Syllabus - Galway Shotokan Karate Club

It Never Gets Easier

You Just Get Better

Your guide to practising your skills to master your belt

“Once a kata has been learned, it must be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a form in Karate is useless.”

– Gichin Funakoshi

Novice (White) to 9th Kyu - White to Orange Belt
KIHON
- Oi tsuki — Stepping punch
- Jodan age uke — Rising block
- Chudan soto uke — Outside block
- Mae geri — Front snap kick
KATA
- Kihon Kata
KUMITE
- Sanbon or Gohon Kumite attacking with jodan oi tsuki and chudan oi tsuki — 3-step or 5-step sparring with head & stomach level stepping punch

9th Kyu to 8th Kyu - Orange to Red Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Chudan uchi uke — Inside block
- Shuto uke — Knife hand block
- Yoko geri keage — Side snap kick
- Yoko geri kekomi — Side thrust kick
KATA
- Heian Shodan
KUMITE
- as previous grading

8th Kyu to 7th Kyu - Red to Yellow Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Age uke, gyaku tsuki — Rising block, Reverse punch
- Soto uke, gyaku tsuki — Outside block, Reverse punch
- Uchi uke, gyaku tsuki — Inside block, Reverse punch
KATA
- Heian Nidan
KUMITE
- as previous grading

7th Kyu to 6th Kyu - Yellow to Green Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Sanbon tsuki — 3 punches: jodan, double chudan
- Soto uke, empi uchi — Outside block, Elbow strike
KATA
- Heian Sandan
KUMITE
- Kihon ippon kumite with jodan and chudan oi tsuki attacks from right and left sides — One step sparring with head & stomach level stepping punches from right and left

6th Kyu to 5th Kyu - Green to Purple Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading
- Age uke, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai — Rising block, Reverse punch, Downward block
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken — Outside block, Elbow strike, Back fist
- Uchi uke, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki — Inside block, Jab punch, Reverse punch
- Shoto uke nukite — Knife hand block, Spear hand strike
KATA
- Heian Yondan
KUMITE
- as previous grading plus
- Chudan mae geri attack — Mid level front snap kick

5th Kyu to 4th Kyu - Purple to Purple/White Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki — Outside block, Elbow strike, Back fist, Reverse punch
- Shuto uke, mae geri, nukite — Knife hand block, Front snap kick, Spear hand strike
- Yoko geri kekomi (from zenkutsu dachi) — Side thrust kick (from from front stance)
- Mawashi geri — Roundhouse kick
KATA
- Heian Godan
KUMITE
- as previous grading plus
- Chudan yoko geri kekomi attack — Mid level side thrust kick

4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu - Purple/White to Brown Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Soto uke, empi uchi, uraken, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
- Uchi uki, kizami tsuki, gyaku tsuki, gedan barai
- Ushiro geri
KATA
- Tekki Shodan
KUMITE
- as previous grading plus
- Jodan mawashi geri attack

3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu - Brown to Brown/White Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
KATA
- Bassai Dai
KUMITE
- Jiyu ippon kumite attacking with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri and chudan ushiro geri. All attacks are with the right side only.

2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu - Brown/White to Brown White/White Belt
KIHON
- as previous grading plus
- Kizami tsuki, oi tsuki. gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
KATA
- Bassai Dai
KUMITE
- as previous grading
- NB Candidate may be asked to perform kicking techniques in combination

1st Kyu to 1st Dan - Brown/White/White to Black Belt 1st Dan
KIHON
- Kizame 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
- (Old combination) Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, oi tsuki
- (Revised 2006) Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Same leg mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, all whilst maintaining balance
KATA
- List (a) – Candidate chooses from: Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion or Hangetsu
- List (b) – Examiner chooses from: Any Heian Kata or Tekki Shodan
KUMITE
- Ju Ippon Kumite with jodan and chudan oi tsuki, chudan mae geri, chudan yoko geri, jodan mawashi geri & chudan ushiro geri attacks.
- Ju Kumite

1st Dan to 2nd Dan
KIHON
- Mae geri, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki
- Yoko geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri chudan, same leg mawashi geri jodan, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mawashi geri jodan, same leg yoko geri kekomi, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri, yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- (Old Combination) Mae geri step forward, move front foot back & use rear leg yoko geri, mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
- (Revised 2006) 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
KATA
- List (a) – Candidate chooses from: Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Nijushiho, Jitte or Tekki Nidan
- List (b) – Examiner chooses from: Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion or Hangetsu
KUMITE
- Ju Ippon Kumite – any 5 attacks, not pre-arranged
- Ju Kumite

2nd Dan to 3rd Dan
KIHON
- Any 1st or 2nd Dan combination plus:
- Kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku tsuki, rear leg mae geri & step back, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
KATA
- List (a) – Candidate chooses from: Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Gojushiho Sho
- List (b) – Examiner chooses from: Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Nijushiho, Jitte or Tekki Nidan
KUMITE
- Kaishi Ippon Kumite – pre-arranged attacks as for 1st Dan grading
- Ju Kumite

3rd Dan to 4th Dan
KIHON
- Any 1st or 2nd Dan combination plus:
- Kizame tsuki, oi tsuki, gyaku tsuki, oi tsuki, ren tsuki, step back age uke, soto uke, gedan barai & uchi uke with same arm, kizame tsuki, gyaku tsuki, 4 turning gyaku tsuki attacks, turn behind with haito uchi, mawashi geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki, back leg mae geri & step back, yoko geri keage to side & return to stance & finally step forward with mawashi geri, ushiro geri, uraken, gyaku tsuki
KATA
- List (a) – Candidate chooses from: Rohai (Meikyo), Jiin, Wankan, Tekki Sandan or Gojushiho Dai – with a practical demonstration of requested applications
- List (b) – Examiner chooses from: Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Chinte or Gojushiho Sho
KUMITE
- Kaishi Ippon Kumite – any 5 attack, not pre-arranged
- A Demonstration of your 5 favourite kumite combinations
- Ju Kumite