Grading Syllabus

Gradings for Kyu grades are held 3 times a year, February, June, Oct. Normally held on the last Sunday of the month. Grading are run by a panel of our own Instructors.

Below is an overview of our syllabus. This is a guide and not rigid so it may be adapted during a grading.

If you click on the Kata name on the page it links straight to a youtube video of the kata the SSKD approve for grading purposes.

Kyu Gradings dates for 2025 will be on Sundays. February 23rd – June 29th – October 26th. 10am start with a short pre grading session followed by grading.

Gradings will be run if required and dates/times may be amended. If no grading is being run then the normal training session will take place.

Dan Gradings will be arranged when required.

  • For kyu gradings (belts up to black) in order to grade you will need to have 

    • A current license
    • An up to date photo in the license book
    • Completed a grading application
    • An up to date photo for your grading card
    • Ensure you have handed these in at least 1 week before the grading day
    • On the grading day turn up in good time to warm your self up
    • Make sure the grading panel are aware of any injuries or conditions that may effect your performance while grading.
    • If you are unsure if you should try to grade talk to your instructor who will guide you.

    The Grading Syllabus for each Level is a guide, it may be changed on the day as the grading panel see fit in order to ensure high levels are maintained. 

    Kyu grades up to 1st kyu require a minimum of 3 Month between grades this can be varied depending on the grading panels availability.

    1st Kyu grades require 6 months before attempting 1st Dan.

  • Basics

    Oi-tsuki Jodan

    Oi-tsuki Chudan

    Age-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Age-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Soto-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Soto-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Mae-geri Chudan

    Mae-geri Jodan

     

    x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

     

     

     

    Kata

     

     

    Kihon Kata

     
     

     

    Kumite

     

     

     

    Sanbon Kumite (Three Step Sparring)  3x Jodan/ 3 x Chudan

  • Basics

    Oi-tsuki Jodan

    Oi-tsuki Chudan

    Age-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Age-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Soto-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Soto-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Mae-geri Chudan

    Mae-geri Jodan

    Yoko Geri Keage     in Kiba Dachi

    Yoko Geri Kekomi    in Kiba Dachi

     

    x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

    x4 Turn – Repeat

    x4 Turn – Repeat

     

     

    Kata

     Heian Shodan  
     

     

    Kumite

     

     

     

    Sanbon Kumite (Three Step Sparring)  Jodan/Chudan/Mae Geri

     right and left side attacks

  • Basics

    Oi-tsuki Jodan

    Oi-tsuki Chudan

    Age-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Soto Uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Uchi-uke ( in Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Shuto-uke ( in Kokutsu Dachi )

    Mae-geri combination Chudan / Jodan

    Yoko Geri Keage

    Yoko Geri Kekomi

    x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

    x 4 Turn – Repeat

    x4 Turn – Repeat

     

    Kata

     

    Heian Nidan

     

    Application to parts of the kata

     

     

    Kumite

     

     

     

    SanBon Kumite   1x Jodan/1x Chudan / 1x Mae Geri

    right and left attacks

  •  

    Basics

    Oi-Tsuki Jodan / Gyaku Tsuki Chudan / Gedan Barai

    Age Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Soto Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Uchi Uke in Zenkutsu Dachi

    Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi

    Mae Geri Combination Chudan / Jodan

    Mae Geri Combination Jodan / Chudan

    Yoko Geri Keage

    Yoko Geri Kekomi

     4 Turn – Repeat

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 3 Turn 

     x 3 Turn

     x 4 Turn – Repeat

     x 4 Turn – repeat

     

     

    Kata

    Heian Sandan Application from kata 
     

     

    Kumite

     

     

     

    Kihon Ippon attacks  Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri

     

     

  • Basics

    Sanbon Tsuki

    Age Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Soto Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Uchi Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gen Barai

    Shuto Uke in  ( Kokutsu Dachi ) / Nukite (Zenkutsu Dachi )

    Yoko Geri Keage  ( Kiba Dachi )

    Yoko Geri Kekomi ( Kiba Dachi )

    Mae Geri / Oi Tsuki

    Mawashi Geri / Gyaku Tsuki

     

     

    x 4 Turn – repeat

     x 4 forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x4 Turn – repeat

     

    Application to any of the above as requested by Grading Panel

     

    Kata

     

    Heian Yondan

     

    Application to kata 

    Kumite

     

    Kihon Ippon ( Basic One step ) 

    Attacks Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri / Kekomi

    both sides then change to other person attacking.

  • Basics

    Sanbon Tsuki

    Age Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Uchi Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Soto Uke / Empi ( Kiba Dachi )

    Shuto Uke ( Kokutsu Dachi ) Front leg Mae Geri / Nukite                                                                                         ( Zenkutsu Dachi )

     

    Yoko Geri Keage

    Yoko Geri Kekomi

    Mae Geri Jodan Oi Tsuki 

    Mae Geri Chudan /  Gyaku Tsuki

    Mawashi Geri / Gyaku Tsuki

     

     

    x4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Forward

    x 4 Backward

    x 4 Forward

    x 4 Backward                                                                                                   

     

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn  

    x 4 Turn

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    Application to any of the above as requested by Grading Panel

     

     

    Kata

     

    Heian Godan

     

    Application to kata

     

    Kumite

     

     

    Kihon Ippon  Attacks Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri / Kekomi 

    Alternate between partners right side, right side Left side, left side

  • Basics

    Sanbon Tsuki

    Age Uke Gyaku Tsuki

    Uchi Uke / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Soto Uke / Empi / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki / Gedan Barai

    Shuto Uke ( Kokutsu Dachi ) front leg Mae Geri / Nukite ( Zenkutsu) 

    Yoko Geri Keage

    Yoko Geri Kekomi

    Mae Geri Jodan / Oi Tsuki 

    Mawashi Geri ( high as possible ) Gyaku Tsuki

    Ushiro Geri / Gyaku Tsuki

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Forward

    x 4 Backward

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

    x 4 Turn – repeat

     

    Application to any of the above at the request of Grading panel

     Kata Tekki Shodan

     

    Applications to Kata

     

    Kumite  

    Kihon Ippon Attacks Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri / Kekomi / Mawashi Geri 

      must demonstrate use on angles

  • Basics

     

     

     

     

    Shiai

     

     

     

     

     

    Ren Geri

    Age Uke / Gyaky Tsuki

    Soto Uke / Gyaku Tsuki

    Ucki Uke / Gazama Tsuki / Gyaku Tsuki

    Shuto Uke  ( Kokustu Dach ) front leg Mawashi / Nukite ( Zenkutsu )

     

    Kizama Tsuki / Oi Tsuki / Gyaku tsuki

    Mae Geri / Oi Tsuki / Gyaku Tsuki

    Mawashi Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

    Kekomi / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

    Ushiro Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

     

    Mae Geri / Kekomi / Mawashi Geri / Kaiten Ushiro Geri

     

     x 4 Forward

     x 4  Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     

     x 4  Turn and repeat

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     

     x 1 Turn and repeat

     

     

    Applications to any of the above as requested by the Grading Panel

     

     

    Kata

     

     

    Bassai Dai 

     

    Application as requested by Grading panel

    one previous Kata chosen by Grading Panel

     

     

    Kumite

     

    JYU IPPON ( one step Free Style )

    Jodan / Chudan/ Mae Geri/ Kekomi / Mawashi Geri /  Kaiten Ushiro Geri 

     

    JYU KUMITE    ( Free Style Sparring ) 

     

     

  • Basics

     

     

     

     

    Shiai

     

     

     

     

     

    Combination

     

     

    Ren Geri  (stepping)

     

    Age Uke / Gyaku Tsuki

    Soto-Uke / Gyaku Tsuki

    Uchi Uke / Kizami Geri /  Kizami Tsuki / Gyaku Tsuki

    Shuto Uke in Kokutsu Dachi /  front leg Kekomi / Gyaku Tsuki in Zenkutsu dachi

     

    Kizami Tsuki / Oi Tsuki / Gyaku Tsuki

    Mae Geri / Oi Tsuki / Gyaku Tsuki

    Mawashi Geri  Jodan / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

    Yoko Geri Kekomi / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

    Kaiten Ushiro Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

     

     Mae Geri / Oi Tsuki /  Gyaku Tsuki / step back Gedan Barai / Gyaku Tsuki

     step forward Mawashi Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tsuki

     

    Mae Geri / Gyaku Tsuki / Kekomi / Gyaku Tsuki /  Mawashi geri / Gyaku Tsuki /

    Kaiten Ushiro Geri / Gyaku Tsuki

     

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 Backward

     

     x 4 Turn and repeat

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     

     x 2 Turn and repeat 

     

     

     x 1 Turn and repeat twice

    Kata

     one of the following kata as a main focus

     Bassai Dai   Kanku Dai   Empi   Hangetsu   Jion

     

    Application as requested by Grading panel

    one previous Kata chosen by Grading Panel

    Kumite   

     Jyu Ippon  ( one step freestyle )

     Attacks left and right side  Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri /  Kekomi /  Mawashi Geri /       Kaiten Ushiro Geri

     Jyu Kumite  ( Free Style Sparring )

     

  • Basics

     

     

     

     

     

    Shiai

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Combination

     

     

     

     

    Ren Geri 

    (on spot)

     

     

    Age Uke / Gyaku Tzuki / Gedan Barai                                       

    Uchi Uke / KIzami Tzuki / Gyaku Tzuki / Gedan Barai                

    Soto Uke / Empi / Uraken /  Gyaku Tzuki / Gedan Barai           

    Shuto Uke / front leg Mawashi geri /  Nukite                            

     

     

    Kizama Tzuki / Oi Tzuki / Gyaku Tzuki

    Mae Geri / Oi Tzuki / Gyaku Tzuki

    Kekomi / Uraken / Gyaku Tzuki

    Mawashi Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tzuki

    Kaiten Ushiro Geri / Uraken / Gyaku Tzuki 

    1 of each in sequence

     

    Uchi Uke forward Uchi Uku back 

    Kizama Tzuki /  Gyaku Tzuki

    Mae geri / Uraken /  Gyaku tzuki

    Mawashi geri  / Oi Tzuki

     

     (Facing Grading panel)

    Mae Geri – Kekomi – Ushiro Geri

     

     x 4 forward

     x 4 Backwards

     x 4 Forward

     x 4 backwards

    Stances and stance changes should already be known from dojo practice.

     

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     x 4 Turn

     

     

     

     x 3 Turn and Repeat

     

     

     

     

     x 3 Change leg and Repeat

    KATA

     

    Free choice from Bassai Dai – Kanku Dai – Hangetsu – Jion – Empi

    followed by A Random selection of previous Kata chosen by Grading Panel

     

    A brief explanation of the kata and some application from chosen kata 

     applications to panels choice of Kata

     

    Kumite

     

    Jyu Ippon – Jodan / Chudan / Mae Geri /  Kekomi /  Mawashi Geri /  Kaiten Ushiro Geri

    Right and left side

    Jyu Kumite ( free Style Sparring )

     

  •    

     

     

         
       

I’ve been training with the SSKD since 2010 returning after a long break, I haven’t looked back since. Karate has a different effect on everybody but it’s helped me with strengthening my mind, composure, clearer mental capabilities and more self confidence. Not only does it strengthen the entire body it improves coordination, quickens reflexes, builds stamina and overall general health

Rob

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