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 a 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.

Grading Dates:

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-

Grading Syllabus

10th Kyu, Red & White Belt

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

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

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

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

Basics: Oi Zuki and Gyaku Zuki

Blocks: Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke and 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 and Mawashi Geri

Kata: Pinan Sandan

Impact: Gyaku Zuki, Maeken Zuki, Mae Geri and Mawashi Geri

5th Kyu, Blue Belt

Basics: Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki and Sekkyaku Zuki

Blocks: Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke, Shuto Uke and 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 and Yoko Geri

Kata: Pinan Shodan

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

Sparring

4th Kyu, Purple Belt

Basics: Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki and Sekkyaku Zuki

Blocks: Gedan Barai, Shuto Uke and 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 and Ashi Barai

Kata: Pinan Yondan plus any previous Kata

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

Sparring

3rd Kyu, Brown Belt
Minimum 6 months training from last grading

Basics: Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Maeken Zuki and Uraken Uchi

Blocks: Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke and 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 and Ushiro Gerii

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 and Ashi Barai

Sparring

2nd Kyu, Brown & White Belt
Minimum 6 months training from last grading

Basics: Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Sekkyaku Zuki and Uraken Uchi

Blocks: Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke and 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 and Ushiro Gerii

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 and Ushiro Gerii

Sparring

1st Kyu, Brown & Red Belt
Minimum 6 months training from last grading

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

Blocks: Shuto Uke, Soto Uke and 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 Gerii, Ashi Barai and 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 and Ushiro Gerii

Sparring

1st Dan, Black Belt
Minimum 6 months training from last grading

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

Blocks: Gedan Barai and Jodan Uke

Combinations:
All 10 combinations.

Kicks: Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Ushiro Gerii, Ashi Barai and 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 and Ushiro Gerii

Sparring: minimum of 10 rounds