Syllabus & Info
Choose a belt to see what you need to know for that grading – plus Japanese terminology and the student code of practice.
Grading syllabus
Grade 1 of 16
11th Kyu
White belt with red stripe · Minimum age 5
Punches/blocks/stances
- Snap punch
- Reverse punch
- Backfist (front arm)
- Hook punch (front arm)
- Palm heel (front arm)
- Punches and head blocks in horse riding stance
Kicks/combinations
- Front kick (front leg)
- Roundhouse kick (front leg)
- Side kick (front leg)
- Front kick (front leg) snap and reverse punch.
Also assessed
- Bag work
How to grade
Minimum age 5yrs - Valid Membership - Grade at instructor's discretion.
Grade 2 of 16
10th Kyu
White belt with yellow stripe
Punches/blocks/stances
- Snap punch and reverse punch
- Backfist and reverse punch
- Elbow strike (front arm)
- Ridge hand strike (front arm)
- Hook punch front arm and uppercut rear arm
- Stepping forward in basic stance & turn (arms out to side)
Kicks/combinations
- Front kick – back leg on the spot
- Roundhouse kick – back leg on the spot
- Side kick – back leg on the spot
- Front kick (back leg) coming forward then turn
Also assessed
- Bag work
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 10 hours regular training since last grading.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 3 of 16
9th Kyu
Red belt
Punches/blocks/stances
- Step forward snap punch
- Step forward snap & reverse
- Step forward backfist
- Step forward palm heel
- Step forward ridge hand
- Step junzuki (more than once), turn & head block
Kicks/combinations
- Axe kick (coming forward back leg)
- Roundhouse kick (coming forward back leg)
- Side kick (coming forward back leg)
- Front kick coming forward, snap and reverse.
Also assessed
- Bag work
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 10 hours regular training since last grading.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 4 of 16
8th Kyu
Yellow belt
Punches/blocks/stances
- Step forward hook punch and uppercut
- Step head block (finish in fighting stance)
- Step downward block (finish in fighting stance)
- Jumping backfist & reverse punch (on the spot)
- Sliding snap punch & reverse punch
- Kette junzuki (turn & head block)
Kicks/combinations
- Roundhouse kick coming forward, back fist and reverse
- Side kick coming forward, ridge hand front arm
- One step front kick, snap punch and reverse punch
- Front kick and roundhouse kick coming forward (alternate legs)
Sparring
(Students must have protective sparring gear)
Also assessed
- Bag work
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 10 hours regular training since last grading.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 5 of 16
7th Kyu
Orange belt
Punches/blocks/stances
- Sliding ridge hand and reverse punch
- Step forward downward block and reverse punch (finish in fighting stance)
- Step forward head block and reverse punch (finish in fighting stance)
- Jumping back fist & reverse punch (travelling)
- Sliding double jab & reverse punch
- Gyakuzuki
Kicks/combinations
- Coming forward front and roundhouse kick (same leg)
- Coming forward front kick and axe kick (alternate legs), snap and reverse punch.
- Footsweep front leg and reverse punch (on the spot)
- One step round kick
- One step side kick
- Hopping front kick, snap & reverse
Kata
Kihon uke
Sparring
(Students must have full protective sparring equipment)
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 10 hours regular training since last grading.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 6 of 16
6th Kyu
Green belt
Punches/blocks/stances
- Kette gyakuzuki
- Step forward knife hand strike
- Sliding snap punch & ridgehand (rear arm)
- Step forward bottom fist strike
- Spinning back fist & reverse punch
- Short (front view) cat stance & reverse cat stance
Kicks/combinations
- Coming forward front kick, side kick (same leg), snap punch and reverse punch.
- Jumping scissors front kick and reverse punch.
- Hook kick back leg coming forward
- Hopping side kick, back fist
- Hopping roundhouse kick, back fist and reverse punch.
- Hopping footsweep, back fist and reverse punch
- Back kick
Katas
Kihon uke & tenno kata
Also assessed
- Bag work
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 10 hours regular training since last grading.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
This and all future grading will be on courses.
Grade 7 of 16
5th Kyu
Blue belt
Punches/blocks
- Junzuki no tsukkomi
- Slide back downward block & reverse punch
- Stepping spearhand strike
- Sliding head block & reverse punch
- Sliding downward block & reverse punch
- Stepping long cat stance with shuto block (turn shuto block)
Kicks/combination
- One step hook and reverse punch
- One step axe kick, back fist and reverse punch
- Double side kick coming forward back leg
- Jumping scissors front kick, roundhouse kick (back leg coming forward) and reverse punch
- Coming forward roundhouse kick, back kick, (alternate legs) back fist and reverse punch.
- One step hook kick, round kick (same leg)
- Hopping roundhouse kick, back kick, back fist and reverse punch.
- Sliding snap punch reverse punch roundhouse kick front leg
Katas
Kihon uke, tenno kata & pinan nidan
Also assessed
- Sparring
- Bag work
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 1 course (in addition to the one you grade on)
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 8 of 16
4th Kyu
Purple belt
Punches/blocks
- Kette junzuki no tsukkomi
- Sliding snap punch, reverse punch & back fist
- Sliding reverse punch to stomach, back fist (front arm) to the head.
- Sliding head block & downward block (front arm) and reverse punch.
- Tobikomizuki
- Back stance
Kicks/combinations
- Double roundhouse kick coming forward
- Hopping side kick & hook kick same leg
- Coming forward front kick, side kick, hook kick, same leg
- Sliding snap punch, reverse punch, one step roundhouse kick and reverse punch
- Front kick (back leg coming forward), twisting snap punch
- Coming forward off the back leg (alternate legs), front kick, roundhouse kick, back kick, back fist and reverse punch
- Hopping double side kick, back fist and reverse punch
Kata
Kihon uke, tenno kata, pinan nidan & pinan shodan
Also assessed
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 1 course (in addition to the one you grade on)
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Bag work (including jumping front kicks and side kicks)
Grade 9 of 16
3rd Kyu
Brown belt
Punches/blocks
- Gyakuzuki no tsukkomi
- Nagashizuki
- Backfist (front arm) jumping spinning backfist and reverse punch
- Sliding ridgehand (front arm), spinning backfist
Kicks/combinations
- Backfist, one step axe kick and reverse punch
- Jumping side kicks (back leg coming forward)
- Hopping hook kick, round kick (same leg), back kick, ridgehand strike and reverse punch.
- One step roundhouse kick, spinning footsweep
- Spinning backfist, reverse punch, roundhouse kick (back leg coming forward)
- Stepping forward snap punch and reverse punch (then coming forward) front kick, round kick, back kick, back fist and reverse punch
- Hook kick front leg (on the spot)
Bag work
Including jumping front & side kicks
Kata
All previous katas plus pinan sandan
Also assessed
- Sparring
- OHYO-GUMITE No 1
How to grade
Valid Licence-Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 1 course (in addition to the one you grade on)
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 10 of 16
2nd Kyu
Brown belt with white stripe
Punches/blocks/stances
- Kette gyakuzuki no tsukkomi
- Step forward elbow strike & uppercut
- Step forward uppercut (rear arm)
- Jumping back fist (front arm) reverse punch (travelling)
Kicks/combinations
- Hopping axe kick
- Back kick, roundhouse kick (same leg), reverse
- Front kick, twisting snap punch, reverse punch, roundhouse kick (back leg)
- Hopping double side kick, back kick, backfist, reverse punch
- Jumping round kicks (back leg coming forward)
- Jumping scissors front kick, roundhouse kick (back leg coming forward), spinning hook kick, backfist and reverse punch
Katas
All previous katas plus pinan yodan
Ohyo-gumite
No's 1 & 2
Also assessed
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 2 courses (in addition to the one you grade on).
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Bag work – inc. jumping front, jumping side & jumping roundhouse kicks
Grade 11 of 16
1st Kyu
Brown belt with black stripe
Punches/blocks
- All traditional basics from previous gradings
- Jumping ridge hand strike (front arm on the spot)
- Jumping ridgehand strike & reverse travelling
- Step forward backfist then spinning backfist
Kicks/combinations
- Coming forward off the back leg – three kicks (same leg) –front, side and hook, next leg- back kick, back fist and reverse punch
- Hopping hook kick, spinning hook kick and reverse punch
- Dropping back sweep then axe kick next leg
- Spinning backfist, reverse punch, roundhouse kick (back leg coming forward), backfist and reverse punch
- Jumping scissors roundhouse kick and hook kick (same leg)
- Jumping hook kick (back leg coming forward)
- Jump roundhouse kick (front leg on the spot)
Bagwork
Including jumping front, side, round and hook kicks
Katas
All previous katas plus pinan godan
Ohyo-gumite
No's 1, 2 & 3
Also assessed
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 2 courses (in addition to the one you grade on).
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 12 of 16
Sport Black
Black belt with a red stripe · Minimum age 8
Punches/blocks
- All traditional basics from previous gradings
- Sliding snap punch and back fist (same arm), reverse punch
- Sliding backfist (front arm) spinning elbow strike+back fist (same arm) and reverse punch.
- Spinning & sliding elbow strike same arm
Kick/combinations
- Front kick, twisting snap punch & reverse punch, roundhouse kick, back kick, back fist and reverse punch
- Sliding snap and reverse punch, one step round house kick then back kick, backfist and reverse
- Roundhouse kick to the head (back leg coming forward), footsweep (same leg), dropping reverse punch
- Jumping scissors kick, side step (back leg) then side kick and hook kick (same leg), backfist and reverse punch
- Jumping back kick
Bagwork
Including jumping front, side, round, hook & back kicks
Katas
All previous katas plus ku shanku
Ohyo-gumite
No's 1, 2, 3 & 4
Also assessed
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 20 hours regular training since last grading and 2 courses (in addition to the one you grade on).
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 13 of 16
1st Dan
Black belt · Minimum age 10
Punches/blocks
- All traditional basics from previous gradings
- Jumping backfist, reverse punch (coming forward)
- Sliding snap punch and hook punch (front arm) and uppercut (rear arm)
- Jumping ridgehand strike (front arm coming forward)
Kicks/combinations
- Back fist (f/arm), spinning back fist, reverse punch, roundhouse kick (b/leg), back kick, back fist and reverse punch.
- Sliding ridgehand (f/arm) and reverse punch then one step hook kick
- Hopping double side kick then jumping back kick
- Jumping side kick (b/leg), hook kick, (same leg), reverse punch
Bag work
Including all jumping kicks
Katas
All previous katas plus naifanchi
Also assessed
- Sparring
- OHYO-GUMITE No.s 1-8
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 30 hours regular training since last grading and 2 courses (in addition to the one you grade on).
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 14 of 16
2nd Dan
Black belt
Punches/blocks
- All traditional basics from previous gradings
- Sliding ridge hand (f/arm) and reverse punch
- Jumping spinning back fist
- Sliding double hook (f/arm) and upper cut (r/arm)
- Jumping backfist and reverse punch
Kicks/combinations
- One step side kick and hook kick (same leg) then back kick and roundhouse kick (same leg) and reverse punch
- Hopping hook kick then spinning hook kick and reverse punch
- Hopping double roundhouse kick then spinning footsweep
- Jumping scissor axe kick, reverse punch
- One step side kick then axe kick (same leg) and reverse punch
Katas
All previous katas plus chinto, seishan, paisai & ne sayshe
Ohyo gumite
All
Kihon gumite
Numbers 1-5
Also assessed
- Bag work
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership - Minimum 2 years since last grading which must comprise a minimum of 80 hours regular training and 6 USKO courses (in addition to the one you grade on). Minimum 1 hour/week helping to teach in your local club.
Any techniques from previous gradings may be included
Grade 15 of 16
3rd Dan
Black belt
Techniques
- Side kick off back leg, reverse punch, round kick next leg then hook kick next leg as sweep then dropping reverse punch.
- Slide double punch, round kick back leg then slide double punch again.
- Side kick back leg, reverse punch, side kick next leg then one step hook kick as sweep and dropping reverse punch.
- Stepping forward snap punch (i.e. left stance left arm), then when you complete step snap punch and reverse punch then backfist.
- Slide snap punch, front kick back leg coming forward and lunge punch.
- Step back head block, roundhouse kick back leg coming forward, backfist front arm, step lunge punch.
- On the spot front kick back leg, then front kick front leg, then front kick back leg stepping forward, turn downward block.
- One step snap punch, front kick front leg then reverse punch.
Katas
All previous katas plus wan chu & jitte.
Ohyo gumite
All
Kihon gumite
No.s 1-10
Also assessed
- Bag work
- Sparring
How to grade
Valid Membership – Minimum 3 years since last grading which must comprise a minimum of 120 hours regular training and 9 USKO courses (in addition to the one you grade on). WKF Coaching qualification & minimum 1 hour/week helping to teach at your local club/s.
Grade 16 of 16
4th Dan
Black belt
Techniques
- Step Junzuki. Step forward head block & double punch, then step back double head block & single punch.
- Step gidan barai. Step forward in to basic stance with inner block, slide in to horse stance & perform elbow and backfist all with same arm. Change to gyakuzuki- reverse punch. Step back in to long cat stance & perform shuto block. Front kick front leg and reverse punch. Yame.
- From fighting stance. One step side kick followed by side kick going forward off the back leg. Jump & turn.
- From fighting stance. Step back head block, side kick off the back leg going forward, back fist front arm, step forward lunge punch.
- From fighting stance. Side kick off the back leg to the side (i.e. left stance, kick with right leg to the right), land facing in that direction and perform elbow strike rear arm followed by elbow strike front arm. Back to starting position.
- On the spot front kick back leg to the front, side kick same leg to side and back kick same leg to rear. All kicks same leg without putting it down and finish in same stance.
- Step inner block, slide elbow strike and backfist (all same arm) then reverse punch.
Katas
All
Ohyo gumite
All
Kihon kumite
All
How to grade
Valid Membership – Minimum 4 years since last grading which must comprise a minimum of 160 hours regular training and 12 USKO courses (in addition to the one you grade on). WKF Coaching Qualification & a minimum 2 hours/week helping to teach in your local club.
Japanese terminology
- Ashi barai
- Leg sweep
- Chokuzuki
- Straight punch
- Chudan
- Mid section
- Dachi
- Stance
- Dan
- Black belt grade
- Do
- Way or path
- Dojo
- Training hall
- Empi-uchi
- Elbow strike
- Gedan
- Lower level
- Gedan barai
- Lower sweeping block
- Geri
- Kick
- Gi
- Training suit
- Gyakuzuki
- Reverse punch
- Gyakuzuki no tsukkomi
- Reverse to lower abdomen
- Haito – uchi
- Right hand strike
- Hajime
- Start
- Hanmi
- Half way forward position
- Hidari
- Left
- Hidari gamae
- Step junzuki stance
- Hidari hanme gamae
- Left fighting stance
- Hizageri
- Knee kick
- Ipponken
- One knuckle fist
- Ippon kumite
- One step sparring
- Jodan-uke
- Upper level/head block
- Junzuki
- Lunge punch
- Junzuki no tsukkomi
- Lunge punch to head
- Karate
- Chinese hand/empty hand
- Kata
- Training sequence
- Kette
- Kick
- Ki
- Spirit, inner power
- Kiai
- Karate shout
- Kibadachi
- Straddle/horse riding stance
- Kihon
- Basic techniques
- Kihon kumite
- Basic pre – arranged sparring
- Kingeri
- Groin kick
- Kiritsu
- Stand to attention
- Kokutsudachi
- Back stance
- Kumite
- Sparring
- Kyu
- Colour belt grade
- Maegeri
- Front kick
- Mawasigeri / zuki
- Round house kick/punch
- Mawatte
- Turn
- Migi
- Right
- Mikazukigeri
- Crescent kick
- Morote – uke
- Augmented (double assisted) block
- Nagashizuki
- Avoiding snap punch
- Nekoashidachi
- Cat stance
- Nidangeri
- Double kick (jump scissor kick)
- Nukite
- Spear hand
- Otagai ni rei
- Bow to dojo and all assembled
- Pinan
- Peaceful mind
- Rei
- Bow
- Renzuki
- Combination punching
- Ryu
- School
- Seiken
- Forefist
- Seiza
- Kneeling posture
- Sensei
- Teacher
- Sensei ni rei
- Bow to instructor
- Shikodache
- Straddle (feet turned out)
- Shizentai
- Natural stance
- Shuto uchi/uke
- Knife hand strike/block
- Sokuto fumikomi
- Foot edge stamping kick
- Teisho uchi
- Palm heel strike
- Tettsui uchi
- Bottom fist strike
- Tobikomizuki
- Snap punch (natural stance)
- Uraken
- Backfist
- Ushiro geri
- Back kick
- Yame
- Relax to ready stance or stop
- Yasume
- Dismiss after bow
- Yohi
- Ready stance
No matching terms.
Student code of practice
- Students must show proper respect for their instructor and fellow students.
- Students must wear clean and tidy uniforms & make every effort to attend classes on time.
- Students must wear their appropriate belts if graded.
- Gi (jackets & trousers) must be worn for grading (no t-shirts).
- No jewellery or watches must be worn whilst training. this is to prevent injury to yourself or your partner.
- Students must keep their finger and toe nails cut at a reasonable length.
- Appropriate safety equipment must be worn by students whilst sparring to protect themselves and their fellow students.
- Students must not leave a class without asking their instructor.
- Students must pay all fees on time. monthly class fees must be paid before the end of each calendar month.
- Students must possess a current membership.
- No unnecessary talking or running about will be permitted during training.
- Outside the dojo, students must never use the techniques they have learnt, other than in self defence.