Grading Syllabus

CUKC follows the grading syllabus used by the JSKE (Japan Shotokan Karate England), the Shotokan karate organisation to which we are affiliated. The table below shows the requirements for each grading, from beginner through to 5th Dan. Each grading focuses on the three aspects of Shotokan karate — kihon (basics), kata (predetermined forms) and kumite (sparring). Gradings occur at the end of each academic term, and we usually require that you complete 24 hours of training before each grading.

Grade	Kihon	Kata	Kumite
Beginner to 9th kyu	Stepping forward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki Jodan age-uke Chudan soto-uke Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side)	Kihon Kata (video)	Sanbon kumite (three step sparring) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki
9th kyu to 8th kyu	Stepping forward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuke Jodan age-uke Chudan soto-uke Gedan-barai Shuto uke in kokutsu-dachi Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side)	Heian Shodan (video)	Gohon kumite (five-step sparring) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki
8th kyu to 7th kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uki (backward) Chudan soto-uke (forward) Chudan uchi-uke (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi (forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi	Heian Nidan (video)	Gohon kumite (five-step sparring) Judan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki
7th kyu to 6th kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (forward) Chudan uchi-uke (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi	Heian Sandan (video)	Kihon ippon kumite (one-step sparring, right and left) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki
6th kyu to 5th kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (forward) Chudan uchi-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi	Heian Yondan (video)	Kihon ippon kumite (one-step sparring, right and left) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri
5th kyu to 4th kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (forward) Chudan uchi-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Ren-geri, chudan then jodan (hands to the side, forward, two sets) Mawashi-geri (jiyu-kamae, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi	Heian Godan (video)	Kihon ippon kumite (one-step sparring, right and left) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri
4th kyu to 3rd kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke in zenkutsu-dachi, yoko-enpi in kiba-dachi (forward) Chudan uchi-uke, gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Ren-geri, chudan then jodan (hands to the side, forward, two sets) Mawashi-geri (jiyu-kamae, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi	Tekki Shodan	Kihon ippon kumite (one-step sparring, right and left) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri Chudan yoko-geri kekomi
3rd kyu to 2nd kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke in zenkutsu-dachi, yoko-enpi and yoko uraken-uchi in kiba-dachi (forward) Chudan uchi-uke, gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Ren-geri, chudan then jodan (hands to the side, forward, two sets) Mawashi-geri (jiyu-kamae, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi	Sentei Kata: Bassai Dai (video) or Kanku Dai	Jiyu ippon kumite (3 metres apart, semi-free one-step sparring, right side only) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri Chudan yoko-geri kekomi Chudan or jodan (must announce which) mawashi-geri
2nd kyu to 1st kyu	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke in zenkutsu-dachi, yoko-enpi in kiba-dachi, yoko uraken-uchi and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan uchi-uke, gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri (hands to the side, forward) Ren-geri, chudan then jodan (hands to the side, forward, two sets) Mawashi-geri (jiyu-kamae, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in zenkutsu-dachi	Sentei Kata: Bassai Dai (video), Kanku Dai, Jion or Empi	Jiyu ippon kumite (semi-free one-step sparring, right side only) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri Chudan yoko-geri kekomi Chudan or jodan (must announce which) mawashi-geri
1st kyu to 1st Dan	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan soto-uke in zenkutsu-dachi, yoko-enpi in kiba-dachi, yoko uraken-uchi and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Chudan mae-geri on the spot, chudan mae-geri stepping (jiyu-kamae forward) Mawashi-geri (jiyu-kamae, forward) Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in zenkutsu-dachi	Sentei Kata: Bassai Dai (video), Kanku Dai, Jion or Empi	Jiyu ippon kumite (semi-free one-step sparring, right and left) Jodan oi-zuki Chudan oi-zuki Chudan mae-geri Chudan yoko-geri kekomi Chudan or jodan (must announce which) mawashi-geri
1st Dan to 2nd Dan	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Chudan oi-zuki (forward) Jodan oi-zuki, chudan gyaku-zuki (forward) Sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, same arm chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Chudan mae-geri on the spot, chudan mae-geri stepping (jiyu-kamae forward) Yoko-geri keage, change leg, yoko-geri kekomi in kiba-dachi Yoko-geri kekomi in zenkutsu-dachi Mawashi-geri, yoko uraken-uchi, chudan gyaku-zuki (forward)	Sentei Kata: student's favourite kata	Jiyu kumite (free-style)
2nd Dan to 3rd Dan	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Kizami-zuki, jodan oi-zuki, chudan gyaku-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, same arm chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Shuto-uke, kizami mae-geri in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Chudan mae-geri, gyaku-zuki, yoko-geri kekomi, gyaku-zuki, mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki (forward) Ushiro-geri (forward) Mae-geri, yoko-geri kekomi, ushiro-geri in zenkutsu-dachi (on the spot, right and left)	Sentei Kata: student's favourite kata (Question and answer session)	Jiyu kumite (free-style)
3rd Dan to 4th Dan	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Kizami-zuki, sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, same arm chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Shuto-uke, kizami mae-geri in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Chudan mae-geri, oi-zuki, gyaku-zuki (forward) Kizami mawashi-geri, yoko-geri kekomi, gyaku-zuki (forward) Mae-geri, yoko-geri kekomi, ushiro-geri in zenkutsu-dachi (on the spot, right and left)	Sentei Kata: student's favourite kata (Question and answer session)	Jiyu kumite (free-style)
4th Dan to 5th Dan	Stepping forward or backward four times with kiai on the last: Kizami-zuki, sanbon-zuki (forward) Jodan age-uke, same arm chudan soto-uke, gyaku-zuki (backward) Chudan uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki in zenkutsu-dachi (forward) Shuto-uke, kizami mae-geri in kokutsu-dachi, nukite in zenkutsu-dachi (backward) Mae-geri, jodan oi-zuki, chudan gyaku-zuki (forward) Yoko-geri kekomi, gyaku-zuki (forward) Mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki (forward) Mae-geri, yoko-geri kekomi, mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki (forward)	Shitei Kata: Heian Shodan to Tekki Sandan, specified by examiner (Question and Answer Session) Sentei Kata: student's favourite kata (Question and answer session)	Jiyu kumite (free-style)