10th Kyu – Issued at the discretion of the local club.
9th Kyu – Grading Candidates must understand the basic karate
stances.
8th Kyu – Grading Candidates will be judged on whether they
understand the basic techniques or not.
Whether the techniques are weak, strong, fast, or slow is not as
important as whether the Candidate displays the correct sequences.
Candidates must show proper attitude and spirit.
7th Kyu – Grading Candidates will be judged on whether their stances
are strong and consistent or not, and whether their kicks and punches
are stable or not.
Rather than speed, basic moving techniques will be judged on whether
the Candidate keeps proper body balance while performing them.
Special attention will be given as to whether the Kata stances are
correct or not.
6th Kyu – Grading Candidates must show the basic moving techniques
with the correct speed, power, and stability.
Kata, as well as being correct and stable, must have the correct
speed/power balance (ratio).
As well as being persistent, the basic techniques in Kumite must be
solid.
This level it is common for Candidates to develop bad habits.
Candidates must endeavour to correct their bad habits and be
persistent in performing karate techniques correctly.
5th Kyu – Grading candidates must show basic techniques (sonoba
kihon) and moving techniques (ido kihon) with the correct speed,
power, and body balance.
In addition to the correct sequence, all Kata techniques must be
supported by strong stable stances and have the correct power, speed,
timing, and body balance.
In Kumite, after attacks and after blocks, stances must be strong and
body balance kept.
4th Kyu – Grading candidates must display kicks, blocks and punches
that are stronger and faster than 5th Kyu. Moving techniques must have
good spirit and drive.
Unrecognisable stances, or stances that are not properly attempted
will mean automatic failure.
The above also applies to Kata.
In Kumite, the applicant will be judges on whether there is sufficient hip
speed and power, and whether it is co-ordinated with effective block
and reverse punch combinations or not.
3rd Kyu – Grading candidates must begin to excel.
Examiners must be aware that at 3rd kyu, passing and failing is
arbitrated quite strictly.
Making more than ONE mistake in Kata will amount to disqualification.
A single mistake will warrant a small demerit IF the candidate is
able to identify the mistake and perform it correctly on their second
attempt.
In Kumite any tsuki that is out of kilter (three or more times), will
amount to disqualification.
Everything must be exact and accompanied by speed, strength, force,
destructive power.
Personal feelings between people must be ignored (no bias).
‘Objective mindset.’
2nd Kyu – Grading candidates for 2nd must be superior in all respects
to their earlier gradings.
Since preparations for becoming a black belt must begin from this
point, even more rigorous training, and mental strength are needed.
Instructors must make their Candidates aware of this and instil this
in them.
Kata will be judged based on three elements, strength of force, speed
of technique, and expansion and contraction of the body.
In Kumite, the technical ingenuity must surpass that displayed at 3rd
kyu.
1st kyu – Grading candidates need to realise that although the
examination content is almost the same as 2nd kyu, they must show
marked improvement and superior technical ability to those required for
2nd kyu; particularly in Kata and Kumite, candidates must possess the
highest level of splendour, force, and destructive power amongst the
kyu grades!
Candidates must take their practice even further, without having to go
through new training (read 1st Kyu should already be at appoint
remarkably close to Shodan level).
Candidates must become good at practical Kumite and show the self-defence skills and practicality to be able to win, even when facing
several people.
Here it is recommended that an exercise is displayed where the
candidate faces two or three opponents attacking at random but in
order and with control.
Candidates are now considered as’ first degree’(Shodan)
candidates.
To this end it is important to remember that senior Dans, or
instructors should function as people who understand them well
and provide advice and guidance.
NOTE: Examinations have three possible results:
- Gokaku Pass
- Fugokaku – Not Pass
- Horyu – Conditional (temporary)
It is possible to issue a ‘Kari-Kyu’ to candidates. It is also possible to ask them to re-take the part of the examination that they were weakest in (only Kata or Kumite).