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Tokon Kai Gradings

 

Overview

 

Progress in karate training is rewarded by the issue of coloured belts in a set order, upon successful completion of grading (exam). Gradings also provide students with a guide on how their karate techniques are improving.

 

Gradings test each of the three disciplines of karate (kihon, kata and kumite). Students are usually in groups when performing their gradings.

 

Kihon (basics) consist of students performing sets of 5 techniques with a kia on the 5th technique. These range from simple stepping punches and blocks for beginners, through to advanced combinations for the higher grades. The examiner will pre-announce each set of moves.

 

Each grade has an associated kata which students will perform at the grading. 

 

Finally, the kumite (fighting) or pair work, starts with three-step for beginners, one step for coloured belts and Kumite (free sparring) for 1st Kyu and above

 

ATTENDANCE CARD & YOUR FIRST BELT (orange)

 

Students receive a grading syllabus sheet and licence book upon membership/licence payment. Students will need these items before they will be able to progress through the belt system.

Once students have completed 18 lessons and mastered their syllabus moves, they will be assessed for their 1st belt- a grading

 

SUBSEQUENT BELTS

 

All subsequent belts vary in the minimum number of lessons and additional requirements.

 

Students must have trained for a minimum of 3 months since their last grading. Gradings are by invite only

Tokon Kai Belt System & Syllabus

The pre-black belt grades are called kyu grades and are numbered in descending order from 10th kyu (white belt) to 1st Kyu (brown double stripe); see below chart.

After 1st kyu are the dan grades, which are numbered in ascending order. All dan grades wear black belts and usually have stripes on their belt to denote their dan grade.

Grade
Colour Belt
Lessons
Minimum Period
10th Kyu - 9th Kyu
18
3 Months
9th Kyu - 8th Kyu
18
3 Months
8th Kyu - 7th Kyu
18
3 Months
7th Kyu - 6th Kyu
24
3 Months
6th Kyu - 5th Kyu
24
3 Months
5th Kyu - 4th Kyu
24
3 Months
4th Kyu - 3rd Kyu
24
3 Months
3rd Kyu - 2nd Kyu
30
3 Months
2nd Kyu - 1st Kyu
30
3 Months
1st Kyu - 1st Dan
100
1 Year
1st Dan - 2nd Dan
200
2 Years
2nd Dan - 3rd Dan
300
3 Years
3rd Dan - 4th Dan
400
4 Years
4th Dan - 5th Dan
5 Years

Tokon Kai Karate Syllabus

Syllabus books are available to purchase at your dojo for £3

Dachi
Geri
Kamae
Tsuki
Uchi
Uke

DACHI - Stances

GERI - Kicks

KAMAE - Postures

TSUKI - Punches

UCHI - Strikes

UKE - Blocks

Move
Stance
AGE TSUKI (ZUKI)
Seen in the Kata Empi
AGE UKE
Upper Rising Block
AGE-EMPI UCHI
Upward Elbow Strike
AI KAMAE  
Harmony Posture
ASHI
Foot or Leg
ASHI BARAI
Foot/Leg Sweep
ASHI WAZA
Name given to all leg and foot techniques
ASHIKUBI-KAKE UKE
Ankle Hooking Block
AWASE TSUKI
Combined Punch
AWASE UKE
Combined Block
CHOKU TSUKI
Straight Punch
CHUDAN UDE UKE
Middle Level Forearm Block
CHUDAN UKE
Middle Level Block
DAN-TSUKI
Consecutive punching (same hand)
EMPI UKE
Elbow Block
FUDO DACHI
Rooted Stance
FUMIKIRI GERI
Cutting Kick
FUMIKOMI GERI
Stamping kick
GANKAKU DACHI
Crane Stance
GANKAKU KAMAE
Crane Posture
GEDAN BARAI
Lower Level Sweep
GEDAN BARAI UKE
Lower level Sweeping Block
GEDAN SOTO UDE UKE
Lower Level Outside Forearm Block
GEDAN UKE
Lower Level Block
GERI
Kick
GYAKU TSUKI
Reverse Punch
HACHIJI DACHI
Open Leg Stance
HAI-WAN UKE
Back Arm Block
HAISHU UCHI
Back Hand Strike
HAISHU UKE
Back Hand Block
HAITO UCHI
Ridge-hand Strike
HAITO UKE
Ridge-hand Block
HARAI WAZA
Sweeping techniques
HEIKO DACHI
Parallel Stance
HEIKO TSUKI
Parallel Punch
HEISOKU DACHI
An informal attention stance
HIDARI KAMAE
Left Posture
HIJI ATE
Elbow Strikes
HIJI ATEMI
Elbow Strikes
HIJI UKE
Elbow Block
HIRAKEN
Flat Fist or Fore knuckle fist
HIZA GERI
(strike) Knee Kick
IPPON KEN
One Knuckle Fist
IPPON NUKITE
One Finger Strike
IPPON TSUKI
One Finger Thrust
JIYU KAMAE
Free Sparring Posture
JO UKE WAZA
Jo Blocking Techniques
JODAN UKE
High Level Block
JUJI UKE
X Block
KAGI KAMAE
Hooking Posture
KAGI TSUKI
Hook Punch
KAGI UKE
Hooking Block
KAISHO UKE
Open Hand Block
KAKATO GERI
Axe Kick
KAKE UKE
Hooking Block
KAKIWAKE UKE
Reverse Wedge Block
KAMAE
(sometimes spelt Gamae) Posture or Stance
KAMAETE
A command given by the instructor for students to get into position
KEITO UCHI
Chicken Head Strike
KEITO UKE
Chicken Head Block
KEKOMI
Thrust Kick (Literally, Kick Into/Straight). See Kerikomi
KENTSUI UCHI
Hammer Fist Strike
KENTSUI UKE
Hammer Fist Block
KERI
Kick
KERU
Kick This is used when saying kick as a verb
KIBA DACHI
Straddle Stance
KIZAMI TSUKI
Jabbing Punch
KOKUTSU DACHI
Back Stance
KOSA DACHI
Cross Stance
KOSA UKE
Crossed Block
KOSHI KAMAE
A stance where the fists are held one above the other against one of the hips
KUMADE UCHI
Bear hand strike
MAE GERI
Front Kick
MAE GERI KEAGE
Front Snapping Kick
MAE GERI KEKOMI
Front Thrust Kick
MAWASHI GERI
Roundhouse Kick
MAWASHI TSUKI
Roundhouse Punch
MIGI KAMAE
Right Posture
MIKAZUKI GERI
Crescent Kick
MOROTE TSUKI
Augmented Punch or U-Punch
MOROTE UKE
Augmented Block
MUSUBI DACHI
Informal attention stance
NAGASHI UKE
Sweeping Block
NAMI ASHI
Inside Snapping Block
NEKO-ASHI DACHI
Cats Foot Stance
NIDAN GERI
Double Kick
NIHON NUKITE
Two Finger Strike
NIHON TSUKI
Two Finger Thrust
NUKITE
Spear Hand
OI-TSUKI
Lunge punch
OTOSHI-UKE
Dropping Block
REN-GERI
Consecutive Kicking
REN-TSUKI
Alternate punching
RENOJI DACHI
L Stance
RYO WAN KAMAE
Wide arm stance
SAGI ASHI DACHI
Heron Leg Stance
SANBON TSUKI
A series of three punches
SANCHIN DACHI
Hour-glass Stance
SEIKEN
Fore fist, Regular Fist
SEIRYUTO UKE
Ox Jaw Block
SHIHON NUKITE
Four Finger Strike
SHIHON TSUKI
Four Finger Thrust
SHIKO DACHI
Square Stance
SHIZEN DACHI
Natural Stance
SHUTO UCHI
Knife hand strike
SHUTO UKE
Knife-hand Block
SOCHIN DACHI
Diagonal Straddle Leg Stance
SOTO UDE UKE
Outside Forearm Block
SOTO UKE
Outside Block
SUKUI UKE
Scooping Block
TACHI
Standing or Stance
TATE EMPI UCHI
Upward Elbow Strike
TATE TSUKI
Vertical Punch
TE GATANA UKE
Hand Sword Block
TE GATANA UKE
Hand Sword Block
TEIJI DACHI
A Stance with the feet in a 'T-shape'
TEISHO BARAI
Palm Heel Sweep
TEISHO UCHI
Palm Heel Strike
TEISHO UKE
Palm Heel Block
TETTSUI UCHI
Bottom Fist Strike
TETTSUI UCHI
Hammer Fist Strike
TOBI GERI
Jumping Kick
TSUKAMI UKE
Grasping Block
TSUKI
A punch or thrust
TSUMASAKI GERI
Kicking using the tips of the toes to strike with
TSURU ASHI DACHI
Crane Leg Stance
UCHI
Striking
UCHI UDE UKE
Inside Forearm Block
UCHI-UKE
Inside Block
UDE UKE
Forearm Block
UKE
Block
URAKEN UCHI
Back Fist Strike
USHIRO GERI
Back Kick
YAMA TSUKI
Mountain Punch
YOKO EMPI UCHI
Side Elbow Strike
YOKO GERI
Side Kick
YOKO GERI KEAGE
Side Snap Kick
YOKO GERI KEKOMI
Side Thrust Kick
ZANSHIN KAMAE
Awareness posture
ZENKUTSU DACHI
Forward Stance
ZUKI
A different spelling of TSUKI
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