Below are the examination guidelines for Kyu Examinations. A translation of the Japanese terms used withing the Kyu Grading Syllabus can be found at the bottom of this page.
9th Kyu to 8th Kyu: white – yellow
Kihon: step forward chudan oi zuki (3x)
step backward – jodan age uke (3x)
step forward chudan soto ude uke (3x),turn
step forward – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke (3x), turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, best mae geri (any height) (3x)
step sideways, kiba dachi – side snap left and right (any height) (2x)
side thrust left and right (any height) (2x)
Kata: Heian Shodan
Kumite: Sanbon kumite – oi-zuki, face and stomach (to the count 3x)
8th Kyu to 7th Kyu: yellow – orange
Kihon: step forward jodan oi zuki (3x)
step backward – jodan age uke (3x)
step forward – chudan soto ude uke (3x)
step back – chudan uchi ude uke (3x), turn
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke (3x)
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, mae geri jodan (highest) (3x)
step sideways, kiba dachi – yoko keage left and right (highest) (2x)
yoko kekomi left and right (highest) (2x)
Kata: Heian Nidan
Heian shodan – examiners choice
Kumite: Sanbon kumite- oi-zuki, jodan and chudan (no count 3x)
7th Kyu to 6th Kyu: orange – green
Kihon: step forward, oizuki sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke/ chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – soto ude uke/jodan gyaku zuki (3x)
step back – uchi ude uke/gyaku zuki (3x),turn
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke (3x)
step forward – mae geri chudan or jodan (3x), turn
step forward – maewashi geri (any height) (3x)
step sideways, kiba dachi – yoko keage left and right, examiners height, (2x)
yoko kekomi left and right,examiners height, (2x)
Kata: Heian Sandan
Heian 1 or 2 – examiners choice
Kumite: ippon kumite, oi-zuki, jodan/chudan- left and right side (3x)
6th Kyu to 5th Kyu: green – blue
Kihon: step forward, oizuki sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke, chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke , change stance
kiba dachi, yoko empi (3x)
step back – zenkutsu dachi, uchi ude uke, gyaku zuki jodan (3x) turn
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke, kizami maegeri, change stance, zenkutsu dachi, nukite
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, maegeri rengeri, chudan/jodan (3x), turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, maewashigeri jodan (highest) (3x)
step sideways – kiba dachi, yokogeri keage,examiner height (2x)
yokogeri kekomi, examiner height (2x)
Kata: Heian Yondan
Heian 1,2, or 3 – examiners choice
Kumite: Ippon Kumite jodan/chudan zuki; maegeri chudan – left and right sides (3x)
5th Kyu to 4th Kyu: blue – purple
Kihon: step forward – oizuki, sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke/chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke, change stance, kiba dachi, yoko empi, tate uraken
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke, kizami maegeri, change stance, zenkutsu dachi, nukite
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami maegeri chudan, maegeri jodan (3x), turn
step forward – renzoku geri, mawashigeri , chudan/jodan (3x)
step sideways – kiba dachi – yokogeri kaege,examiner height (2x)
yokogeri kekomi, examiner height (2x)
Kata: Heian Godan
Heian 1,2,3 or 4 – examiners choice
Kumite: Ippon Kumite – jodan/chudan zuki, maegeri chudan, best side (3x)
4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu: purple – brown 3kyu
Kihon: step forward – oizuki sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke/chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke, change stance, kiba dachi, yoko empi, tate uraken, change stance
zenkutsu dachi, gyaku zuki (3x)
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke, kizami mae geri, change stance, zenkutsu dachi, nukite (3x)
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mae geri chudan, mae geri jodan, (3x),turn
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mawashi geri chudan, mawashi geri jodan (3x),turn
step sideways – kiba dachi – yoko geri keage, both sides examiner height (2x)
yokgeri kekomi, both sides examiner height(2x)
from zenkutsu – maegeri/yokogeri keage, same leg, both sides (5x)
Kata: Tekki Shodan
Heian 1,2,3,4 or 5 – examiner choice
Kumite: Ippon kumite – oizuki jodan/chudan, maegeri, yoko kekomi – best side
3rd Kyu BROWN to 2nd Kyu BROWN
Kihon: step forward – oizuki sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke/chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – – zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke, change stance, kiba dachi, yoko empi, tate uraken, change stance
zenkutsu dachi, gyaku zuki (3x)
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke, kizami mae geri, change stance, zenkutsu dachi, nukite (3x)
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mae geri chudan, mae geri jodan, (3x),turn
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mawashi geri chudan, mawashi geri jodan (3x), turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, mawashigeri, yoko kekomi, gyaku zuki (3x),turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, yoko kekomi, mawashigeri, gyaku zuki (3x)
step sideways, kiba dachi – yoko geri keage, both sides, examiner height (2x)
yoko geri kekomi, both sides, examiners height (2x)
from zenkutsu – maegeri/yokogeri kekomi, same leg, both sides (5x)
Kata: Bassai, Jion, Empi, Kanku
Heian 1,2,3,4 or 5, tekki 1 – examiners choice
Kumite: Ju ippon kumite – oizuki jodan/chudan, maegeri, yoko kekomi – best side
2nd Kyu BROWN to 1st Kyu BROWN
Kihon: step forward – oizuki sanbon zuki (3x)
step back – age uke/chudan gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – – zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke, change stance, kiba dachi, yoko empi, tate uraken, change stance
zenkutsu dachi, gyaku zuki (3x)
step back – kokutsu dachi, shuto uke, kizami mae geri, keep stance, kokutsu dachi, gyaku zuki (3x)
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mae geri chudan, mae geri jodan, (3x),turn
step forward – renzoku geri, kizami mawashi geri chudan, mawashi geri jodan (3x), turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, mawashigeri, yoko kekomi, gyakuzuki (3x),turn
step forward – zenkutsu dachi, yoko kekomi, mawashigeri, step forward oi-zuki (3x)
step sideways, kiba dachi – yoko geri keage, both sides, examiner height (2x)
yoko geri kekomi, both sides, examiners height (2x)
from zenkutsu – maegeri/yokogeri keage/yokogeri kekomi, same leg, both sides (5x)
Kata: Bassai, Jion, Empi, Kanku
Heian 1,2,3,4 or 5, Tekki 1 examiners choice
Kumite: Ju ippon kumite – oizuki jodan/chudan, maegeri, yoko kekomi – best side
Please find below a translation of the Japanese terms used withing the Kyu Grading Syllabus:
Age – Rising
Ai Gamae – Same stance as your opponent
Ashi Barai – Foot Sweep.
Chudan – Below the shoulders / body / torso
Dachi – Stance
Doji Ni – At the same time together
Domo Arigato – Thank you very much
Dori – Defense
Gedan Barai – Lower block
Geri – Kick “Please note: The verb “to kick” in Japanese is keru. The noun form is keri. The names for kicks end up as geri, because some Japanese sounds change when they are combined with other words or syllables, as in mae geri…. front kick”
Goshin Ho – Self defense techniques
Gumite – Sparring
Gyakuzuki – Reverse punch
Hajime – Begin
Hiki-te – The retracting (pulling and twisting) arm during a technique. It gives the balance of power to the forward moving technique. It can also be used as a pulling technique after a grab, or a strike backward with the elbow.
Ippon Gumite – One step sparring
Jodan – Head height
Junzuki – forward punch or lunge punch
Kamae – Form or Posture or guard
Karate -“Empty Hand”. When Karate was first introduced to Japan, it was called “TO-DE”. The characters of TODE could be pronounced. However, the meaning of TODE is Chinese Hand.
Karate-do- “The Way of Karate” – which implies not only the physical aspect of Karate, but also the mental and social aspects of Karate.
Karateka – A practitioner of Karate.
Kata – A “form” or prescribed pattern of movement (also “shoulder”).
Kekomi – Stamp
Keri – Kick
Kihon – basic
Kihon keri – Basic kick
Kihon Uke – basic block
Kumite – Sparring
Maegeri – Front kick
Mawashigeri – Roundhouse kick
Mawatte – Turn
Migi Gamae – Right stance
Nagashi Uke- “Sweeping Block”.
Naihanchi – Hourglass stance (toes turned inward, knees pushed out)
Naore – At ease stance, heels together toes apart
Neko Ashi Dachi – Cat Stance
Ni – Two
Nidan Geri – Jumping Double kick
Nihon Gumite – Two attack basic sparring technique
Okuri Ashi – Front leg slide and back leg follow