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Kyu Grades

Senior kyu grade guidance, syllabus pathway, grading expectations and preparation advice.





Senior pathway

Overview

Kyu grades are the main progression route for senior students before black belt level. They build your technical base, improve your confidence, and develop the standard expected in Wado-Ryu Karate.

Each kyu grade is about more than simply “getting the next belt”. You are expected to show cleaner kihon, stronger kata, more controlled kumite, better etiquette and a more mature understanding of your training.

Students are invited to grade when the instructors believe they are ready. Regular attendance, steady effort and good dojo behaviour matter just as much as remembering the syllabus.

Invitation depends on attendance, attitude and readiness.
You will be assessed on kihon, kata, kumite and etiquette.
Your SKF licence must be current for grading and insurance purposes.
Gradings should feel like a natural next step, not a surprise.

Kyu Grade Pathway

The senior kyu pathway builds from beginner foundations through to advanced brown belt level, preparing students technically and mentally for dan grade training.

Early kyu grades

The focus is on basic stance work, core punching and kicking, early kata, structured block-and-counter work, and understanding dojo etiquette properly.

Middle kyu grades

Students begin linking techniques together more fluently, improving power and timing, learning more kata, and showing better control in kumite and self-defence practice.

Brown belt kyu grades

The standard becomes more demanding. Students are expected to perform with maturity, accuracy, better rhythm, cleaner transitions and stronger awareness.

Preparation for dan grades

By 1st kyu, the emphasis is no longer just on learning content. It is about depth, consistency, composure and readiness for the next level of training.

Belt Syllabus

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Open each grade to see the current syllabus outline. Use the print button to print one grade section at a time.

White Belt   White Belt

Starting as a white belt means beginning with a blank slate and building everything from the ground up. At this stage the main goal is learning the dojo basics properly: stance, etiquette, focus, and confidence.

Every senior student starts here. The white belt is not “nothing” — it is the foundation for everything that follows.

Yellow Belt Yellow Tab   8 Kyu - Yellow Belt / Yellow Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Junzuki turn in Jodan Uke
  • Gyakuzuki turn in Gedan Barai
  • Maegeri
  • Surikomi Maegeri
  • Mawashigeri

    • Renraku Waza
  • Maegeri Chudan - Tobikomizuki
  • Surikomi Maegeri - Tobikomizuki
  • Maegeri Chudan - Gyakuzuki
  • Surikomi Maegeri - Gyakuzuki

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Soto Uke - Maegeri Gyakuzuki
  • Chudan Uchi Uke - Empi

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Technique Ipponme (1)
  • Technique Nihonme (2)
Orange Belt Orange Tab   7 Kyu - Orange Belt / Orange Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Sokuto Chudan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Maegeri - Mawashigeri - Gyakuzuki
  • Surikomi Maegeri - Mawashigeri - Gyakuzuki

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Uke Soto - Maegeri Gyakuzuki
  • Chudan Uke Uchi - Empi
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Ipponme (1) - Gyakuzuki
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Nihonme (2) - Gyakuzuki

    • Kata
  • Pinan Nidan

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Technique Nihonme (2)
  • Technique Sanbonme (3)
Green Belt Green Tab   6 Kyu - Green Belt / Green Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Tobikomizuki
  • Surikomi Mawashigeri Chudan
  • Surikomi Sokuto Chudan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Maegeri - Sokuto - Gyakuzuki
  • Surikomi Maegeri - Sokuto - Gyakuzuki

    • Blocks
  • Jodan Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Jodan Uke Nihonme (2)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Gohonme (5)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Ropponme (6)

    • Kata
  • Pinan Shodan

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Ipponme (1)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Technique Sanbonme (3)
  • Technique Yohonme (4)

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting
Blue Belt Blue Tab   5 Kyu - Blue Belt / Blue Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Kette Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Kette Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Nagashizuki
  • Ushirogeri Chudan
  • Sokuto Chudan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Mawashigeri - Ushirogeri - Gyakuzuki Chudan
  • Surikomi Sokuto - Ushirogeri - Uraken Jodan

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Uke Soto
  • Chudan Uke Uchi
  • Jodan Uke Sanbonme (3)
  • Jodan Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Sanbonme (3)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Yohonme (4)

    • Kata
  • Pinan Shodan
  • Pinan Yondan

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Nihonme (2)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Technique Yohonme (4)
  • Technique Gohonme (5)

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting
Purple Belt Purple Tab   4 Kyu - Purple Belt / Purple Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Kette Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Kette Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Nagashizuki
  • Mawashigeri Chudan
  • Ushirogeri Chudan
  • Sokuto Chudan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Maegeri Chudan - Nagashizuki Jodan - Gyakuzuki Chudan
  • Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Nagashizuki Jodan - Mawashigeri Chudan
  • Maegeri Chudan - Sokuto Chudan - Ushirogeri Chudan - Gyakuzuki Chudan

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Uke Soto
  • Chudan Uke Uchi
  • Jodan Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Jodan Uke Sanbonme (3)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Gohonme (5)

    • Kata
  • Pinan Yondan
  • Pinan Godan

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Sanbonme (3)

    • Kihon Gumite
  • Kihon Gumite Ipponme (1)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Technique Gohonme (5)
  • Technique Ropponme (6)

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting
Brown Belt 1st Red Tab   3 Kyu - 1st Brown Belt / 1st Red Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Kette Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Kette Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Tobikomizuki
  • Nagashizuki
  • Mawashigeri Jodan
  • Ushirogeri Chudan
  • Sokuto Chudan
  • Surikomi Ushiro Mawashigeri Jodan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan - Ushirogeri Chudan - Uraken Jodan
  • Maegeri Chudan - Nagashizuki Jodan - Gyakuzuki Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan
  • Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Sokuto Chudan - Ushirogeri Chudan - Uraken Jodan

    • Blocks
  • Jodan Uke Nihonme (2)
  • Jodan Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Sanbonme (3)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Gohonme (5)

    • Kata
  • Kushanku
  • One Pinan Kata chosen on the day

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Ipponme (1)
  • Ohyo Gumite Nihonme (2)
  • Ohyo Gumite Yohonme (4)

    • Kihon Gumite
  • Kihon Gumite Ipponme (1)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Two techniques chosen on the day

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting
Brown Belt 2nd Red Tab   2 Kyu - 2nd Brown Belt / 2nd Red Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Kette Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Kette Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Nagashizuki
  • Mawashigeri Jodan
  • Ushirogeri Chudan
  • Sokuto Jodan
  • Surikomi Ushiro Mawashigeri Jodan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Nagashizuki Jodan - Mawashigeri Jodan
  • Maegeri Chudan - Sokuto Chudan - Ushirogeri Chudan - Gyakuzuki Chudan
  • Zenshinshitte Jodan - Renzuki Chudan - Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan - Gyakuzuki Chudan

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Uke Soto
  • Chudan Uke Uchi
  • Jodan Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Jodan Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Nihonme (2)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Ropponme (6)

    • Kata
  • Kushanku
  • One Pinan Kata chosen on the day

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Sanbonme (3)
  • Ohyo Gumite Yohonme (4)
  • Ohyo Gumite Gohonme (5)

    • Kihon Gumite
  • Kihon Gumite Nihonme (2)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Two techniques chosen on the day

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting
Brown Belt Black Tab   1 Kyu - 3rd Brown Belt / Black Tab
    Kihon, Tsuki & Keri
  • Kette Junzuki
  • Kette Gyakuzuki
  • Kette Junzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Kette Gyakuzuki No Tsukkomi
  • Nagashizuki
  • Mawashigeri Jodan
  • Surikomi Mawashigeri Jodan
  • Ushirogeri Chudan
  • Surikomi Sokuto Jodan
  • Surikomi Ushiro Mawashigeri Jodan

    • Renraku Waza
  • Zenshinshitte Jodan - Renzuki Chudan - Maegeri Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan - Ushirogeri Chudan - Gyakuzuki Chudan
  • Surikomi Jodan - Renzuki Chudan - Surikomi Maegeri Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan - Ushirogeri - Uraken Jodan
  • Zenshinshitte Jodan - Renzuki Chudan - Maegeri Chudan - Nagashizuki Jodan - Gyakuzuki Chudan - Mawashigeri Chudan

    • Blocks
  • Chudan Uke Soto
  • Chudan Uke Uchi
  • Jodan Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Jodan Uke Nihonme (2)
  • Jodan Uke Sanbonme (3)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Ipponme (1)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Yohonme (4)
  • Chudan Maegeri Uke Gohonme (5)

    • Kata
  • Kushanku
  • One Pinan Kata chosen on the day

    • Ohyo Gumite
  • Ohyo Gumite Gohonme (5)
  • Ohyo Gumite Ropponme (6)
  • Ohyo Gumite Nanahonme (7)

    • Kihon Gumite
  • Kihon Gumite Sanbonme (3)

    • Go Shin Jutsu
  • Two techniques chosen on the day

    • Ji Yu Kumite
  • Free Fighting

Readiness & Process

  1. Speak to your instructor and confirm which grade you are working toward.
  2. Make sure your SKF licence / insurance is current and bring it with you.
  3. Train the required kihon, kata, kumite and self-defence work for your grade.
  4. Attend any pre-grading check sessions and take note of feedback.
  5. On grading day, arrive early, warm up, present a clean gi and correct belt, and bring any required sparring kit.
  6. Listen carefully, respond properly, and accept the result and feedback in a positive way.

FAQs

How often are kyu gradings?
They are held regularly through the year, but grading depends on readiness rather than simply time served. A common period is around 12 to 16 weeks with steady training.
What is assessed at kyu level?
Kihon, renraku waza, blocks, kata, ohyo gumite, kihon gumite where required, self-defence and free fighting as appropriate for the grade. Etiquette and presentation also matter.
Do I need sparring kit?
From the more advanced kyu grades onward, usually yes. Ask an instructor before buying equipment so it matches dojo and federation expectations.
What if I cannot make the grading date?
Let the instructors know as early as possible and you can normally be moved to the next suitable grading.
Can I grade if I am returning from injury?
Possibly, but it depends on whether you can safely meet the standard for your grade. Speak to your instructor well in advance.
Which kata do I need?
Check the belt syllabus section above. Some grades require specific kata, while some of the higher kyu grades may include a kata chosen on the day.

Downloads

Keep studying the grading pathway

Return to the syllabus pages or jump back to the top of this page to review the kyu grades again.

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