Grading
About Karate Grading
Grading Requirements for a Karate Belt
Students’ development is progressively assessed during training. As with most modern martial arts, our karate school has a grading system to symbolise stages of learning and reward a level of achievement. Students are individually advised (in the DOJO) when they are ready for grading. There are a few interrelated aspects that are emphasised upon for understanding when an OKUKAN karate member is ready for grading. These include training rhythm, technical aspects, and spirit and behaviour.
Technical Aspects of Grading
During your training you will be learning practical aspects of Shitoryu Karatedo. Training will give you a level of expertise in stances, blocks, attacks, breathing, speed and power, body movement and shift, precision, readiness, rhythm, timing, concentration and sight, accuracy and balance. The learning of these aspects will be evidenced in your KATA (pattern) and BUNKAI (self-defence application), and in KIHON (form practice) and KUMITE (sparring) practice.
You will also be required to learn terminology, theory and history. At advanced levels, you will be required to learn philosophical principles of KARATE.
Spirit & Behaviour
Training at OKUKAN means becoming a ‘Karateka’ (karate practitioner). This implies an appreciation of the ethics and traditions inherited over years of development of Karate-Do, in addition to the technical aspects. Dojo Kun and Shitoryu Five Way Spirit are pivotal to understanding the Karateka’s code of conduct.
Training Period
Although it is unlikely that all students will learn technical aspects at the same pace, all make progress. The more training, the more learning.
Students are expected to train at the DOJO for a sustained period of time to be able to make progress.
New students start off as a 9th Kyu with a white belt. This is the first of the karate belt series that students get at the very beginning of training, along with a karate uniform. The white belt represents nothingness. It is the place where karate-ka experience ‘the spirit of first beginning’ which, as stated in Shitoryu’s Five Way Spirit (ADD LINK!), should never be forgotten (Ishi. Shochin wasureru nakare). In terms of natural evolution, the white belt would be a metaphor for an empty universe.
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
9th to 8th Kyu Grading Guide
(White belt, grading to yellow belt)
updated 18 December 2024
An 8th Kyu is granted a yellow karate belt. It comes after white and before orange. Students begin to work on techniques with open hands (i.e. shuto) after having practiced to keep the fists closed (i.e. in tsuki OR hikite) and after white belt’s physical conditioning. It is also a special belt in that students begin to practice the sumo stance (shiko-dachi) and the cat stance (neko-ashi-dachi) which is one of the strengths of the Shitoryu style. The yellow belt represents the sun, and following psychology of colour, it represents hope. The universe is beginning to warm-up and it is not empty any longer.
TACHI
KIHON
Mae-geri / yoko-geri / ushiro-geri / mawashi-geri
IDO KIHON
KATA
And 1 of 4:
KIHON KUMITE
Oi-geri // gedan-barai, gyaku-suki
Relevant terminology
Musubi
結び
Knot
Dachi
Stance
立
Soto
Soto
Outside
外
Hachi
8
八
Moto
Basic
基
Kamae
Guard
構え
Zenkutsu
Flex forward
前屈
Te
Hand
手
Seiza
* Proper sitting
正座
Kiritsu
Stand up
規律
Seiken
* Conventional
正剣
Yoko
Side
横
Uchi
Attack
家
Jodan
Upper level
上段
Gedan
Lower level
下段
Mae
In front
前
Mawashi
Round
回し
Ushiro
Behind, back
後ろ
Tsuki
Punch
突き
Kata
Form
型
Ichi
1
一
Ni
2
二
San
3
三
Yon
4
四
Yottsu
4
四つ
Juni
12
十二
Chudan
Mid level
中段
Nidan
Double, 2nd
二段
Hikite
Pulling hand
引き手
Choku
Straight
直
*not literal
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
8th to 7th Kyu Grading Guide
(yellow belt, grading to orange belt)
updated 18 December 2024
A 7th Kyu is granted an orange belt. Here students are introduced to elbow strikes and begin to show fluid footwork for sparring. Kata at this level emphasize Shiko-dachi (sumo stance). An orange belt is now quite familiar with Dojo ritual and tends to concern her/himself with technical ability and speed. Orange represents fertile soil. The sun is now dependable.
TACHI
KIHON
Shiko-dachi Jodan-age-uke
IDO KIHON
KATA
KIHON KUMITE
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
7th to 6th Kyu Grading Guide
(orange belt, grading to blue belt)
updated 18 December 2024
Blue: A 6th Kyu is granted a blue KARATE belt. Here there is an emphasis on the practice of cat stance (NEKO-DACHI) and knife hand (SHUTO). For the first time, students are challenged to swiftly apply techniques in complete opposite directions (180° angle). In blue belt, students tend to demonstrate a wish to push further as KARATE-KA: to go beyond the elemental. At OKUKAN, blue is the last of the junior colour belts (KOHAI).
TACHI
KIHON
IDO KIHON
KATA
BUNKAI KUMITE
‘COLLAR GRAB’ / yoko-uke, mae-ashi-geri, gyaku-suki
Oi-suki / shuto-uke, yonhon-nukite
Nidan-suki chudan / shuto-uke, yoko-uke, oi-geri, gyaku-suki
Oi-suki / yoko-uke, oi-geri, gyaku-suki
Oi-suki / hiji-sasae-uke, uraken-uchi
Oi-geri, maete-suki-jodan / gedan-barai, jodan-age-uke, gyaku-suki
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
6th to 5th Kyu Grading Guide
(blue belt, grading to green belt)
updated 18 December 2024
Green: A 5th Kyu is granted a green KARATE belt, which is the first of the senior colour belts (SENPAI). At this stage, students begin to learn about balance. In sparring, students should become familiar with the idea of timing and how to anticipate an attack. It is a difficult stage, where practitioners feel they have a long way to go, still. Hope! Green represents life in the DOJO’s ecosystem where the dedicated practitioner can hope to grow.
TACHI
KIHON
IDO KIHON
KATA
BUNKAI KUMITE
Oi-suki-chudan / yoko-uke, yonhon-nukite / TWIST / yoko-barai, seiken-suki
Oi-suki-chudan / hiji-uke, maete-suki, gyaku-suki
Ashi-barai, BEAR HUG / ushiro-hiji-ate, gyaku-suki
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
5th to 4th Kyu Grading Guide
(green belt, grading to purple belt)
updated 14 November 2023
Purple: A 4th Kyu is granted a purple KARATE belt. The student begins to become self-reliant, having a level of understanding of KARATE basic forms. At this stage, students finish learning the bases of HEIAN KATA. HEIAN KATA are the five forms, considered by most to provide the students with reasonable groundwork to begin to learn advanced KATA. Purple at OKUKAN represents the seed of a tree: an oak tree.
TACHI
KIHON
IDO KIHON
KATA
BUNKAI KUMITE
2) Oi-geri maete-suki / kosa-uke, hiji-sasae-uke, gyaku-suki
4) Oi-suki-jodan / sukui-uke, oi-geri / maete-suki / gedan-barai, uraken-uchi
6) Oi-suki / hiji-sasae-uke, SHOULDER GRAB, hiza-ate
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
4th to 3rd Kyu Grading Guide
(purple belt, grading to red belt)
updated 14 November 2023
Red: A 3rd Kyu is granted a red KARATE belt. As the students continue to refine HEIAN KATA, at this stage students begin to learn the prescribed SHITO-RYU KATA… the “SHITEI KATA”! Technically it is an exciting time to learn more advanced moves, of great challenge. Red stands for energy and positive self-motivation, as it takes much to push through soil and grow roots. The martial world begins to wonder if a black belt will come from it all.
TACHI
KIHON
IDO KIHON
KATA
BUNKAI KUMITE
Oi-suki, oi-geri, maete-suki-jodan / hiji-sasae-uke, kosa-uke-nidan(gedan/jodan), kentsui-uchi
Oi-suki / kosa-uke, uraken-uchi
Grading Guides: for coloured belts
3rd to 2nd Kyu Grading Guide
(red belt, grading to brown belt)
updated 14 November 2023
Brown: 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu students are allowed to wear a brown KARATE belt. The student has worn a KARATE uniform for what seems to be a long time. Here they begin to integrate deeper knowledge-based notions such as SHIME and KIME. Building knowledge takes patience (the trunk must grow tall). Looking forward to the black belt, yet having to take time to build a foundation, can be a difficult test.
KIHON
IDO KIHON
KATA
BUNKAI
Heian Kata (5 techniques, randomly asked)
BUNKAI KUMITE BASSAI-DAI
BUNKAI NIDAN
BUNKAI SANDAN
BUNKAI SHODAN
BUNKAI YONDAN
Grading Guides:
2nd to 1st Kyu Grading Guide
(brown belt grading)
updated 14 November 2023
Brown: 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu students are allowed to wear a brown KARATE belt. The student has worn a KARATE uniform for what seems to be a long time. Here they begin to integrate deeper knowledge-based notions such as SHIME and KIME. Building knowledge takes patience (the trunk must grow tall). Looking forward to the black belt, yet having to take time to build a foundation, can be a difficult test.
IDO-KIHON
KICKS
KATA
BUNKAI
BUNKAI KUMITE HEIAN KATA
Grading Guides:
Yudansha (Dan Levels)
updated 14 November 2023
Black Belt: SHODAN or above levels wear a black KARATE belt. This is a stage where students have made KARATE a part of their lives and wish to learn at a deeper level, in a longer journey of self-development. The fast-pace learning of a number of new techniques continues from black belt. Students have developed a sense of belonging and become an example for colour-belt students. As with white belt, a whole universe opens up again.
