• A minimum of classes must be attended in each testing cycle. See Minimum Time/Class Requirements for Belt Testing (Keep track)
• Students will be given a testing notification at the beginning of each testing month.
• Testing will usually take at least 1 hour. After a week of the test date, you will receive your new Belt, Diploma and new belt requirements
• There is a testing fee according to the age and rank of the student

 

Note: not everyone will test every quarter. It is up to the Sensei to decide whether or not you are ready to test. Particularly at the intermediate and advanced ranks, it is not unusual to spend more than one quarter at the same rank.

There are no hard and fast rules which dictate how long a student must practice before achieving any particular rank. With perseverance, acceptable attitude, and steady improvement, a dedicated student might be ready to receive the rank of brown belt (3rd kyu) after about two years, and black belt (1st degree) after about three years of constant training.

The student must demonstrate a working knowledge of the three phases of training: basics (kihon), forms (kata), and sparring (kumite). A student's rank should never be cause for disparagement by others or self deprecation any more than it should be cause for inordinate pride. The ideal evaluation should embrace the student's total gain in technique and self-mastery.

Students who want to be graded should practice each basic technique and kata at least five times each day outside of regular class for two weeks prior to grading, except it is advisable to keep the last day prior to examination free for relaxation.

Please be clean, well groomed, dressed in clean gi good condition and ready to go at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of kyu test. Usually there is a brief but intense practice prior to kyu test-do your best. The examination itself will consist of three parts; kihon (basic techniques), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

KIHON
In the first part of the kyu test, the student will be required to demonstrate approximately 10 repetitions of each basic technique (five in one direction, turn, and five back). The basic techniques are:

BASIC BLOCKS:

Age-uke (rising block-front stance)

Soto-uke (middle inside block-front stance)

Uchi-uke (middle outside block-front stance)

Gedan-barai (down block-front stance)

Shuto-uke (knife hand block-back stance)

BASIC PUNCHES:

Oi-zuki (lunge punch-front stance)

Gyaku-zuki (reverse punch-front stance)

BASIC KICKS:

Mai-geri (front kick-front stance)

Mawashi-geri (round kick-front stance)

Yoko-geri kekomi (side thrust kick-horse stance)

Yoko-geri keage (side snap kick-horse stance)

Ura-mawashi geri (round hook kick-front stance)

Ushiro-geri (back kick)

Ushiro-mawashi geri (back roundhouse kick)

Mikazuki-geri (crescent kick (inside to outside). Also called soto mikazuki geri)

Kakato otoshi-geri (rising kick to head with leg fully extended)

IMPORTANT POINTS:

1. Strong Spirit, clear mind, shows through eyes. Kiai!
2. Low stance. Hips go in.
3. Strong standing leg. Heel stays down.
4. No power in shoulders. Strong pulling hand.
5. Oi-zuki (lunge punch-front stance)
6. Gyaku-zuki (reverse punch-front stance)  

Rank	Rank Name	Test Guide	Required Kata	Belt Color
10th Kyu	Yu-Kyu	beginner - no testing
9th Kyu	Ku-kyu		Heian Shodan
8th Kyu	Hachi-kyu		Heian Nidan
7th Kyu	Shichi-kyu		Heian Sandan
6th Kyu	Roku-kyu		Heian Yondan
5th Kyu	Go-kyu		Heian Godan Sokugi Sono Ichi
4th Kyu	Shi-kyu		Tekki Shodan Sokugi Sono Ni
3rd Kyu	San-kyu		Basai Dai Sokugi Sono San
2nd Kyu	Ni-kyu		Kanku Dai Sokugi Sono Yon
1st Kyu	Ik-kyu		Jion or Empi Sokugi Sono Go
1st Dan	Sho-dan		Any Advance
2nd Dan	Ni-dan		Any Advance
3rd Dan	San-dan		Any Advance