For the grading syllabus, please see sensei.
Grading Requirements. What the student should be aiming for.
All the details below are from the JKA UK newsletters.
9th kyu
Good ability in Uke- waza
Stances should be strong
Basic hip movement
Oi tsuki should be strong, a degree of kime at completion
Kihon kata correct posture and timing, speed not important.
8th kyu
The mandatory techniques must be with balance and hip snap
Correct form and posture. There should not be any body lean
and no extra movement on completion of technique..
Speed is not important. Good solid technique.
Heian Shodan should flow and show some kime at completion
7th kyu
All blocks must be with correct posture. The body must rotate correctly.
Stances should start to become lower and stronger.
Correct use of hikite should be shown
Heian Nidan should show all the above. The hips should rotate in kokutsu dachi
into the first punch after the opening blocks, then back with the tetsui which should
be below the shoulder towards chudan.
Gohon kumite, distance correct, counter attack strong with good kiai and no leaning.
6th kyu
Kokutsu dachi must be strong, with emphasis on the placement of the rear leg and foot
ie 90 degrees.
Techniques should now slide with no stamping into postion.
Correct use of hika ashi (retraction) should be evident in kicking techniques, with the
ability to hold the balance after the kick prior to placing the foot down.
Heian Sandan must be with straight spine, especially on the rotation into fumikomi
with the elbow then the uraken. The uraken must travel in an arc striking downwards not sideways.
5th kyu
Kihon should be strong
Techniques should be seen to come from the hips, and display good kime.
Kicks must show good snap on hiki ashi
Good balance shown at both slow and fast movements
Lower level kata should be performed with smoothness and the transtition between technique
should emphasise this. the overall impression of speed and power should be forming.
Heian Yondan should display all the above.
In kihon kumite the attacks should be decisive with real feeling.
4th kyu
Techniques must show strengh,balance,grace and fluidity all in one
The snap in the technique should be audible, at least with punches and blocks
Shuto uke should be quick and strong, no wrist flick.
Heian Godan should be strong. the kiai must have good spirit. The jump must
have good balance.
Kihon ippon kumite must be fluid between defence and counter which must be with feeling.
3rd kyu
Scanned from JKAUK newsletter, written by Sensei Sidoli
