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Gradings

Gradings

Atherstone Karate Club are members of the Shukokai Karate Association, the association has a series of gradings, these range from the novice through the Kyus (10th Kyu to 1st Kyu) to the Dans (Black belts 1st Dan and upwards).

Each grade is attained by a mixture of experience and passing an assessment, both criteria have to be met before progression can be made. These assessments are held regularly throughout the year and, as you would expect, earlier grades have less demanding assessments (but still appropriate to the experience) which are able to be carried out after a set time limit.

Don’t give up, the beginning is always the hardest!

Senior grades have to hone their skills for longer before attempting more exacting assessments. In order to gain a Black Belt it is necessary for the student to demonstrate technical knowledge and skill to a level laid down in the Shukokai Karate Association Grading syllabus, for each of the 3 fundamental competencies of Karate which are Kihon (basic techniques), Kata (set formal exercise) and Kumite (sparring) plus impact pad work.

Shukokai Karate Combinations

Within the syllabus of the Shukokai Karate Association, there are 10 combinations of basic techniques that students need to know and be able to perform for their gradings, early gradings require fewer combinations and later gradings require proficiency in all the combinations, details of these combinations can be found here: Shukokai Karate Combinations


Upcoming Gradings

Sun 26May2024

Grading

Tue 28May2024

Grading

Sun 25Aug2024

Grading

Tue 27Aug2024

Grading

Sun 24Nov2024

Grading

Tue 26Nov2024

Grading


Grading Syllabus

10th Kyu, Red & White Belt
10-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 12 lessons

Basics in parallel stance:
 Jodan Zuki (face punch)
 Chudan Zuki (stomach punch)
 Gedan Barai Block (low block)

Basics in forward stance:
 Oi Zuki (step punch to the face)
 Gyaku Zuki (project punch to the stomach)

Kicks:
 Mae Geri (front snap kick)

9th Kyu, Red belt
9-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 3 months training period and 20 lessons

Basics in forward stance:
 Oi Zuki (step punch to the face)
 Gyaku Zuki (project punch to the stomach)
 Gedan Barai Block (low block)

Combinations:
 1: Step forward and land, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 2: Project forward, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri (front snap kick)

8th Kyu, Yellow Belt
8-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 3 months training period and 20 lessons

Basics in forward stance:
 Oi Zuki (step punch to the face)
 Gyaku Zuki (project punch to the stomach)

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai Block (low block)
 Jodan Uke (head high block)

Combinations:
 1: Step forward and land, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 2: Project forward, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri (front snap kick)
 Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick)

Kata:
 Junino Kata: any of 4 blocks

7th Kyu, Orange Belt
7-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 3 months training period and 20 lessons

Basics in forward stance:
 Oi Zuki (step punch to the face)
 Gyaku Zuki (project punch to the stomach)

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai Block (low block)
 Jodan Uke (head high block)

Combinations:
 1: Step forward and land, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 2: Project forward, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 3: Project forward and change hands, left-hand face punch followed by a right-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri (front snap kick)
 Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick)

Kata:
 Pinan Nidan

Impact Pad Work:
 Oi Zuki (step punch to the face)
 Gyaku Zuki (project punch to the stomach)
 Mae Geri (front snap kick)

6th Kyu, Green Belt
6-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 3 months training period and 20 lessons

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Jodan Uke
 Shuto Uke

Combinations:
 3: Project forward and change hands, left-hand face punch followed by a right-hand thrust.
 4: Right leg front snap kick and land forwards, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 5: Right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust, step with the right leg and perform a left leg front snap kick then after landing, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri

Kata:
 Pinan Sandan

Impact:
 Gyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri

5th Kyu, Blue Belt
5-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 4 months training period and 26 lessons

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Jodan Uke
 Shuto Uke
 Soto Uke

Combinations:
 4: Right leg front snap kick and land forwards, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 5: Right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust, step with the right leg and perform a left leg front snap kick then after landing, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 6: Step back, right-hand knife hand block, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri

Kata:
 Pinan Shodan

Impact:
 Gyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Oi Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri

Sparring

4th Kyu, Purple Belt
4-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 4 months training period and 26 lessons

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Shuto Uke
 Uchi Uke

Combinations:
 5: Right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust, step with the right leg and perform a left leg front snap kick then after landing, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 6: Step back, right-hand knife hand block, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust.
 7: Project forward, left-hand lower block, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai

Kata:
 Pinan Yondan plus any previous Kata

Impact:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri

Sparring

3rd Kyu, Brown Belt
3-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 6 months training period and 36 lessons

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Uraken Uchi

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Jodan Uke
 Shuto Uke

Combinations:
 6: Step back, right-hand knife hand block, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust.
 7: Project forward, left-hand lower block, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 8: Right-hand palm heel strike, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust (all movements are carried out as you are stepping forward).

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Ushiro Geri

Kata:
 Pinan Godan plus any previous Kata

Impact:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Gedan Barai with Gyaku Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai

Sparring

2nd Kyu, Brown & White Belt
2-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 6 months training period and 36 lessons
 Attendance at 4 association senior grade courses

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Uraken Uchi

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Jodan Uke
 Soto Uke

Combinations:
 7: Project forward, left-hand lower block, right-hand stomach punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 8: Right-hand palm heel strike, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust (all movements are carried out as you are stepping forward).
 9: Right foot sweep and land forwards, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Ushiro Geri

Kata:
 Jiin plus any previous Kata

Impact:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Gedan Barai with Gyaku Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Ushiro Geri

Sparring

1st Kyu, Brown & Red Belt
1-Kyu

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 6 months training period and 36 lessons
 Attendance at 4 association senior grade courses

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Uraken Uchi
 Maeken Zuki

Blocks:
 Shuto Uke
 Soto Uke
 Uchi Uke

Combinations:
 8: Right-hand palm heel strike, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust (all movements are carried out as you are stepping forward).
 9: Right foot sweep and land forwards, right-hand face punch followed by a left-hand thrust.
 10: Right foot round kick and land forwards, left-hand stomach punch followed by a right-hand thrust.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Ushiro Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Yoko Geri

Kata:
 Annanko plus any previous Kata

Impact:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Uraken Uchi
 Gedan Barai with Gyaku Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Ushiro Geri

Sparring

1st Dan, Black Belt
1-Dan

Minimum Grading Requirements:
 6 months training period and 36 lessons
 Attendance at 4 association senior grade courses

Basics:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Uraken Uchi
 Maeken Zuki

Blocks:
 Gedan Barai
 Jodan Uke

Combinations:
 All Shukokai 10 combinations.

Kicks:
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Ushiro Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Yoko Geri

Kata:
 Bassai Dai plus any previous Kata

Impact:
 Oi Zuki
 Gyaku Zuki
 Sekkyaku Zuki
 Maeken Zuki
 Uraken Uchi
 Gedan Barai with Gyaku Zuki
 Mae Geri
 Mawashi Geri
 Yoko Geri
 Ashi Barai
 Ushiro Geri

Sparring:
 Minimum of 10 rounds