Karate gradings at Rhyl & Prestatyn

  • Grading is important part of learning karate. Everyone starts by wearing a white belt. Each time you pass a grading you will get a new colour belt to wear until you become a black belt.

  • In order to grade you will need to train twice a week (on average), hold a KUGB licence, and have permission from an instructor.

  • At Rhyl & Prestatyn we hold kyu (colour belt) gradings 3-4 times a year. Our Grading Examiners are Sensei Richard Poole (7th dan) and Sensei Garry Harford (8th dan).

KUGB Grading Syllabus

Kyu grades

Novice to 9th kyu

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Oi tsuki (stepping punch)

  • Jodan age uke (rising block)

  • Chudan soto uke (outside block)

  • Mae geri (front snap kick)

  • Mawatte (turn)

Kumite

Sanbon (3 step) or Gohon (5 step) Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki

Kata

Kihon kata

9th to 8th kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Chudan uchi uke (inside block)

From kokutsu dachi (back stance):

  • Shuto uke (knife hand block)

From kiba dachi (horse riding stance):

  • Yoko geri keage (side snap kick)

  • Yoko geri kekomi (side thrust kick)

Kumite

As previous grading

Kata

Heian shodan

You may also be asked to perform the kata from your previous grading

8th to 7th kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Age uke, gyaku tsuki (rising block, reverse punch)

  • Soto uke, gyaku tsuki (outside block, reverse punch)

  • Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki (inside block, reverse punch)

Kumite

As previous grading

Kata

Heian nidan

You may also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

7th to 6th kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Soto uke, empi uchi - in kiba dachi (outside block, elbow strike - in horseriding stance)

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from right and left sides

Kata

Heian sandan

You may also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

6th to 5th kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From kokutsu dachi (back stance)

  • Shuto uke, nukite - in zenkutsu dachi (knife hand block, spear hand strike - in front stance)

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite as previous grading, plus chudan mae geri attack

Kata

Heian yondan

You may also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

5th to 4th kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Sanbon tsuki - oitsuki jodan, gyaku tsuki chudan, kizame tsuki chudan (3 punches - stepping punch to the head, reverse punch to the body, front hand punch to the body)

  • Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai (rising block, reverse punch, downward block)

  • Soto uke, empi uchi - in kiba dachi, uraken (outside block, elbow strike - in horseriding stance, back fist)

  • Uchi uke , kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki (inside block, front hand punch, reverse punch)

From kokutsu dachi (back stance):

  • Shuto uke, mae geri, nukite - in zenkutsu dachi (knife hand block, front snap kick, spear hand strike)

From zenkutsu dachi (fronta stance):

  • Mawashi geri (roundhouse kick)

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite as previous grading, plus chudan yoko geri kekomi attack

Kata

Heian godan

You may also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

4th to 3rd kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Soto uke, empi uchi - in kibda dachi, uraken, gyaku tsuki - in zenkutsu dachi, (outside block, elbow strike - in horseriding stance, back fist, reverse punch - in front stance)

  • Ushiro geri (back kick)

Kumite

Kihon Ippon Kumite as previous grading, plus jodan mawashi geri attack

Kata

Tekki shodan

You may also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

3rd to 2nd kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From zenkutsu dachi (front stance):

  • Soto uke, empi uchi - in kibda dachi, uraken, gyaku tsuki - in zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai (outside block, elbow strike - in horseriding stance, back fist, reverse punch - in front stance, downward block)

  • Uchi uke , kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai (inside block, front hand punch, reverse punch)

From kamae (freestyle):

  • Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki* (front snap kick, stepping punch, reverse punch)

  • Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki* (side thrust kick, stepping punch, reverse punch)

  • Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki* (roundhouse kick, stepping punch, reverse punch)

  • Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki* (back kick, stepping punch, reverse punch)

*snapping techniques

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only.

Kata

Bassai dai

You will also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

2nd to 1st kyu
As previous grading plus:-

Kihon

From kamae (freestyle):

  • Kizame tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki* (front hand punch, stepping punch, reverse punch)

  • Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki* (front snap kick, side thrust kick, roundhouse kick, back kick, back hand, reverse punch)

*snapping techniques

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only.

Kata

Bassai dai

You will also be asked to perform a kata from your previous gradings

KUGB Grading Syllabus

Dan grades

1st kyu to 1st dan

Kihon

From freestyle kamae:

  • Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki

  • Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, yoko geri, uraken, oi tsuki

  • Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri

Jiyu Kumite

Kata

Bassai Dai

Examiner chooses from:

  • Heian shodan

  • Heian nidan

  • Heian sandan

  • Heian yondan

  • Heian godan

  • Tekki shodan

1st to 2nd dan

Kihon

From freestyle kamae:

  • Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki

  • Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, same leg yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, same leg mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mawashi geri, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

  • Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan nagashi uke, gyaku tsuki, ushiro geri, uraken, oi tsuki

  • Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, mawashi geri

Kumite

Jiyu Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques

Jiyu Kumite

Kata

Candidate chooses from:

  • Bassai Sho

  • Kanku Sho

  • Niju Shiho

  • Jitte

  • Tekki Nidan

Examiner chooses from:

  • Bassai Dai

  • Kanku Dai

  • Jion

  • Enpi

  • Hangetsu

2nd to 3rd dan

Kihon

Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus:–

Kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri and step back, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

Kumite

Kaishi Ippon Kumite – the same pre-arranged attacks as for 1st Dan grading

Jiyu Kumite

Kata

Candidate chooses from:

  • Sochin

  • Chinte

  • Unsu

  • Goju Shiho Sho

  • Gankaku

Examiner chooses from:

  • Bassai Sho

  • Kanku Sho

  • Niju Shiho

  • Jitte

  • Tekki Nidan

3rd to 4th dan

Kihon

Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus:–

Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, nihon tsuki, step back and with same arm block age uke, soto uke, gedan barai, uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, four turning gyaku tsuki attacks, turn behind with haito uchi, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri and step back, yoko geri keage to side and step back, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki

Kumite

Kaishi Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques

Demonstration of three favourite Kumite tactics

Jiyu Kumite

Kata

Candidate chooses from:

  • Jiin

  • Meikyo

  • Goju Shiho Dai

  • Wankan

  • Tekki Sandan

Examiner chooses from:

  • Sochin

  • Chinte

  • Unsu

  • Goju Shiho Sho

  • Gankaku

4th to 5th dan

Kihon

As previous grading plus:-

A 1500–2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-do

Kumite

As previous grading

Kata

Candidate chooses any kata from Shodan syllabus and above

Examiner chooses one or more kata from Sandan syllabus and above

Demonstration of applications will be requested from performed katas

5th to 6th dan

Kihon

As previous grading plus:-

A written Karate CV and >2000 words thesis on any aspect of Karate-do (different to above)

Kumite

As previous grading

Kata

As previous grading