KYU Grading
KUGB Karateka will be eligible to grade providing they have fulfilled all technical requirements, hold a current KUGB licence and record book and have permission to grade from their senior club instructor. The grading may be taken at the student’s own dojo, other dojo’s or at special courses.
They must train on average twice per week at a KUGB dojo, with an approved KUGB instructor.
The record book and licence must be produced at the grading for the examiner’s inspection and signature.
Novices may grade after two months of training.
There must be a minimum of three monthly intervals between each grading from 9th Kyu to 1st Kyu.
It is possible for exceptional students to be graded directly to 8th Kyu, but this is at the discretion of the examiner.
‘Temporary’ Kyu Grades
A student may receive a ‘Temporary’ grade, which means that they are not quite up to the required standard. They will however wear the same coloured belt and train on the same syllabus as if they were a full grade.
Students who fail a Kyu grading may re-take their examination after three months.
Transfer of Kyu Grades to the KUGB from other Shotokan associations
Karateka who transfer to the KUGB may wear the belt of their current grade but must re-grade within 6 months of the transfer and will be given a grade appropriate to their KUGB standard.
They may be awarded the same grade, a lower grade or the next grade up. They will then continue grading with the KUGB within the usual time scales.
Kyu Grading Age Restrictions
There are no age restrictions for Kyu grades – though the minimum age to begin training permitted for insurance reasons is three years.
Grading Syllabus
The examiner may ask to see some or all of the Kihon, Kata and Kumite listed in the KUGB Syllabus. Candidates may be required to demonstrate material from previous gradings to ensure overall development – a brown belt for example may be asked to perform a Heian Kata.
Allowance will be made for candidates who are unable to perform certain techniques due to physical or other restrictions.
It must be emphasised that the KUGB Syllabus is intended as a guideline to prepare students for their gradings and that the most important factor is the examinee’s quality of performance.
Novice to 9th Kyu
White to orange belt
- Oi tsuki
- Jodan age uke
- Chudan soto uke
- Mae geri
Kihon Kata
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki
9th to 8th Kyu
Orange to red belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Chudan uchi uke
- Shuto uke
- Yoko geri keage
- Yoko geri kekomi
Heian Shodan
As previous grading
8th to 7th Kyu
Red to yellow belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Age uke, gyaku tsuki
- Soto uke, gyaku tsuki
- Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki
Heian Nidan
As previous grading
7th to 6th Kyu
Yellow to green belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Sanbon tsuki
- Soto uke, empi uchi
Heian Sandan
Kihon Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from right and left sides
6th to 5th Kyu
Green to purple belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken
- Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Shuto uke nukite
Heian Yondan
As previous grading plus chudan mae geri attack
5th to 4th Kyu
Prurple and white belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Shuto uke, mae geri, nukite
- Yoko geri kekomi (from zenkutsu dachi)
- Mawashi geri
Heian Godan
As previous grading, plus chudan yoko geri kekomi attack
4th to 3rd Kyu
Prurple and white to brown belt
as previous grading plus:-
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
- Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
- Ushiro geri
Tekki Shodan
As previous grading, plus jodan mawashi geri attack
3rd to 2nd Kyu
Brown to brown and one white stripe
as previous grading plus:-
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Bassai Dai
Jiyu ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only.
2nd to 1st Kyu
brown and one white stripe to brown and two white stripes
as previous grading plus:-
- Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Bassai Dai
As previous grading
Dan Grading
Full 1st Kyu must be achieved before grading for 1st Dan.
The minimum period between 1st Kyu and 1st Dan grading is 6 months.
Written permission to take a Dan grading must be obtained from the student’s senior club instructor.
Senior club instructors wishing to take higher dan gradings must obtain written permission from a more senior KUGB instructor with whom they train on a regular basis.
Permission to take 6th Dan must be requested in writing together with a CV from the Chairman who will advise the candidate on how to proceed. Please send your request to the Secretary of the Technical Committee at admin@kugb.org.
Permission will be determined by taking the following criteria into account:
Number of years training.
Precedent – relating to the time-scales of other senior students.
Training record of Special Dan Courses, Black and Brown Belt Courses, Instructor Courses and other Special Courses.
Technical qualifications – Referee, Instructor, Assessor.
Previous competition participation.
Dan Grading Frequency
The minimum time periods between Dan gradings are:
1st Dan to 2nd Dan – 2 years 2nd Dan to 3rd Dan – 3 years
3rd Dan to 4th Dan – 4 years 4th Dan to 5th Dan – 5 years
5th Dan to 6th Dan – 8 years
7th Dan and above will be awarded at the discretion of the Chief Instructor.
Students who fail 1st or 2nd Dan gradings must wait a minimum of three months before re-taking the examination unless a different time period is specified by the examiner.
Students who fail 3rd Dan and above must wait until the next Special Dan Grading Course before re-taking the examination.
There are two special Dan Courses each year and the time periods are related to these courses. ie. if you passed your 3rd dan on the first course of the year, you could take your 4th Dan on the first course of the year, four year’s later.
Students who are required to re-take the kata or kumite section only of their Dan grading must do so within twelve months. After this period, the full grading must be re-taken.
Dan Grading Age Restrictions
There are no age restrictions for taking 1st or 2nd Dan. The minimum age for taking 3rd Dan is 21 yrs.
Protective Equipment
Gumshields, groin guards and KUGB approved white hand mitts are compulsory for the kumite section of the examination.
Dan Grading Locations
Dan gradings may only be taken at specially approved courses, details of which are circulated to all KUGB clubs. They are also listed on the KUGB member’s website.
Transfer of Dan Grades to the KUGB from other Shotokan associations
1st and 2nd Dan grade students transferring to the KUGB must retake their Dan grades within one year of joining the KUGB.
Students of 3rd Dan and above must train on a minimum of three Black and Brown Belt courses or Special Dan grade courses in order to integrate themselves into the KUGB syllabus and technical practices. They must make themselves known to the Chief Instructor who will advise them on a grading date. They must produce their previous association’s licence and record book.
Upon completing their Dan examination the student will be given a grade appropriate to their KUGB standard which will be ratified from the date of their grading with their previous association where appropriate.
All begin from free-style kamae
(a) Candidates choice
(b) Examiners choice
1st Kyu to 1st Dan
- Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, yoko geri, uraken, oi tsuki
- Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri
(a) Bassai Dai
(b) Any Heian Kata
Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri
Jiyu Kumite
1st Dan to 2nd Dan
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, same leg yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, same leg mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan nagashi uke, gyaku tsuki, ushiro geri, uraken, oi tsuki
- Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, mawashi geri
(a) Bassai Sho,
Kanku Sho,
Niju Shiho,
Jitte,
Tekki Nidan
(b) Bassai Dai,
Kanku Dai,
Jion,
Enpi,
Hangetsu
Jiyu Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques
Jiyu Kumite
2nd Dan to 3rd Dan
Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus – Kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri and step back, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
(a) Sochin,
Chinte,
Unsu,
Goju Shiho Sho,
Gankaku
(b) Bassai Sho,
Kanku Sho,
Niju Shiho,
Jitte,
Tekki Nidan
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – the same pre-arranged attacks as for 1st Dan grading
Jiyu Kumite
3rd Dan to 4th Dan
Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus – Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, nihon tsuki, step back and with same arm block age uke, soto uke, gedan barai, uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, four turning gyaku tsuki attacks, turn behind with haito uchi, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri and step back, yoko geri keage to side and step back, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
(a) Jiin,
Meikyo,
Goju Shiho Dai,
Wankan,
Tekki Sandan
(b) Sochin,
Chinte,
Unsu,
Goju Shiho Sho,
Gankaku
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques
Demonstration of three favourite Kumite tactics
Jiyu Kumite
4th Dan to 5th Dan
As previous grading plus:-
A 1500 – 2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do
(a) Any Kata from Shodan syllabus and above
(b) One or more Kata from Sandan syllabus and above
Demonstration of applications will be requested from performed katas
As previous grading
5th Dan to 6th Dan
As previous grading plus:-
A written Karate CV and 2000 words and above thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do (different to above)
As previous grading
As previous grading
