Our Ranks
An in-depth look at the grades we wear and the syllabus we examine against.
Every Shotokan karate club has a grading syllabus for belts and may vary from other clubs. To see how our grades may compare to others Shotokan clubs, see our Syllabus Comparison page.
Click on the ‘More…’ button for each grade to get information on what’s expected to attain each belt, along with links to kata demonstrations, terminology and their English translations.
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9th Kyu
Terminology
Oi Zuki Chudan
Jodan Age Uke
Chudan Soto Uke
Chudan Mae Geri
Kata
Kihon
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8th Kyu
Terminology
Oi Zuki
Jodan Age Uke
Chudan Soto Uke
Chudan Mau Geri
Chudan Uchi Uke
Shuto Uke
Yokogeri Keage
Yokogeri Kekomi
Kata
Heian Shodan
Ippon Kumite
Any 10 technique, right hand, jodan height
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7th Kyu
Terminology
Chudan Uchi Uke
Shuto Uke
Yokogei Keage
Yokogeri Kekomi
Age Uke, Gyakuzuki
Soto Uke, Gyakuzuki
Uchi Uke, Gyakuzuki
Kata
Heian Shodan
Ippon Kumite
Any 10 techniques, right hand, jodan height
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6th Kyu
Terminology
Age Uke, Gyakuzuki
Soto Uke, Gyakuzuki
Uchi Uke, Gyakuzuki
Sanbon Zuki
Soto Zuki, Empi Uchi
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Ippon Kumite
Any 10 techniques, right and left hand, jodan height
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5th Kyu
Terminology
Sanbon Zuki
Soto Zuki, Empi Uchi
Age Uke, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Barai
Soto Uke, Kizamizuki, Gyakuzuki
Shuto Uki, Nukite
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Ippon Kumite
Any 10 techniques, right and left hand, jodan and chudan height
Jiyu Kumite
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4th Kyu
Terminology
Age Uke, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Barai
Soto Uke, Kizamizuki, Gyakuzuki
Shuto Uki, Nukite
Soto Uke, Empi Uchi, Uraken
Shuto Uke, Mae Geri, Nukite
Yoko Geri Kekomi (from Zenjutsu Dachi)
Mawashi Geri
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Ippon Kumite
Any 10 techniques, right and left hand, jodan, chudan and gedan height
Jiyu Kumite
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3rd Kyu
Terminology
Shuto Uke, Mae Geri, Nukite
Yoko Geri Kekomi (from Zenjutsu Dachi)
Mawashi Geri
Soto Uke, Empi Uchi, Uraken, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Barai
Uchi Uke, Kizamizuki, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Bari, Ushirogeri
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Ippon Kumite
Any techniques, right and left hand, jodan, chudan and gedan height
Jiyu Kumite
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2nd Kyu
Terminology
Shuto Uke, Mae Geri, Nukite
Yoko Geri Kekomi (from Zenjutsu Dachi)
Mawashi Geri
Soto Uke, Empi Uchi, Uraken, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Barai
Uchi Uke, Kizamizuki, Gyakuzuki, Gedan Bari, Ushirogeri
Maegeri, Oizuki, Gyakuzuki
Yokogeri, Uraken, Gyakazuki
Ushirogeri, Uraken, Gyakazuki
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Jitte
Ippon Kumite
Any attack
Sanbon Kumite
Jodan, chudan and gedan height
Jiyu Kumite
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1st Kyu
Terminology
Maegeri, Oizuki, Gyakuzuki
Yokogeri, Uraken, Gyakazuki
Ushirogeri, Uraken, Gyakazuki
Kizamizuki, Oizuki, Gyakazuki
Maegeri, Yokogeri, Mawashigeri
Ushirogeri, Uraken, Gyakuzuki
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Empi
Ippon Kumite
Any attack
Sanbon Kumite
Jodan, chudan and gedan height
Knife Techniques
Any 5 of your choice
Jiyu Kumite
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1st Dan
Kata
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Empi
Bassai Dai
Ippon Kumite
Any attack
Sanbon Kumite
Jodan, chudan and gedan height
Knife Techniques
Any 5 of your choice
Jiyu Kumite
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2nd Dan
Kata
Minimum of 2 Katas demonstrated to examiner. One from Option A (chosen by student) and one from Option B (chosen by examiner).
Option A (Student Chooses)
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Empi
Bassai Dai
Option B (Examiner Chooses)
Kanku Dai
Jion
Hangetsu
Gankaku
Jiyu Kumite
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3rd Dan
2 Katas demonstrated to examiner. One from Option A (chosen by student) and one from Option B (chosen by examiner).
Option A (Student Chooses)
Bassai Dai
Jion
Hangetsu
Gankaku
Option B (Examiner Chooses)
Kanku Dai
Empi
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Bunkai
Any Kata from the above lists, chosen by the student.
Jiyu Kumite
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4th Dan
2 Katas demonstrated to examiner. One from Option A (chosen by student) and one from Option B (chosen by examiner). They must be different to what was demonstrated in the previous gradings.
Option A (Student Chooses)
Bassai Dai
Jion
Hangetsu
Gankaku
Tekki Shodan
Nijushiho
Bassai Sho
Option B (Examiner Chooses)
Kanku Dai
Empi
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Sochin
Kanku Sho
Chinte
Bunkai
Any kata from the above lists, chosen by the student.
Jiyu Kumite
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5th to 8th Dan
2 Katas demonstrated to examiner. One from Option A (chosen by student) and one from Option B (chosen by examiner). They must be different to what was demonstrated in the previous gradings.
Option A (Student Chooses)
Bassai Dai
Jion
Hangetsu
Gankaku
Tekki Shodan
Nijushiho
Bassai Sho
Unsu
Gojushiho Dai
Meikyo
Option B (Examiner Chooses)
Kanku Dai
Empi
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Sochin
Kanku Sho
Chinte
Gojushiho Sho
Wankan
Jiin
Bunkai
Any kata from the above lists, chosen by the student.
Jiyu Kumite (Except for 8th Dan)