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Syllabus

We comply with the International Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) syllabus

Karate students are tested against a grading syllabus. A grading is an examination where the instructor assesses the students against a set syllabus (below). There are various criteria set out in the syllabus and coloured belts are used to reflect the students’ levels.

At Goju-Ryu Karate Milton Keynes, students are graded against the English Goju-Ryu Karate Association (EGKA) sylabus which is internationally recognised in any EGKA or International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) dojo and highly regarded by many other associations.

White

  • The beginners belt is all white, students work towards their first grading where they are awarded a white belt with black stripe.

White with black stripe (10th Kyu)

  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Basic techniques: Jodan, Chudan, Gedan zuki (high, mid, low basic punch), uke (blocks) keri (kicks)

Yellow (9th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 10th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Basic techniques: Uraken (back fist punch), hiji-ate (elbow strike)
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi (memorise sequence), simple moving basics

Orange (8th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 9th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Basic techniques: Hiki-uke (pulling/grabbing block), mawashi-geri (side kick), Ushiro-geri (back kick)
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi (good kata with no mistakes)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Basic techniques: Simple combination moving techniques, San-Dan-Gi
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi Bunkai (applications), Gekisai-Dai-Ni (memorise sequence)

Green (7th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 8th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Basic techniques: Simple combination moving techniques
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (memorise sequence)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Basic techniques: All basic techniques(illustrated in Sensei Morio Higaonna’s book, Traditional Karatedo volume 1)
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (good kata)

Kumite: demonstrate a basic level of compitence (not specified in the EGKA syllabus)

Blue (6th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 7th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (good kata), Saifa (memorise sequence)
  • Kumite: demonstrate a basic level of compitence
  • Adults: require the above plus:
  • Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi renzoku bunkai (continious bunkai), Gekisai-Dai-Ni bunkai, Saifa (good kata)

Purple (5th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 6th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Basic techniques: combination moving techniques
  • Kata: Saifa (good kata)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Saifa kata and bunkai, Sanchin (good kata)

Purple (4th Kyu)

  • Requirements for 5th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
  • Kata: Seiunchin (memorise sequence)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Seiunchin (good kata) , turning sanchin

Brown (3rd Kyu)

  • Requirements for 4th Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
  • Kata: Seiunchin (good kata)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Seiunchin kata and bunkai

Kumite: demonstrate a good level of compitence (not specified in the EGKA syllabus)

Brown (2nd Kyu)

  • Requirements for 3rd Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
  • Grading taken at a national course by EGKA senior intructors
  • Kata: Shisochin (memorise sequence)
  • Kumite: Ippon kumite (competition style sparring)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Shisochin (good kata)

Brown (1st Kyu)

  • Requirements for 2nd Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
  • Grading taken at a national course by EGKA senior intructors
  • Kata: Shisochin (good kata)
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Shisochin kata and bunkai

Black Shodan (1st degree)

  • Requirements for 1st Kyu plus:
  • Attendance of 48 classes and 12 months since 1st kyu grading, minimum of 5 years experience, attendance of 2 national courses
  • Adults require the above plus:
  • Kata: Turning sanchin
  • Fitness and spirit testing includes 100 press-ups

Nidan (2nd degree black belt)

  • Minumum age: 20
  • 2 years training since shodan
  • Minimum of 7 years’ experience

Sandan (3rd degree black belt)

  • Minimum age: 23
  • 3 years training since nidan
  • Minimum of 10 years’ experience