Grading theory

Read this first. Every association, and every instructor within it, sets its own grading: the content, the order, the words used, the minimum ages and the waiting times. ^1,61 The examples here are a general picture built from published syllabi. They are not any association's syllabus. Before a grading, the only syllabus that counts is the one your own club and association give you.

What gradings tend to have in common

With that caveat, what is common: ^1,61

• The student performs in front of an examiner or panel. ¹
• The content is usually a mix of kihon (basics), kata, bunkai (applications) and kumite (sparring drills or free sparring), and in some styles self-defence or board breaking. ¹
• Some gradings test everything learned so far, others only the new material. ¹
• Minimum time in grade applies, and often a minimum age. ^1,52,61
• Many gradings also test theory: Japanese terms, counting, the meaning of kata names, and some history. The practice set below is for that part.

Two real examples of how it varies

• KUGB (Shotokan): novices may grade after two months, then at least three months between each Kyu grade; a current licence, a record book, the senior instructor's permission and an average of two sessions a week are required; Kihon Kata for the first grade, then one Heian per grade to 4th Kyu, Tekki Shodan at 3rd Kyu and Bassai Dai from 2nd Kyu. ⁶¹
• EGKA (Goju-ryu): most dojos grade every four months; Gekisai Dai Ichi at 9th Kyu, then Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, Seiyunchin and Shisochin by 1st Kyu, with each kata's bunkai one grade after the kata itself. ^70,72

Two associations in the same art, with different kata, different intervals and different belt colours. A third club might ask for things neither of these do.

Practice set: 15 example theory questions

These are examples of the kind of question a theory test might ask. Each answer shows its source. An instructor may want a different answer, or a different spelling, and the instructor is right for that grading.

1. What does the word karate mean? "Empty hand". Kara was originally written with the character for Tang (China); the "empty" character was formally agreed by Okinawan masters on 25 October 1936. ¹
2. What does the "do" in karate-do mean? "Way" or "path", signalling personal development as well as fighting. ¹
3. Count from one to ten in Japanese. Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, ju. ⁷³
4. What do rei, yoi, hajime and yame mean? Bow, ready, begin, stop. ^33,51,73
5. What are the three parts of karate training? Kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). ^1,4
6. What is a kiai? A short, sharp shout made as a technique is delivered. ³⁵
7. What is the Japanese name for the front kick, and for the roundhouse kick? Mae-geri and mawashi-geri. ^33,73
8. What is the difference between oi-zuki and gyaku-zuki? Oi-zuki is the stepping punch, with the same arm as the leg stepping forward; gyaku-zuki is the reverse punch, with the arm opposite the front leg. ^33,73
9. Name three stances. Any of zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), kokutsu-dachi (back stance), kiba-dachi (horse stance), shiko-dachi, sanchin-dachi, neko-ashi-dachi (cat stance), musubi-dachi or heiko-dachi. ^33,73
10. What does bunkai mean? Working out and practising the real use of kata movements with a partner. ⁴²
11. What are jodan, chudan and gedan? Upper level (head and neck), middle level (the body) and lower level (below the belt). ^51,73
12. What is the name of the first black belt grade, and how do kyu and Dan grades count? Shodan, "first step". Kyu grades count down to 1st Kyu; Dan grades count up from 1st Dan. ^1,52
13. Who adopted the kyu and Dan grades and the white uniform for karate, and when? Gichin Funakoshi, in 1924, from judo. ^1,4
14. What do the names Pinan (or Heian), Sanchin and Gekisai mean? Pinan and Heian: "peaceful and safe". Sanchin: "three battles". Gekisai: "attack and smash". ^6,30,43
15. What does the name of your style mean? Shotokan: the hall of Shoto, Funakoshi's pen name meaning "pine waves". Wado-ryu: "the way of harmony". Goju-ryu: "hard soft style". Shito-ryu: from the first characters of Itosu and Higaonna. Kyokushin: usually "the ultimate truth". Shukokai: from the sign over Tani's dojo, often rendered "the way for all". Uechi-ryu: "Uechi's style". ^{4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

Questions only your instructor can answer

Your association's own dojo kun wording, the exact kata for your next belt, the Japanese names your club uses for each block (clubs do not all use soto-uke and uchi-uke the same way ^33,73), the history of your own association, and anything about fees or dates. Those come from your instructor.