Grading Syllabus

Beginner - 12th
12th - 11th Kyu

Kihon
From shizentai
Choku zuki x 10
Age uke x 10
Gedan barai x 10

From heisoku dachi
Mae geri x 10

Kumite
Attacker choku zuki x 10
Defender age uke x 10

11^th – 10^th Kyu

Kihon
From shizentai 
Choku zuki x 10
Age uke x 10
Gedan barai x 10

From heisoku dachi
Mae geri x 10

Kumite
Attacker choku zuki x 10
Defender age uke x 10

KIHON
From shizentai - choku zuki x 10
From heisoku dachi - mea geri x 10
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Back age uke
Forward soto uke
Back gedan barai
From zenkutsu dachi – gyaku zuki x 10

KUMITE
Gohon kumite (Jodan) to count

KATA
Heian Shodan or Kihon Kata by count

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Back age uke
Forward soto uke
Back shuto uke
Forward uchi uke
Back gedan barai
Forward mae geri
Forward yoko geri keage (kiba dachi)
Forward yoko geri kekomi (kiba dach)

KUMITE
Gohon kumite (jodan & chudan)

KATA
Heian Shodan

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Back age uke
Forward soto uke
Back shuto uke
Forward uchi uke
Back gedan barai
Forward mae geri
Forward mawashi geri
Forward yoko geri keage (kiba dachi)
Forward yoko geri kekomi (kiba dach)

KUMITE
Gohon kumite (jodan & chudan)

KATA
Heian Nidan

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Forward gyaku zuki
Back age uke gyaku zuki
Forward soto uke gyaku zuki
Back shuto uke
Forward uchi uke gyaku zuki
Back gedan barai gyaku zuki
Forward mae geri
Forward mawashi geri
Forward yoko geri keage (kiba dachi)
Forward yoko geri kekomi (kiba dach)

KUMITE
Gohon kumite (jodan, chudan & mae geri)

KATA
Heian Sandan

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Forward gyaku zuki
Back age uke mae geri
Forward soto uke yoko empi
Back shuto uke nukite
Forward uchi uke gyaku zuki
Forward gedan barai gyaku zuki
Forward mae geri oi zuki
Forward mawashi geri
Forward yoko geri keage (kiba dachi)
Forward yoko geri kekomi (kiba dach)

KUMITE
Kihon ippon kumite (jodan, chudan & mae geri)

KATA
Heian Yondan

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward oi zuki chudan
Forward gyaku zuki
Back age uke mae geri
Forward soto uke yoko empi
Back shuto uke nukite
Forward uchi uke gyaku zuki
Forward gedan barai, shift back uchi uke, drive forward gyaku zuki
Forward mae geri oi zuki
Forward mawashi geri
Forward yoko geri keage (kiba dachi)
Forward yoko geri kekomi (kiba dach)
Forward ushiro geri

KUMITE
Kihon ippon kumite (jodan, chudan, mea geri & mawashi geri)

KATA
Heian Godan

KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Forward sanbon zuki
Back age uke mae geri
Forward soto uke yoko empi, uraken
Back shuto uke mae geri nukite
Forward uchi uke kizami zuki gyaku zuki
Forward gedan barai, shift back uchi uke, drive forward gyaku zuki
Forward mae geri chudan oi zuki chudan
Forward mawashi geri gyaku zuki
Forward yoko geri keage yoko geri kekomi (same leg in zenkutsu dachi)
Forward ushiro geri
Forward kaiten shinagara uraken gyaku zuki
Forward jodan shuto uchi

KUMITE
Jiyu ippon kumite (jodan, chudan, mae, mawashi, yoko, ushiro)

KATA
Bassai Dai

Minimum of 6 months since 1st Kyu
KIHON
Step forward zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai
(Everything x 4)
Tobe konde sanbon zuki
Rotate forward 360’ gyaku zuki chudan
Back age uke mae geri gyaku zuki
Forward soto uke empi uraken (in kiba dachi) gyaku zuki (zenkutsu dachi)
Back shuto uke (kokutsu dachi) mae geri (front leg) nukite (zenkutsu dachi)
Forward uchi uke kizami zuki gyaku zuki
Forward yoko geri keage, yoko geri kekomi (same leg)
Forward mea geri, mawashi geri gyaku zuki
Forward ushiro geri gyaku zuki
Forward double jodan shuto uchi (from outside then inside)

KUMITE
Jiyu ippon kumite (jodan, chudan, mae, mawashi, yoko, ushiro)

KATA
Tokui gata. Choose from: Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, Enpi.

Examiner imposes kata from: Heian Shodan – Godan, Tekki Shodan

Minimum of 2 years since Shodan

KIHON
All from jiyu kamae
(Everything x 4)
Forward kizami zuki sanbon zuki
Forward kizami zuki mae geri oi zuki
Back age uke forward mawashi geri uraken oi zuki
Forward ushiro geri uraken gyaku zuki
Forward mawashi geri, forward ashi barai, gyaku zuki
Forward ura mawashi geri gyaku zuki
Facing examiner: mae geri, yoko geri keage, ushiro geri
Gyaku zuki distance control

KUMITE
Jiyu kumite

KATA
Tokui kata
Examiner chooses from: Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, Enpi

Minimum of 3 years since Nidan

KIHON
From jiyu kamae
Forward kizami zuki gyaku zuki choku zuki oi zuki gyaku zuki (gohon renzoku oi komi – 5 punches one step plus yori ashi)
Forward age empi (kokutsu dachi), mawashi empi (zenkutsu dachi), yoko empi (kiba dachi)
Forward gyaku zuki, shift into kiba dachi yoko empi, shift back shuto uke, drive forward gyaku zuki
Forward mae geri oi zuki, mawashi geri uraken, ushiro geri gyaku zuki
Facing examiner: mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, mawashi geri

KUMITE
Jiyu kumite.

KATA
Tokui kata. Examiner chooses from: Bassai-dai, Bassai-Sho, Kanku-dai, Kanku-Sho, Jion, Enpi.
Questions will be asked about tokui kata.

Minimum of 4 years since Sandan

Examinee must have mastered all karate techniques, can understand their principles, apply them fully and be able to give general instruction. Questions will be asked in reference to a basic technique.

KUMITE
Jiyu kumite or (by prior arrangement with examining board) either self-defense or detailed explanation of tokui waza with a partner.

KATA
Tokui kata. Examiner chooses from: Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Bassai-dai, Jion, Enpi, Kanku-dai, Hangetsu, Jitte.

Minimum of 5 years since Yondan

Examinee must have attained an exceptionally high level of karate technique and displayed originality in their karate. Questions will be asked in reference to a basic technique, tokui kata and bunkai.

KUMITE
Jiyu kumite or (by prior arrangement with examining board) either self-defense or detailed explanation of tokui waza with a partner.

KATA
Tokui kata. Examiner chooses from: Bassai-sho, Kanku-sho, Jiin, Wankan, Chinte, Unsu, Sochin and ask questions about the examinee’s tokui kata.

Minimum of 6 years since Godan

Examinee must have obtained an exceptionally high level of karate both in technique and spirit. Questions will be asked in reference to a basic technique, tokui kata and bunkai.

KUMITE
Jiyu kumite or (by prior arrangement with examining board) either self-defense or detailed explanation of tokui waza with a partner.

KATA
Tokui kata. Examiner chooses a kata from any of the Shotokan kata.

Minimum of 7 years since Rokudan

This grade is awarded by the Head Technical Director and the International Council after the HDKI senior has obtained an exceptionally high level of karate and developed their own individuality within the art of Shotokan.

Minimum of 8 years since Nanadan

This grade is awarded by the Head Technical Director and the International Council after the HDKI senior has obtained an exceptionally high level of karate and has shown a continuous development of their own individuality within the art of Shotokan.