Japan Shotokan Karate Association 

Requirements

JSKA Grading Syllabus KYU GRADING and DAN GRADING  

Chief Instructor

Japan Shotokan Karate Association

KYU GRADING

Ju-kyu (10^th Kyu): White Belt

1) Kihon

• Chudan-choku-zuki, while staying in shizentai
• From shizentai, step forward with chudan-oizuki, then back into shizentai (both left/right)
• Gedanbarai, while staying in shizentai (both left/right)
• Chudan-soto-uke, while staying in shizentai (both left/right)
• Jodan age-uke, while staying in shizentai (both left/right)
• Chudan-tate-shoto-uke, while staying in shizentai (both left/right)
• From heiskudachi with kakiwaki gedanbarai step forward with maegeri and back into heisokudachi (both left/right)

Kyu-kyu (9^th Kyu): White Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with gedan barai
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-soto-uke
• Turn around, move forward with judan-ageuke
• From kokutsudachi, move forward with shoto-uke
• Turn around and from zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick

2) Kumite

• Gohon-kumite, once jodan attack, ageuke blocks and once with chudan attacks and soto-uke blocks

3) Kata

• Heian shodan

Hachi-kyu (8^th Kyu): Yellow Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with gedan barai
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-soto-uke
• Turn around, move forward with judan-ageuke
• From kokutsudachi, move forward with shoto-uke
• Turn around and from zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick

2) Kumite

• Gohon-kumite, once jodan attack, ageuke blocks and once with chudan attacks and soto-uke blocks

3) Kata

• Heian shodan

Nana-kyu (7^th Kyu): Orange Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with gedan barai
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-soto-uke
• Turn around, move forward with judan-ageuke
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke
• Turn around and from zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick

2) Kumite

• Gohon-kumite, once jodan attack, ageuke blocks, once with chudan attacks and soto-uke blocks.

3) Kata

• Heian nidan

Rok-kyu (6^th Kyu): Green Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with gedan barai
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Move backwards, move forward with chudan-soto-uke
• Turn around, move forward with judan-ageuke
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke
• Turn around, zenkutsdachi, move forward uchiuke gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick

2) Kumite

• Gohon-kumite, once jodan attack, ageuke blocks, once with chudan attacks and soto-uke blocks and once with mae-geri and gedanbarai blocks

3) Kata

• Heian sandan

Go-kyu (5^th Kyu): Blue Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with chudan-gyakuzuki
• Move backwards, move forward with judan-ageuke, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around, zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick
• Turn around from free style kamae, move forward mawashi geri

2) Kumite

• Kihon-ippon—kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki and one maegeri attack.

3) Kata

• Heian Yondan

Yon-kyu (4^th Kyu): Purple Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with sanbon-zuki
• Move backwards, move forward with judan-ageuke, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around, zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick
• Turn around move forward uraken-yokouchi

2) Kumite

• Kihon-ippon—kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki , one maegeri and one yokogeri attack.

3) Kata

• Heian Godan

San-kyu (3^rd Kyu): Brown Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with chudan-oizuki
• Turn around, move forward with sanbon-zuki
• Move backwards, move forward with judan-ageuke, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with maegeri
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward ren-geri (maegeri jodan/chudan)
• From kibadachi move sideways with keage and return using the other leg to kick
• From kibadachi move sideways with yoko-kekomi and return using the other leg to kick
• Move forward zenkutsudachi with mawashigeri
• Turn around move forward uraken-yokouchi
• Turn around and move forward with Jodan-shuto-uchi

2) Kumite

• Kihon-ippon—kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki , one maegeri and one yokogeri attack (tai-sabaki accepted)

3) Kata

• Tekki Shodan

Ni-kyu (2^nd Kyu): Brown Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with sanbo-zuki
• Move backwards with jodan agae-uke, mae geri (back leg)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with rengeri (maegeri/mawashigeri using alternate legs)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward ren-geri (maegeri /kekomi-geri same leg)
• From kibadachi move sideways ren-geri (keage/kekomi-geri using alternate legs)
• Move forward zenkutsudachi with mawashigeri
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward ushirogeri
• Turn around move forward jodan shoto
• Turn around and move forward with jodan-shuto-uchi
• Move backwards in zenkutsudachi with jodan-uraken-uchi

2) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki , one maegeri, one yokogeri and one mawashigeri attack (tai-sabaki accepted)

3) Kata

• Sentei-gata: Choose from Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai (to be chosen by the examinee)
• Kihon-gata: one kata chosen by the examiner from Heian nidan, sandan, yondan, godan or Tekki-shodan

Ikkyu-kyu (1^st Kyu): Brown Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with sanbo-zuki
• Move backwards with jodan agae-uke, mae geri (back leg)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke, kizamizuki, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with rengeri (maegeri/mawashigeri using alternate legs)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward ren-geri (maegeri /kekomi-geri same leg)
• From kibadachi move sideways ren-geri (keage/kekomi-geri using alternate legs)
• Move forward zenkutsudachi with mawashigeri
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward ushirogeri
• Turn around and move forward with jodan-shuto-uchi
• Move backwards in zenkutsudachi with jodan-uraken-uchi

2) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki , one maegeri, one yokogeri kekomi and one mawashigeri attack (tai-sabaki accepted)

3) Kata

• Sentei-gata: Choose from Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai (to be chosen by the examinee)
• Kihon-gata: one kata chosen by the examiner from Heian nidan, sandan, yondan, godan or Tekki-shodan

JSKA Grading Syllabus

Revised April 2007

KEIGO ABE

Chief Instructor

The Japan Shotokan Karate Association

DAN GRADING

Shodan (1^st Dan): Black Belt

1) Kihon

• From zenkutsudachi with gedanbarai, move forward with sanbo-zuki
• Turn around and moved forward with gyakuzuki
• Move backwards with jodan agae-uke, mae geri (back leg)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward with soto-uke, empi while changing to kibadachi using yori-ashi, uraken-uchi, gyakuzuki
• From kokutsudachi, move backward with shoto-uke, nukite changing to zenkutsudachi.
• Turn around zenkutsdachi, move forward chudan uchiuke, gyakuzuki
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward with rengeri (maegeri/mawashigeri using alternate legs)
• Turn around zenkutsudachi move forward ren-geri (maegeri /kekomi-geri same leg)
• From kibadachi move sideways ren-geri (keage/kekomi-geri using alternate legs)
• Move forward zenkutsudachi with mawashigeri
• Turn around zenkutsudachi, move forward ushirogeri
• Turn around move forward jodan shoto
• Turn around and move forward with jodan-shuto-uchi
• Move backwards in zenkutsudachi with jodan-uraken-uchi

2) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite with one jodan oizuki, one chudan-oizuki , one maegeri, one yokogeri kekomi and one mawashigeri attack (tai-sabaki accepted)

3) Kata

• Sentei-gata: Choose from Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai (to be chosen by the examinee)
• Kihon-gata: one kata chosen by the examiner from Heian nidan, sandan, yondan, godan or Tekki-shodan

Nidan (2^nd Dan): Black Belt

1) Kihon

• From free style kamae, move forward with kizamizuki, sanbo-zuki
• Turn around, from free style kamae, gyakuzuki, maegeri, move forward with oizuki
• From free style kamae, step back ageuke, mawashigeri (with rear leg), uraken and move forward oizuki
• From free style kamae, move forward with ushirogeri, uraken, gyakuzuki
• From freestyle kamae, while staying in place, kick with the rear leg, maegeri, yokogeri kekomi, ushirogeri (left/right)

2) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite (free style sparring)

3) Kata

• Sentei-gata: Choose from Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai (to be chosen by the examinee)
• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee

Sandan (3^rd Dan): Black Belt

1) Kihon

• From free style kamae, move forward with gyaku-mawashigeri
• Turn around, from free style kamae, maegeri, yokogeri kekomi, gyaku mawashigeri, mawashigeri, ushirogeri uraken, gyakuzuki,
• From freestyle kamae, while staying in place, kick with the rear leg, maegeri, yokogeri kekomi, ushirogeri, mawashigeri (left/right)

2) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite (free style sparring)

3) Kata

• Sentei-gata: Choose from Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai (to be chosen by the examinee)
• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee

Yondan (4^th Dan): Black Belt

1) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite (free style sparring)

2) Kata

• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee
• Kata chosen by examiner from: Jion, Bassai-dai, Empi, Kanku-dai, Tekki Nidan, Jitte, Hangetsu or Gankaku

3) Demonstration

• Applied technique using juji-uke, empi, hizageri etc

Godan (5^th Dan): Black Belt

1) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite (free style sparring)

2) Kata

• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee
• Question and answer about one kata chosen freely by the examiner from Sochin, Unsu, Jiin, Tekki-sandan, Kanku-sho, Bassai-sho, Wankan or Chinte

Rokudan (6^th Dan): Black Belt

1) Kumite

• Jiyu-ippon-kumite (free style sparring)

2) Kata

• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee
• Question and answer about one kata chosen freely by the examiner from Jion, Empi, Bassai-dai, Bassai-sho, Kanku-dai, Kanku-sho, Nijishiho, Tekki-nidan, Tekki-sandan, Gankaku, Jitte, Hangetsu, Gojushiho-dai, Gojushihio-sho, Sochin, Unsu, Jiin, Meikyo, Wankan or Chinte

 Nanadan (7^th Dan): Black Belt

1) Kata

• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee
• Question and answer about one kata chosen freely by the examiner from Jion, Empi, Bassai-dai, Bassai-sho, Kanku-dai, Kanku-sho, Nijishiho, Tekki-nidan, Tekki-sandan, Gankaku, Jitte, Hangetsu, Gojushiho-dai, Gojushihio-sho, Sochin, Unsu, Jiin, Meikyo, Wankan or Chinte

Hachidan (8^th Dan): Black Belt

1) Kata

• Tokui-gata: one kata chosen by the examinee
• Question and answer about one kata chosen freely by the examiner from Jion, Empi, Bassai-dai, Bassai-sho, Kanku-dai, Kanku-sho, Nijishiho, Tekki-nidan, Tekki-sandan, Gankaku, Jitte, Hangetsu, Gojushiho-dai, Gojushihio-sho, Sochin, Unsu, Jiin, Meikyo, Wankan or Chinte

JSKA Grading Syllabus

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Revised July 2008

2008年N四l月改周正ｳ

KEIGO ABE

Chief Instructor

The Japan Shotokan Karate Association

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