Kyokushin Belt Grading Requirements

Qualification test standards for student and master degrees in Kyokushinkai karate.
Qualification test standards for student and master degrees.

Age requirements:

• Up to 1st dan – no age limit
• 1st dan – must be 16 or older
• 2nd dan – must be 20 or older
• 3rd dan – must be 30 or older
• 4th dan – must be 35 or older
• 5th dan and above – must be 40 or older

Testing schedule

Student degrees:

• 10th-5th kyu – twice a year.
• 4th-1st kyu – testing once a year.

Master degrees:

• 1st dan – minimum 2 years of active training since the previous degree
• 2nd dan – minimum 3 years of training since the previous degree
• 3rd dan – minimum 4 years since the previous degree
• 4th dan – minimum 5 years since the previous degree
• 5th dan and above – no time restriction.

Additional requirements for master degrees

• 1st dan – Participation in interregional training camps at least 3 times. Recommendation from the dojo head.
• 2nd dan – Officially registered dojo within the organization. Recommendation from a Shihan.
• 3rd dan – Officially registered dojo within the organization, organizational activity – participation in developing the organization. Recommendation from a Shihan.
• 4th dan – Officially registered dojo within the organization, organizational activity – participation in developing the organization. Recommendation from two Shihans.
• 5th dan and above – Recommendations from two Shihans, continuous organizational activity related to developing the organization. Authority and respect.

Test standards:

10 kyu – ORANGE BELT

Stances – Yoi dachi, Fudo dachi, Zenkutsu dachi.

Hand strikes – Morote tsuki (Chudan Jodan Gedan), Seiken tsuki (Chudan Jodan Gedan), Seiken ago uchi.

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai.

Foot strikes – Hiza geri, Kin geri, Mae geri, Kansetsu geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Taikyoku Sono ichi, Sokugi Taikyoku sono ichi.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 30, Jump squats 30, Sit-ups 30.

Kumite (sparring) – 1 bout, 1 minute.

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9 kyu – ORANGE BELT WITH BLUE STRIPE

Stances – Sanchin dachi.

Hand strikes – Seiken tsuki (Chudan Jodan Gedan), Seiken ago uchi.

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai.

Foot strikes – Hiza geri, Kin geri, Mae geri, Yoko geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Taikyoku Sono ni, Sokugi Taikyoku sono ni.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 35, Jump squats 35, Sit-ups 35.

Kumite (sparring) – 2 bouts of 1 min.

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8 kyu – BLUE BELT

Stances – Kokutsu dachi.

Hand strikes – Tetsui oroshi ganmen uchi, Tetsui komi kami uchi, Tetsui hizo uchi, Tetsui Yoko uchi (Jodan Chudan Gedan).

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai. Uchi uke-Gedan barai)

Foot strikes – Mae keage, Soto mawashi keage, Uchi mawashi keage, Yoko keage.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Taikyoku Sono san, Sokugi Taikyoku sono san.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 40, Jump squats 40, Sit-ups 40.

Kumite (sparring) – 3 bouts of 1 min.

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7 kyu – BLUE BELT WITH YELLOW STRIPE

Stances – Kiba dachi.

Hand strikes – Shita tsuki, Jodan hiji ate, Age hiji ate, Oroshi hiji ate, Ushiro hiji ate.

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai. Uchi uke-Gedan barai)

Foot strikes – Mae keage, Soto mawashi keage, Uchi mawashi keage, Yoko keage.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Kiba dachi, moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Pinan Sono ichi, Pinan Sono ichi Ura.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 45, Jump squats 45, Sit-ups 45.

Kumite (sparring) – 4 bouts of 1 min.

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6 kyu – YELLOW BELT

Stances – Full set: Fudo dachi+Sanchin dachi+Kokutsu dachi+Zenkutsu dachi+Kiba dachi+Kake dachi+Tsurushi dachi+Nekoashi dachi.
Tsuki Waza (HAND STRIKES) – Uraken shomen ganmen uchi, Uraken sayu ganmen uchi, Uraken hizo uchi, Uraken oroshi ganmen uchi, Uraken mawashi uchi.

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai. Uchi uke-Gedan barai)

Foot strikes – Mae geri, Yoko geri, Ushiro geri, Mawashi geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Kiba dachi, moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Pinan Sono ni, Pinan Sono ni Ura.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 50, Jump squats 50, Sit-ups 50.

Kumite (sparring) – 5 bouts of 1 min.

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5 kyu – YELLOW BELT WITH GREEN STRIPE

Stances – Full set: Fudo dachi+Sanchin dachi+Kokutsu dachi+Zenkutsu dachi+Kiba dachi+Kake dachi+Tsurushi dachi+Nekoashi dachi.
Tsuki Waza (HAND STRIKES) – Shuto sakutsu uchi, Shuto sakutsu uchi komi, Shuto yoko ganmen uchi, Shuto hizo uchi, Shuto jodan uchi uchi.

Blocks – Seiken jodan uke, Seiken chudan soto uke, Seiken chudan uchi uke, Seiken mae gedan barai. Uchi uke-Gedan barai)

Foot strikes – Mae geri, Yoko geri, Ushiro geri, Mawashi geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Kiba dachi, moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Pinan Sono san, Pinan Sono san Ura.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 60, Jump squats 60, Sit-ups 60.

Kumite (sparring) – 6 bouts of 1 min.

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4 kyu – GREEN BELT

Hand strikes – Shotei uchi (Jodan Chudan Gedan)

Blocks – Shotei uke.

Foot strikes – Mae keage, Soto mawashi keage, Uchi mawashi keage, Yoko keage, Hiza geri, Kinteki geri, Mae geri, Yoko geri, Ushiro geri, Mawashi geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Kiba dachi, moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Pinan Sono yon, Pinan Sono yon Ura.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 70, Jump squats 70, Sit-ups 70.

Kumite (sparring) – 7 bouts of 1 min.

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3 kyu – GREEN BELT WITH BROWN STRIPE

Hand strikes – Koken uchi (Jodan Chudan Gedan)

Blocks – Koken uke.

Foot strikes – Mae keage, Soto mawashi keage, Uchi mawashi keage, Yoko keage, Hiza geri, Kinteki geri, Mae geri, Yoko geri, Ushiro geri, Mawashi geri.

Ido Geiko – In Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Kiba dachi, moving forward and back, turn – combined with technique

Kata – Pinan Sono go, Pinan Sono go Ura.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 80, Jump squats 80, Sit-ups 80.

Kumite (sparring) – 8 bouts of 1 min.

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2 kyu – BROWN BELT

Hand strikes – Hiraken uchi (Jodan Chudan), Hiraken mawashi uchi, Haito uchi (Jodan Chudan Gedan), Haisho uchi (Jodan Chudan)

Blocks – Mae mawashi uke (with ibuki).

Foot strikes – Tobi mae geri

Ido Geiko – From kumite no kamae:

• Uchi haisoku jodan geri, Soto oroshi kakato geri, Uchi oroshi kakato geri
• Gohon geri sono ichi: Mae geri+Yoko geri+Ushiro geri+Mae geri+Yoko geri (all strikes Chudan)
• Gohon geri sono ni: Mawashi geri+Ushiro mawashi geri+Mae geri+Mawashi geri+Ushiro mawashi geri (all strikes Jodan)

Kata – Sanchin, Yantsu

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 90, Jump squats 90, Sit-ups 90.

Kumite (sparring) – 9 bouts of 1 min.

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1 kyu – BROWN BELT WITH GOLD STRIPE

Hand strikes – Hiraken uchi (Jodan Chudan), Hiraken mawashi uchi, Haito uchi (Jodan Chudan Gedan), Haisho uchi (Jodan Chudan)

Blocks – Mae mawashi uke (with ibuki).

Foot strikes – Nidan tobi mae geri

Ido Geiko – From kumite no kamae:

• Tobi mae geri (from front foot), Tobi mae geri (from rear foot), Tobi yoko geri.
• Gohon geri sono ichi: Mae geri+Yoko geri+Ushiro geri+Mae geri+Yoko geri (all strikes Chudan)
• Gohon geri sono ni: Mawashi geri+Ushiro mawashi geri+Mae geri+Mawashi geri+Ushiro mawashi geri (all strikes Jodan)

Kata – Tsuki no kata, Yantsu.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 100, Jump squats 100, Sit-ups 100.

Kumite (sparring) – 10 bouts of 1 min.

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1st DAN (Sempai) – BLACK BELT WITH ONE GOLD STRIPE

Full technical curriculum.

Kata – Tensho, Saiha.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 100, Jump squats 100, Sit-ups 100.

Kumite (sparring) – 10 bouts of 1 min.

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2nd DAN (Sempai) – BLACK BELT WITH TWO GOLD STRIPES

Full technical curriculum.

Kata – Seipai, Seiyunchin, Garyu.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 100, Jump squats 100, Sit-ups 100.

Kumite (sparring) – 20 bouts of 1 min.

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3rd DAN (Sensei) – BLACK BELT WITH THREE GOLD STRIPES

Full technical curriculum.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 100, Jump squats 100, Sit-ups 100.

Kumite (sparring) – 30 bouts of 1 min.

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4th DAN (Sensei) – BLACK BELT WITH FOUR GOLD STRIPES

Full technical curriculum.

Physical conditioning – Seiken push-ups 100, Jump squats 100, Sit-ups 100.

Kumite (sparring) – 40 bouts of 1 min.

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5th DAN and above (Shihan) – BLACK BELT WITH FIVE OR MORE GOLD STRIPES

Completion of a qualification seminar