Syllabus
We comply with the International Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) syllabus
Karate students are tested against a grading syllabus. A grading is an examination where the instructor assesses the students against a set syllabus (below). There are various criteria set out in the syllabus and coloured belts are used to reflect the students’ levels.
At Goju-Ryu Karate Milton Keynes, students are graded against the English Goju-Ryu Karate Association (EGKA) sylabus which is internationally recognised in any EGKA or International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) dojo and highly regarded by many other associations.
White
- The beginners belt is all white, students work towards their first grading where they are awarded a white belt with black stripe.
White with black stripe (10th Kyu)
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Basic techniques: Jodan, Chudan, Gedan zuki (high, mid, low basic punch), uke (blocks) keri (kicks)
Yellow (9th Kyu)
- Requirements for 10th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Basic techniques: Uraken (back fist punch), hiji-ate (elbow strike)
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi (memorise sequence), simple moving basics
Orange (8th Kyu)
- Requirements for 9th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Basic techniques: Hiki-uke (pulling/grabbing block), mawashi-geri (side kick), Ushiro-geri (back kick)
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi (good kata with no mistakes)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Basic techniques: Simple combination moving techniques, San-Dan-Gi
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi Bunkai (applications), Gekisai-Dai-Ni (memorise sequence)
Green (7th Kyu)
- Requirements for 8th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Basic techniques: Simple combination moving techniques
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (memorise sequence)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Basic techniques: All basic techniques(illustrated in Sensei Morio Higaonna’s book, Traditional Karatedo volume 1)
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (good kata)
Blue (6th Kyu)
- Requirements for 7th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ni (good kata), Saifa (memorise sequence)
- Kumite: demonstrate a basic level of compitence
- Adults: require the above plus:
- Kata: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi renzoku bunkai (continious bunkai), Gekisai-Dai-Ni bunkai, Saifa (good kata)
Purple (5th Kyu)
- Requirements for 6th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Basic techniques: combination moving techniques
- Kata: Saifa (good kata)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Saifa kata and bunkai, Sanchin (good kata)
Purple (4th Kyu)
- Requirements for 5th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 24 to 32 classes (typically between 3 to 6 months)
- Kata: Seiunchin (memorise sequence)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Seiunchin (good kata) , turning sanchin
Brown (3rd Kyu)
- Requirements for 4th Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
- Kata: Seiunchin (good kata)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Seiunchin kata and bunkai
Brown (2nd Kyu)
- Requirements for 3rd Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
- Grading taken at a national course by EGKA senior intructors
- Kata: Shisochin (memorise sequence)
- Kumite: Ippon kumite (competition style sparring)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Shisochin (good kata)
Brown (1st Kyu)
- Requirements for 2nd Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 48 classes (typically between 6 to 12 months) including 2 national courses per annum
- Grading taken at a national course by EGKA senior intructors
- Kata: Shisochin (good kata)
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Shisochin kata and bunkai
Black Shodan (1st degree)
- Requirements for 1st Kyu plus:
- Attendance of 48 classes and 12 months since 1st kyu grading, minimum of 5 years experience, attendance of 2 national courses
- Adults require the above plus:
- Kata: Turning sanchin
- Fitness and spirit testing includes 100 press-ups
Nidan (2nd degree black belt)
- Minumum age: 20
- 2 years training since shodan
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience
Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
- Minimum age: 23
- 3 years training since nidan
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience
Our guideline syllabus
The above are the EGKA minimum requirements. However, in order to achieve those requirements, it is recommended to aim for the following skills/techniques at each grade: