GRADING LEVELS
JKA Australia adopts and implements the grading level system set by JKA HQ. Under this system, there are 10 ‘Kyu’ levels and 10 ‘Dan’ (black belt) levels.
Beginners will generally start their karate journey with no “kyu” grade level. In order to progress through the grading levels, students will need to undergo a grading process. This requires students to perform a prescribed set of karate techniques in front a panel of JKA-accredited examiners, to demonstrate that they have met the standard required for the grade being tested.
Set out below are the different grading levels from 10th Kyu up to 1st Dan, with the relevant JKA Australia grading syllabus.
10th Kyu | White Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 10th Kyu:
KIHON
In place basics in HACHIJIDACHI
1. CHUUDAN CHOKUZUKI
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE
4. MAEGERI (HEISOKU DACHI ⋅ GEDAN KAKIWAKE)
* “GOREI” command (From right side in turn for each Waza)
9th Kyu | Yellow Belt – White Stripe
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 9th Kyu:
KIHON
In place basics in SHIZEN TAI to ZENKUTSU DACHI and back to SHIZEN TAI
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE,
4. KOKUTSU SHUTOU UKE
5. MAEGERI (HEISOKUDACHI ⋅ GEDAN KAKIWAKE)
* “GOREI” command (From right side two action in turn for each WAZA)
8th Kyu | Yellow Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 8th Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step in)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
4. GEDAN BARAI (step in)
5. KOKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
KATA
TAIKYOKU SHODAN
KUMITE
GOHON KUMITE (JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI)
7th Kyu | Orange Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 7th Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in HEISOKU DACHI, right and left alternating)
8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in HEISOKU DACHI, right and left alternating)
KATA
HEIAN SHODAN
KUMITE
GOHON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI)
6th Kyu | Green Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 6th Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
KATA
HEIAN NIDAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left; CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left)
5th Kyu | Blue Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 5th Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
7. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
KATA
HEIAN SANDAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left; CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left; CHUUDAN MAEGERI GEDAN KAKIWAKE– right and left)
4th Kyu | Purple Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 4th Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. SANDON RENZUKI (step in)
3. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
4. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step in)
5. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
6. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
7. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
9. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in ZENKUTSU DACHI) (step in)
KATA
HEIAN YONDAN
KUMITE
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left; CHUUDAN JUNZUKI – right and left; CHUUDAN MAEGERI GEDAN KAKIWAKE – right and left; CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI – right and left)
3rd Kyu | Brown Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 3rd Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
3. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step in)
4. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
5. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (as KOKUTSU DACHI is) (step in)
6. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step back)
7. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
9. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in ZENKUTSU DACHI) (step in)
KATA
HEIAN GODAN
KUMITE
JIYUU IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN MAEGERI) – right and left
2nd Kyu | Brown Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 2nd Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN GYAKUZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
7. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
9. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (in ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
KATA
TEKKI SHODAN
KUMITE
JIYUU IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN MAEGERI, CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI, MAWASHIGERI*) – right and left
*Inform your choice of JOUDAN or CHUUDAN for MAWASHIGERI
1st Kyu | Brown Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 1st Kyu:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN GYAKUZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, YOKO ENPI (ZENKUTSU DACHI changing stance to KIBA DACHI) (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, GYAKU ZUKI (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (on the spot), MAEGERI (step in)
7. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEAGE (in KIBA DACHI, right and left) (step in)
9. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
KATA
BASSAI DAI
KUMITE
JIYUU IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN MAEGERI, CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI, MAWASHIGERI*) – right and left
*Inform your choice of JOUDAN or CHUUDAN for MAWASHIGERI
1st Dan | Black Belt
Grading Syllabus
Set out below is the grading syllabus to achieve 1st Dan:
KIHON | IDOU KIHON – Moving basics
1. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
2. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
3. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, YOKOENPI, YOKOURAKEN UCHI, GYAKUZUKI
(ZENKUTSU DACHI changing stance to KIBA DACHI changing stance to ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
4. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, KIZAMI ZUKI, GYAKUZUKI
(KOUKUTSUDACHI to ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step back)
5. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
6. MAEGERI (on the spot), MAE GERI (step in)
7. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
8. YOKOGERI KEAGE (KIBADACHI – right and left) (step in)
9. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI)
KATA
Student’s choice:
BASSAI DAI; KANKU DAI; ENPI; or JION
KUMITE
JIYUU IPPON KUMITE
(JOUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI, CHUUDAN MAEGERI, CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI, MAWASHIGERI*) – right and left
*Inform your choice of JOUDAN or CHUUDAN for MAWASHIGERI