White I
White II
Gold Candidate
Junior Gold
Gold
Orange Candidate
Junior Orange
Orange
Blue Candidate
Junior Blue
Blue

Ninja Requirements

Curriculum requirements per rank are outlined below. Please note that these skills are cumulative,
with each rank building on previous knowledge. Students are responsible for all prior
requirements in addition to current skills. Class time is a factor, but skill set and attitude are
primary. Improvement is essential to progress.

Students are expected to learn to tie their own belt, carry their gear bags, and take pride in their
education, conduct, and home practice. Expecting the best from our students brings out their best
and sets them in good habit. That said, at these young ages, even the smallest steps are worth
rewarding. Students will advance at their own individual paces.

If you are curious about when your child may promote, ask a sensei what can be done to prepare
for the next rank. Especially for younger students, the parental thumbs-up is an important part of
promotion, signifying that their student is showing respect and growing outside the dojo. Be sure to
check in with your childʼs instructor regularly. The senpai may have additional input as they work
closely with students. In summary, promotion requires good attendance, noticeable gains in skills
and knowledge, and evidence of the traits of each rising rank (i.e. respect, leadership, classroom
etiquette).

KUMITE

Students officially begin freestyle sparring at Gold belt; however, from the beginning, we work drills on bags, shields, and partners. At Gold belt, students will need to purchase hand pads for partner work. The curriculum also includes some technical kumite forms. (i.e. renwaku waza (combination techniques), sanbon kumite (3-step partner drill).

White I

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Punch zuki
Reverse punch gyakuzuki

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Front kick maegeri

Blocking Techniques

uke waza
High block jodan uke

Stance Technique

tachi waza
Attention stance musubi dachi
Ready stance hachiji dachi
Fighting stance kamae

First four (4) moves of First Basic Kata (kihon kata no ichi)

Attempts to follow classroom conduct

Daily practice could include technique, kata, pushups, situps, or stretching. At this level, we are looking for evidence of interest. Practice time may be a few minutes at a time.

Responds to commands

White II

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Advancing front punch junzuki

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Advancing Front kick maegeri

Blocking Techniques

uke waza
Low block gedan-barai / gedan-uke

Stance Technique

tachi waza
Horse stance shiko dachi
Front punch stance junzuki dachi

First Half of First Basic Kata (kihon kata no ichi)
(with help)

Knows classroom protocol

Gold Candidate

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Jab-Reverse combo kazaimazuki – gyakuzuki
Advancing forward punch (+turn) junzuki (+mawatte)

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Front Kick (+shuffle-up) maegeri (+suriashi)

Blocking Techniques

uke waza
High block-Reverse combo jodan uke – gyakuzuki

First Half of First Basic Kata (kihon kata no ichi)
(unassisted)
Knows left from right

Junior Gold

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Advancing shuffle-up front kick (+reverse punch) suriashi maegeri-gyakuzuki

First Basic Kata (kihon kata no ichi)
(with help)

Emergence of leadership in class

Gold

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Advancing reverse punch (+turns) gyakuzuki (+mawatte)

First Basic Kata (kihon kata no ichi)
(unassisted)

Ties belt unassisted

Orange Candidate

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Advancing forward punch with kick kette junzuki
Striking Techniques uchi waza
Hammerfist tetsui

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Roundhouse kick mawashigeri

Stance Technique

tachi waza
Half side-facing cat stance hamni nikoashidi dachi

First 5 moves of pinan nidan

Forward Roll

Junior Orange

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Advancing reverse punch with kick kette gyakuzuki

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Shuffe-up roundhouse kick suriashi mawashigeri

Striking Techniques

uchi waza
Spearhand strike yohan nukite

Half of pinan nidan 

Breakfall

Orange

Blocking Techniques

uke waza
Middle block soto uke
Inner/Outer block uchi uke

Stance Technique

tachi waza
Front-facing cat stance shomen nekoashidachi

All of pinan nidan

Renwaku waza (Combination Techniques)

Kumite (sparring)

Blue Candidate

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Lunge punch junzuki no tsukkomi

Kicking Techniques

keri waza
Side kick (knife-edge) sokuto

Blocking Techniques

uke waza
Open hand block shuto uke

Striking Techniques

uchi waza
Open hand block shuto uke

First 6 moves pinan shodan

Junior Blue

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Kick-Lunge punch kette junzuki no tsukkomi

Striking Techniques

uchi waza
Palm strike shotai/taisho
Ridge hand strike haito

First half of pinan shodan

Blue

Punching Techniques

tsuki waza
Jumping lunging punch tobikomizuki

Striking Techniques

uchi waza
Elbow strike empi

All pinan shodan

Renwaku waza

Readiness for Intermediate Kids class

Rank Tsuki waza
Punching
techniques
Keri waza
Kicking
techniques
Uke waza
Blocking
techniques
Tachi waza
Stance
techniques
Uchi waza
Striking
techniques
Kata
Form
White I
Zuki

Front punch
Gyakuzuki

Reverse punch
Maegeri

Front kick
Jodan uke

High block
Ki o tuske

Call to attention

Musubi dachi

Attention stance

Yoi

Call to ready

Hachiji dachi

Ready stance

Kamae

Fighting stance
First 4 moves
of
First
Basic Kata
White II
Junzuki

Forward punch

(advancing)
Advancing

maegeri

Advancing front

kick
Gedan uke

Low block
Shikodachi

Horse stance

Junzuki dachi

Forward punch

stance
1/2
Kihon kata
no
ichi
(with help)
Gold
Candidate
Kazaimazuki-
Gyakuzuki
Combo

Jab/Reverse

Junzuki

(+mawatte)

Advancing

forward punch

(+turns)
Suriashi

maegeri

Shuffle up
front
kick
Gedan
ukeGyakuzuki

High block
Reverse punch
1/2
Kihon kata no
ichi
(unassisted)
Junior Gold
Advancing

suriashi

maegeri

(+gyakuzuki)

Advancing

shuffle up front

kick

(+reverse
punch)
Kihon kata no
ichi
(with help)
Gold
Advancing

gyakuzuki

(+mawatte)
Kihon kata no
ichi
(unassisted)
Orange
Candidate
Kette junzuki

Advancing

forward punch

with kick
Mawashigeri

Roundhouse
kick
Hamni

nekoashidachi

Side-facing cat
stance
Tetsui
Hammerfist
First 5 moves of
Pinan Nidan
Junior Orange
Kette gyakuzuki

Advancing

reverse punch

with kick
Suriashi

mawashigeri

Shuffle up

roundhouse
kick
Yohan nukite
Spearhand
strike
Half of Pinan
Nidan
Orange
Soto uke

Middle block

Uchi Uke

Inside block
Shomen
nekoashidachi
Front-facing cat
stance
All Pinan Nidan
Blue Candidate
Junzuki no
tsukkomi

Lunge punch
Sokuto
Knife edge of
foot kick
Shuto uke
Open hand
block
Uraken
Backfist
First 6 moves of
Pinan shodan
Junior Blue
Kette junzuki no
tsukkomi
Advancing
lunge punch
with kick
Shotai
Palm strike
Haito
Ridgehand
1/2 Pinan
shodan
Blue
Tobikomizuki
Jumping lunge
punch
Empi
Elbow strike
All Pinan
Shodan