GRADING FROM: 7th Kyu (YELLOW) to 6th Kyu (GREEN)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
as previous gradings plus:
1. Age uke, gyaku zuki, gedan barai
2. Soto uke, empi uchi
3. Shuto uke, nukite
4. Mae ren geri (changing legs)
KATA
HEIAN SANDAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
Jodan oi zuki – from both sides
Chudan oi zuki – from both sides

GRADING FROM: 6th Kyu (GREEN) to 5th Kyu (PURPLE)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
All Zenkutsu-dachi unless stated
as previous gradings plus:
1. Soto uke, empi uke,uraken
2. Uchi uke, kizame zuki, gyaku zuki
3. Shuto ute, front leg mae geri, nukite
4. Mawashi geri
KATA
HEIAN YONDAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
(from both sides)
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi

GRADING FROM: 5th Kyu (PURPLE) to 4th Kyu (PURPLE/WHITE)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
as previous gradings plus:
1. Soto uke, empi, uraken, gyaku zuki
KATA
HEIAN GODAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
(from both sides)
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi

GRADING FROM: 4th Kyu (PURPLE/WHITE) to 3rd Kyu (BROWN)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
1. Soto uke, empi, uraken, gyaku zuki, gedan barai
2. Uchi uke, Kizame zuki, gyaku zuki, gedan barai
3. Ushiro geri
KATA
TEKKI SHODAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
(from both sides)
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi
mawashi geri

GRADING FROM: 3rd Kyu (BROWN) to 2nd Kyu (BROWN/WHITE)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
as previous gradings plus:
1. Kizame zuki, oi zuki gyaku zuki
2. Mae geri, oi zuki, gyaku zuki
3. Yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku zuki
4. Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku zuki
5. Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku zuki
KATA
BASSAI DAI
KUMITE
JU IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi
mawashi geri
ushiro geri

GRADING FROM: 2nd Kyu (BROWN/WHITE) to 1st Kyu (BROWN/2 WHITE)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
Unless stated otherwise, all moves are:
3 steps forward turn and 3 steps forward
as previous grading plus:-
1. Mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri, ushiro geri
2. Uraken, gyaku zuki
KATA
BASSAI DAI
KUMITE
JU IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi
mawashi geri
ushiro geri

GRADING FROM: 1st Kyu BROWN/2 WHITE to 1st Dan (BLACK)
KIHON (BASIC TECHNIQUES)
All begin from free-style stance
1. Kizame zuki, oi zuki, gyaku zuki
2. Mae geri, oi zuki, gyaku zuki
3. Yoko geri keage, uraken, gyaku zuki
4. Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku zuki
5. Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku zuki
6. Mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku zuki
7. Mae geri, oi zuki, gyaku zuki
step back gedan barai, gyaku zuki
mawashi geri, uraken, oi zuki
8. Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri – all whilst maintaining balance
KATA
Candidate chooses one from:
BASSAI DAI, KANKU DAI, EMPI, JION orHANGETSU
Examiner chooses one from:
Any Heian Kata
KUMITE
JU IPPON KUMITE
Attacks
Jodan oi zuki
Chudan oi zuki
mae geri
yoko geri kikomi
mawashi geri
ushiro geri
Glossary
JAPANESE
NAME |
ENGLISH
MEANING |
JAPANESE
NAME |
ENGLISH
MEANING |
---|---|---|---|
Stances | |||
Zenkututsu-Dachi | front stance | ||
Kokutsu-Dachi | back stance | ||
Kiba-Dachi | horse-riding stance | ||
Attacking areas | Blocks | ||
Gedan | to the knee | Gedan barai | downward block |
Chudan | to the chest | Age uki | upward block |
Jodan | to the head | Soto (udi) uke | outside block |
Uchi uke | inside block | ||
Shuto uke | knife hand block | ||
Punches | Kicks | ||
Oi tsuki | stepping punch | Mae geri | front kick |
Gyaku suki | reverse punch | (yoko geri) keage | side snap kick |
Kizame tsuki | thrust punch | (yoko geri) kekomi | side thrust kick |
Nukite | spear hand attack | Ushiro geri | back kick |
Empi | elbow strike | Mawashi geri | roundhouse kick |
Uraken | back fist punch |