Mastering Your Skills: A Guide to Shotokan Karate Grades

This page delves into the world of Shotokan karate techniques, equipping you with everything you need to know about what will be expected of you at each grade.

White to Orange

Techniques

  • Stomach Punch (Chudan Oizuku)
  • Head Punch (Jodan Oizuku)
  • Head Block (Jodan Ageuke)
  • Outside Block (Sotouke)
  • Snap Kick (Maegeri)

Kata

  • Kihon Kata (Performed to count)

Orange to Red

Techniques

  • Stomach Punch (Chudan Oizuku)
  • Head Block (Jodan Ageuke)
  • Outside Block (Sotouke)
  • Shutouke (backstance block)
  • Head Punch (Jodan Oizuku)
  • Snap Kick (Maegeri - head and stomach)

Kata

  • Heian Shodan

Sparring (kumite)

Five-step sparring (Gohon kumite)

  • 5 strikes aimed at the stomach (chudan oizuki)
  • 5 strikes aimed at the head (jodan oizuki)

Red to Yellow

Techniques

  • Stomach Punch (Chudan Oizuku)
  • Head Block (Jodan Ageuke)
  • Outside Block (Sotouke)
  • Inside Block (Uchiuke)
  • Shutouke (backstance block)
  • Snap Kick (Maegeri)
  • From Kibadachi: Snapping kick (Yokogeri keage)

Kata

  • Heian Nidan

Sparring (kumite)

Five-step sparring (Gohon kumite)

  • 5 strikes aimed at the stomach (chudan oizuki)
  • 5 strikes aimed at the head (jodan oizuki)

Yellow to Green

Techniques

  • Stomach Punch (Chudan Oizuku)
  • Head Block (Jodan Ageuke)
  • Outside Block (Sotouke)
  • Inside Block (Uchiuke)
  • Shutouke (backstance block)
  • Snap Kick (Maegeri)
  • From Kibadachi: Snapping kick (Yokogeri keage)
  • From Kibadachi: Thrust kick (Yokogeri kekomi)

Kata

  • Heian Sandan

Sparring (kumite)

Kihon Ippon Kumite

  • Left side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Right side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke

Green to Purple

Techniques

  • Stomach Punch (Chudan Oizuku)
  • Backwards: Ageuke + Gyakuzuki
  • Chudan Sotouke + Gyakuzuki
  • Backwards: Chudan Uchiuke + Gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke (backstance block)
  • Snap Kick (Maegeri)
  • From Kibadachi: Snapping kick (Yokogeri keage)
  • From Kibadachi: Thrust kick (Yokogeri kekomi)

Kata

  • Heian Yondan

Sparring (kumite)

Kihon Ippon Kumite

  • Left side: Jodan Oizuku/Ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan Oizuku/Sotouke
  • Left side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai
  • Right side: Jodan Oizuku/Ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan Oizuku/Sotouke
  • Right side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai

Purple to Purple with White Stripe

Techniques

  • Chudan Oizuku
  • Sanbonzuki (3 punches: jodan oizuki, chudan gyakuzuki, chudan oizuki
  • Backwards: Jodan Ageuke + Gyakuzuki
  • Chudan sotouke + gyakuzuki
  • Backwards: chudan uchiuke + gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke + Nukite (from kokutsudachi to zenkutsudachi)
  • From Kibadachi: Snapping kick (Yokogeri ke-age), left and right
  • From kamae (freestyle): Yoko geri Kekormi

Kata

  • Heian Godan

Sparring (kumite)

Kihon Ippon Kumite

  • Left side: Jodan oizuku/jodan ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan oizuku/chudan sotouke
  • Left side: Chudan maegeri/gedan barai or udeuke
  • Left side: Yokogeri kekomi/uchiuke or udeuke
  • Right side: Jodan oizuku/jodan ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan oizuku/chudan sotouke
  • Right side: Chudan maegeri/gedan barai or udeuke
  • Right side: Yokogeri kekomi/uchiuke or udeuke

Purple with White Stripe to Brown

Techniques

  • Chudan oizuki
  • Sanbonzuki
  • Backwards: Jodan ageuke + gyakuzuki
  • Sotouke + gyakuzuki
  • Chudan uchiuke + gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke + Nukite (from Kokutsudachi to Zenkutsudachi)
  • Maegeri
  • Yokogeri keage from kibadachi
  • Yokogeri kekomi from freestyle

Kata

  • Tekki Shodan

Sparring (kumite)

Jiyu Kihon Ippon Kumite (Freestyle one-step kumite)

  • Starting 3 meters apart, shuffling to your opponent for each move
  • Left side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Left side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai
  • Left side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai
  • Right side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Right side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai or Udebarai
  • Right side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai

Brown to Brown and One Stripe

Techniques

  • Oizuki, gyakuzuki (jodan, chudan)
  • Ageuke, gyakuzuki
  • Sotouke, gyakuzuki
  • Ucheuke, gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke, nukite (from kokutsudachi to zenkutsudachi)
  • Maegeri
  • Mawashigeri (round house kick) from freestyle
  • Yokogeri keage from freestyle
  • Yokogeri kekomi from freestyle

Kata

  • Bassai Dai

Sparring (kumite)

Jiyu Kihon Ippon Kumite (Freestyle one-step kumite)

  • Starting 3 meters apart, shuffling to your opponent for each move
  • Left side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Left side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai
  • Left side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai
  • Right side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Right side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai or Ude-barai
  • Right side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai

Brown and One Stripe to Brown and Two Stripes

Techniques

  • Oizuki, gyakuzuki (jodan, chudan)
  • Ageuke, gyakuzuki
  • Sotouke, gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke, yoko enpi (from kokutsudachi to kebadachi)
  • Ucheuke, gyakuzuki
  • Shutouke, nukite (from kokutsudachi to zenkutsudachi)
  • Maegeri
  • Mawashigeri (round house kick) from freestyle
  • Yokogeri keage from freestyle
  • Yokogeri kekomi from freestyle

Kata

  • Bassai Dai

Sparring (kumite)

Jiyu Ippon Kumite

  • Starting 3 meters apart, shuffling to your opponent for each move
  • Left side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Left side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Left side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai
  • Left side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai
  • Right side: Jodan Oizuku/Jodan Ageuke
  • Right side: Chudan Oizuku/Chudan Sotouke
  • Right side: Chudan Maegeri/Gedan Barai or Ude-barai
  • Right side: Chuden Yokogeri kekomi/Gedan Barai