Below you can find a popular grading syllabus for Shotokan karate. Please note that this is based on the syllabus specification for the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). Other organisations may vary the requirements slightly, however all the techniques tested throughout this grading syllabus will need to be learnt to successfully pass Shotokan gradings.
Kyu grading syllabus
| KIHON | KATA | KUMITE |
Novice to 9th Kyu
|
Kihon Kata | Sanbon or Gohon Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki |
9th Kyu to 8th Kyu *As previous grading plus*
|
Heian Shodan | As previous grading |
8th Kyu to 7th Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Heian Nidan | As previous grading |
7th Kyu to 6th Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Heian Sandan | Kihon Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from right and left sides |
6th Kyu to 5th Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Heian Yondan | As previous grading plus chudan mae geri attack |
5th Kyu to 4th Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Heian Godan | As previous grading plus chudan yoko geri kekomi attack |
4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Tekki Shodan | As previous grading plus jodan mawashi geri attack |
3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
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 Kyu to 1st Kyu*As previous grading plus*
|
Bassai Dai | As previous grading |
Dan grading syllabus
| KIHON | KATA | KUMITE |
| All begin from free style kamae | List (a) Candidate chooses from List (b) Examiner chooses from
|
|
1st Kyu to 1st Dan
|
(a) Bassai Dai
(b) Any Heian Kata or Tekki Shodan |
Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, judan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri
Jiyu Kumite |
1st Dan to 2nd Dan
|
(a) Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Nijushiho, Jitte or Tekkin Niddan (b) Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi, Jion or Hangetsu |
Kiyu Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced attacks
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, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Goju Shiho Sho
(b) Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Niju Shiho, Jitte or Tekki Nidan |
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – the same as 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 braai, 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) Meikyo, Jiin, Wankan, Tekki Sandan or Goju Shiho Dai (b) Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Goju Shiho Sho |
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 Shodan 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 1500 – 2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do (different to above)
|
As previous grading | As previous grading |
Shotokan Karate Training 