Grading forms an important part of learning karate. Everyone starts by wearing a white belt. Each time you pass a grading you will get a new colour belt to wear until you become a black belt.
In order to grade you will need to train twice a week (on average), hold a KUGB licence, and have permission from your senior KUGB instructor.
At the Cambridge Karate Academy, we are lucky to have a grading examiner as our Chief Instructor. Kyu gradings are held at our club 3 to 4 times per year.
KUGB Grading Syllabus
Kyu grades
Novice to 9th Kyu
Kihon
Oi tsuki
Jodan age uke
Chudan soto uke
Mae geri
Kumite
Sanbon or Gohon Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki
Kata
Kihon kata
9th to 8th Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Chudan uchi uke
Shuto uke
Yoko geri keage
Yoko geri kekomi
Kumite
As previous grading
Kata
Heian shodan
8th to 7th Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Age uke, gyaku tsuki
Soto uke, gyaku tsuki
Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki
Kumite
As previous grading
Kata
Heian nidan
7th to 6th Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Sanbon tsuki
Soto uke, empi uchi
Kumite
Kihon Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki from right and left sides
Kata
Heian sandan
6th to 5th Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken
Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Shuto uke nukite
Kumite
As previous grading, plus chudan yoko geri kekomi attack
Kata
Heian yondan
5th to 4th Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Shuto uke, mae geri, nukite
Yoko geri kekomi (from zenkutsu dachi)
Mawashi geri
Kumite
As previous grading plus chudan mae geri attack
Kata
Heian godan
4th to 3rd Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
Ushiro geri
Kumite
As previous grading, plus jodan mawashi geri attack
Kata
Tekki shodan
3rd to 2nd Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Kumite
Jiyu ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri and yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only.
Kata
Bassai dai
2nd to 1st Kyu
As previous grading plus:-
Kihon
Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Kumite
As previous grading
Kata
Bassai dai
KUGB Grading Syllabus
Dan grades
1st kyu to 1st dan
Kihon
From freestyle kamae:
Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, yoko geri, uraken, oi tsuki
Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri
Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri
Jiyu Kumite
Kata
Bassai Dai
Examiner chooses from:
Heian shodan
Heian nidan
Heian sandan
Heian yondan
Heian godan
Tekki shodan
1st dan to 2nd dan
Kihon
From freestyle kamae:
Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, same leg yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, same leg mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan nagashi uke, gyaku tsuki, ushiro geri, uraken, oi tsuki
Same leg, mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, mawashi geri
Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques
Jiyu Kumite
Kata
Candidate chooses from:
Bassai Sho
Kanku Sho
Niju Shiho
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
Examiner chooses from:
Bassai Dai
Kanku Dai
Jion
Enpi
Hangetsu
2nd dan to 3rd dan
Kihon
Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus:–
Kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri and step back, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Kumite
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – the same pre-arranged attacks as for 1st Dan grading
Jiyu Kumite
Kata
Candidate chooses from:
Sochin
Chinte
Unsu
Goju Shiho Sho
Gankaku
Examiner chooses from:
Bassai Sho
Kanku Sho
Niju Shiho
Jitte
Tekki Nidan
3rd dan to 4th dan
Kihon
Any 1st or 2nd Dan combinations plus:–
Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, nihon tsuki, step back and with same arm block age uke, soto uke, gedan barai, uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, four turning gyaku tsuki attacks, turn behind with haito uchi, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri and step back, yoko geri keage to side and step back, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
Kumite
Kaishi Ippon Kumite – attacking with any five single, unannounced techniques
Demonstration of three favourite Kumite tactics
Jiyu Kumite
Kata
Candidate chooses from:
Jiin
Meikyo
Goju Shiho Dai
Wankan
Tekki Sandan
Examiner chooses from:
Sochin
Chinte
Unsu
Goju Shiho Sho
Gankaku
4th dan to 5th dan
Kihon
As previous grading plus:-
A 1500–2000 word thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do
Kumite
As previous grading
Kata
Candidate chooses any kata from Shodan syllabus and above
Examiner chooses one or more kata from Sandan syllabus and above
Demonstration of applications will be requested from performed katas
5th dan to 6th dan
Kihon
As previous grading plus:-
A written Karate CV and 2000 words and above thesis on any aspect of Karate-Do (different to above)
Kumite
As previous grading
Kata
As previous grading