Belts and Grading

The progression of coloured belts (Obi) shows progress and status within a Dojo. With dedicated training you may be invited to a grading, which is several tasks set by your Sensei to assess whether you have acheived the standard required for award of the next coloured belt. The typical grading tasks for each belt are set out below. These tasks usually consist of demonstrating punching (Zuki) blocking (Uke) and kicking (Geri), in a simulated sparring (Kumite) and within the performance of the linked set of techniques (Kata) that relates to each level.

White: Shiro Obi = Kihon

Requires Dojo Etiquette & Belt Discipline

Orange: 9th Kyu

Choku Zuki (5 times)

Oi Zuki Jordan (Step 5 times)

Oi Zuki Chudan (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Age Uke (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Uchie Ude Uke (Step 5 times)

Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage from Kiba Dachi

Kumite: Gohon Kumite (5 step sparring – 1 * Jordan, 1* Chudan)

Kata: Kihon

Red: 8th Kyu

Choku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Oi Zuki Jordan (Step 5 times)

Oi Zuki Chudan (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Age Uke (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke (Step forwards and backwards 5 times)

Shuto Ude Ukie (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Jodan (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Kumite: Gohon Kumite (5 step sparring – 1 * Jordan, 1* Chudan)

Kata: Heian Shodan + Kihon

Yellow: 7th Kyu

Ren Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Jodan (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Yoko Geri Kekomi from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Kumite: Sanbon Kumite (3 step sparring – Jordan, Chudan, Chudan)

Kata: Heian Nidan + either Kihon or Heian Shodan

Green: 6th Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gyaku Zuki and Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Kizami Zuki Jordan and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Nukite Uchi (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan, Mae Geri Jordan (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Yoko Geri Kekomi from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Kumite: Ippon Kumite (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri

Kata: Heian Sandan, and any of Heian Nidan, Heian Shodan or Kihon

Purple: 5th Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gyaku Zuki and Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Kizani Zuki and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mae Geri  Chudan, Nukite Uchi (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan, Mae Geri Jordan (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Oi Zuki (turn, Step 5 times)

Mawashi Geri Chudan, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Yoko Geri Kekomi from Kiba Dachi (5 times on both sides)

Kumite: Ippon Kumite (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan, Yoko Geri Kekomi

Kata: Heian Yondan, and any of previous (lower Kyu) Katas

Purple with stripe: 4th Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gyaku Zuki and Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi, Uraken Uchi and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Kizami Zuki Jordan and Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mae Geri  Chudan, Nukite Uchi (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan, Mae Geri Jordan

Mae Geri Oi Zuki, Gedan Barai

Yoko Geri Kekomi (Step 5 times)

Gyaku Zuki, Mawashi Geri, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage, step to Yoko Geri Kekomi in Kiba Dachi (5 times each side)

Yoko Geri Kekomi, step to Yoko Geri Keage in Kiba Dachi (5 times each side)

Kumite: Ippon Kumite (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan, Yoko Geri, Kekomi, Mawashi Geri Chudan, both side (left and right)

Kata: Heian Godan, and any of previous (lower Kyu) Kata

Brown: 3rd Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gyaku Zuki and Gedan Barai (Step backwards 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mae Geri  Chudan, Nukite Uchi (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri Chudan, Mae Geri Jordan

Mae Geri Oi Zuki, Gedan Barai

Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Gyaku Zuki, Mawashi Geri, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Ushiro Geri, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Step over to Yoko Geri Keage, same leg Yoko Geri Kekomi (both sides 5 times)

Same leg on the spot, Mae Geri Chudan to front, Yoko Geri, Kekomi Chudan to the side, Ushiro Geri to the rear, step back (Repeat 5 times)

Gohon Kumite (five step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan,

Kihon Ippon Kumite: (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Yoko Geri Kekomi, Mawashi Geri Jordan, Ushiro Geri (both sides left and right)

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi freestyle) : Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri

Kata: Tekki Shodan and any of previous (lower Kyu) Katas

Brown one stripe: 2cnd Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gyaku Zuki and Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mae Geri  Chudan, Nukite Uchi, Shuto Uki (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Gyaku Zuki, Mawashi Geri, Urakan Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Ushiro Geri, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Step over to Yoko Geri Kekomi, same leg Yoko Geri Keage (both sides 5 times)

Same leg on the spot, Mae Geri Chudan to front, Yoko Geri Kekomi Chudan to the side, Ushiro Geri to the rear, Mawashi Geri to front, step back (Repeat 5 times)

Gohon Kumite (five step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan,

Kihon Ippon Kumite: (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Yoko Geri Kekomi, Mawashi Geri Jordan, Ushiro Geri (both sides left and right)

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi freestyle): Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri

Kata: Bassai Dai and any of previous (lower Kyu) Katas

Brown two stripes: 1st Kyu

Sanbon Zuki (Step 5 times)

Age Uke, Gedan Barai, Gyaku Zuki (Step backwards 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke, Yoko Empi Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Uchi Ude Uke, Kizami Jordan, Rear leg Mae Geri, Step back, Gyaku Zuki, (5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mawashi Geri Chudan, Nukite Uchi, Shuto Uki (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri, Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mawashi Geri, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri,Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage, Yoko Geri, Kekomi in Kiba Dachi (Step 3 times)

Same leg on the spot, Mae Geri Chudan to front, Yoko Geri, Kekomi Chudan to the side, Ushiro Geri to the rear, Mawashi Geri to front, step back (Repeat 5 times)

Gohon Kumite (five step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan,

Kihon Ippon Kumite: (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Yoko Geri Kekomi, Mawashi Geri Jordan, Ushiro Geri (both sides left and right)

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi freestyle) : Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri

Kata: Bassai Dai and any of previous (lower Kyu) Katas

Black = Shodan

Age Uke, Gedan Barai, Gyaku Zuki (step backwards 5 times)

Soto Ude Uke from Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami Zuki, rear leg Mae Geri, step back to Zenkutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mawashi Geri, Nukite Uchi (5 times)

Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi, Kizami, Mawashi Geri Chudan, Nukite Uchi, (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri, Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Kekomi, from Zenkutsu Dachi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mawashi Geri, Uranken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki, Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Mae Geri,Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, Gyaku Zuki,Gedan Barai (Step 5 times)

Yoko Geri Keage, Yoko Geri, Kekomi in Kiba Dachi (Step 3 times)

Mae Geri, Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Step back to Gedan Barai, Gyaku Zuki, step forward into Yoko Geri Kekomi, Uraken Uchi, OI Zuki, Step forwards, turn and repeat

Same leg on the spot, Mae Geri Chudan to front, Yoko Geri Kekomi Chudan to the side, Ushiro Geri to the rear, Mawashi Geri to front, step back (repeat 5 times)

Gohon Kumite (five step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri Chudan,

Kihon Ippon Kumite: (one step sparring), Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Yoko Geri Kekomi, Mawashi Geri Jordan, Ushiro Geri (both sides left and right)

Kumite 1: Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi freestyle) : Jordan, Chudan, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri

Kumite 2: Jiyu Kumite (free style sparring against two consecutive Dan Grades)

Kata: Candidates choice from Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, Empi or Hangestu and any of previous (lower Kyu) Katas