Testing Guidelines
Belt promotion is an exciting element of a student's training. Our testing guidelines follow the JKA rules governing examinations, as adopted on February 22, 1974.
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It is important to remember that Kyu and Dan advancement requires not only demonstration of the necessary techniques, but also the performance of those techniques at the level of excellence required by the rank.
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Students must wait a minimum of 3 months between Kyu examinations. Dan examinations are held twice annually, and students who wish to test must consult with the instructor.
Kata Requirements
Kyu Requirements
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1. Testing for 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt) - Heian Shodan
2. Testing for For 7th Kyu (Orange Belt) - Heian Nidan
3. Testing for For 6th Kyu (Green Belt) - Heian Sandan
4. Testing for For 5th Kyu (Blue Belt) - Heian Yodan
5. Testing for 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) - Heian Godan
6. Testing for 3rd Kyu (First Degree Brown Belt) - Tekki Shodan
7. Testing for 2nd Kyu (Second Degree Brown Belt) - Bassai Dai
8. Testing for 1st Kyu (3rd Degree Brown Belt) - Bassai Dai
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Dan Requirements
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1. Testing for 1st Dan (Black Belt) - Bassai Dai
2. Testing for 2nd Dan (Black Belt) - Enpi, Kanku Dai, or Jion (student's Selection)
3. Testing for 3rd Dan and above - Student's Selection
Kihon (Basics) Requirements
Testing for 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Rising Block from front stance moving forward.
3. Outside Block from front stance moving forward.
4. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving forward.
5. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
6. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
7. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
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Testing for For 7th Kyu (Orange Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Rising Block from front stance moving backward.
3. Outside Block from front stance moving forward.
4. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward.
5. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
6. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
7. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
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Testing for For 6th Kyu (Green Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch.
4. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward.
5. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
6. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
7. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
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Testing for For 5th Kyu (Blue Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch.
5. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
6. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
7. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
8. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
9. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
10. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
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Testing for 4th Kyu (Purple Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch.
5. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to elbow strike from horse stance.
6. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
7. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
8. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
9. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
10. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
11. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
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Testing for 3rd Kyu (First Degree Brown Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch.
5. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to elbow strike from horse stance.
6. Inside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch from front stance.
7. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
8. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
9. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
10. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
11. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
12. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
13. Test of reverse punch accuracy and concentration with static target.
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Testing for 2nd Kyu (Second Degree Brown Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch, to Back-Fist Strike.
5. Inside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch from front stance.
6. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
7. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
8. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
9. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
10. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
11. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
12. Test of reverse punch accuracy and concentration with static target.
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Testing for 1st Kyu (3rd Degree Brown Belt)
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1. Lunge Punch from front stance moving forward.
2. Triple from front stance moving forward.
3. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
4. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch, to Back-Fist Strike.
5. Inside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch from front stance.
6. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
7. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
8. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
9. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
10. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
11. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
12. Front Kick from back leg from front stance moving forward, to Side Thrust Kick by back leg from front stance moving forward.
13. Test of reverse punch accuracy and concentration with static target.
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Dan Requirements
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Testing for 1st Dan (1st Degree Black Belt)
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1. Triple from front stance moving forward.
2. Rising Block from front stance moving backward, to reverse punch.
3. Outside Block from front stance moving forward, to reverse punch, to Back-Fist Strike.
4. Knife-Hand Block from back stance moving backward, to Spear-Hand Thrust
in front stance..
5. Front Kick with back leg from front stance moving forward.
6. Front kick to stomach with back leg from front stance moving forward, to front kick to head moving forward.
7. Side Snap Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
8. Side Thrust Kick from horse stance moving sideward.
9. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward, to Side Thrust Kick by opposite leg moving forward.
10. Roundhouse kick by back leg from front stance moving forward, to Side Thrust Kick by same leg moving forward.
11. Test of reverse punch accuracy and concentration with static target.
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Testing for 2nd Dan (2nd Degree Black Belt)
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1. From free-sparring stance, Jab to face, followed by triple punch, stepping forward.
2. From free-sparring stance, Jab to face, followed by Front Kick off back leg, to lunch punch, stepping forward.
3. Side Snap Kick from horse stance, moving sideward, to Side Thrust Kick by opposite leg from horse stance moving sideward.
4. From free-sparring stance, Rising Block moving backward, to Roundhouse Kick by back leg moving forward, to Back Fist Strike from Horse Stance, to lunge punch from front stance moving forward.
5. From free-sparring stance, Front Kick by back leg, to Side Thrust Kick by same leg to Back kick by same leg.
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Testing for 3rd Dan and Above
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1. Basics are selected by instructor.
Kumite Requirements
Kyu Requirements
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1. Testing for 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt)​
- Basic 3-Step Sparring (punching techniques)​
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2. Testing for For 7th Kyu (Orange Belt)​
- Basic 3-Step Sparring (punching techniques)​
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3. Testing for For 6th Kyu (Green Belt)​
- Basic 1-Step Sparring (punching techniques)​
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4. Testing for For 5th Kyu (Blue Belt)​
- Basic 1-Step Sparring (punching techniques)​
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5. Testing for 4th Kyu (Purple Belt)​
- Basic 1-Step Sparring (punching & Kicking techniques)​
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6. Testing for 3rd Kyu (First Degree Brown Belt)​
- Basic 3-Step Sparring (punching & Kicking techniques)​
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7. Testing for 2nd Kyu (Second Degree Brown Belt)​
- Semi-Free Sparring​
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8. Testing for 1st Kyu (3rd Degree Brown Belt)​
- Semi-Free Sparring
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Dan Requirements​
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1. Testing for 1st Dan (Black Belt)​
- Semi-Free Sparring​
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2. Testing for 2nd Dan (Black Belt)​
- Free Sparring​
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3. Testing for 3rd Dan (Black Belt)​
- Free Sparring​
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4. Testing for 4th Dan (Black Belt)​
- Self defense from a sitting position in a chair, against an opponent using weapons, against grabbing attacks.​
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5. Testing for 5th Dan and above (Black Belt)​
- Explanation of specialized techniques.