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 ZukiStepping punch and Gyaku ZukiReverse punch

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block, Jodan UkeHead block and Shuto UkeKnife hand block

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 GeriFront kick and Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick

Kata: Pinan Sandan

Impact: Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Mae GeriFront kick and Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick

5th Kyu, Blue Belt

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch and Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block, Jodan UkeHead block, Shuto UkeKnife hand block and Soto UkeOutside block

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 GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick and Yoko GeriSide thrust kick

Kata: Pinan Shodan

Impact: Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Oi ZukiStepping punch, Mae GeriFront kick and Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick

Sparring

4th Kyu, Purple Belt

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch and Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block, Shuto UkeKnife hand block and Uchi UkeInside block

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 GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick and Ashi BaraiLeg sweep

Kata: Pinan Yondan plus any previous Kata

Impact: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick and Yoko GeriSide thrust kick

Sparring

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

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch and Uraken UchiBack fist punch

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block, Jodan UkeHead block and Shuto UkeKnife hand block

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 GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Ushiro GeriBack kick

Kata: Pinan Godan plus any previous Kata

Impact: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Gedan BaraiDownward block with Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick and Ashi BaraiLeg sweep

Sparring

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

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg and Uraken UchiBack fist punch

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block, Jodan UkeHead block and Soto UkeOutside block

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 GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Ushiro GeriBack kick

Kata: Jiin plus any previous Kata

Impact: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Gedan BaraiDownward block with Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Ushiro GeriBack kick

Sparring

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

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Uraken UchiBack fist punch and Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch

Blocks: Shuto UkeKnife hand block, Soto UkeOutside block and Uchi UkeInside block

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 GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Ushiro GeriBack kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Yoko GeriSide thrust kick

Kata: Annanko plus any previous Kata

Impact: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Uraken UchiBack fist punch, Gedan BaraiDownward block with Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Ushiro GeriBack kick

Sparring

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

Basics: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Uraken UchiBack fist punch and Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch

Blocks: Gedan BaraiDownward block and Jodan UkeHead block

Combinations:
All 10 combinations.

Kicks: Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Ushiro GeriBack kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Yoko GeriSide thrust kick

Kata: Bassai Dai plus any previous Kata

Impact: Oi ZukiStepping punch, Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Sekkyaku ZukiPunch delivered whilst body weight is all on one leg, Maeken ZukiLeading hand punch, Uraken UchiBack fist punch, Gedan BaraiDownward block with Gyaku ZukiReverse punch, Mae GeriFront kick, Mawashi GeriRoundhouse kick, Yoko GeriSide thrust kick, Ashi BaraiLeg sweep and Ushiro GeriBack kick

Sparring: minimum of 10 rounds