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 | 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 | 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 |