Hachi-kyu
Nana-kyu
Roko-kyu
Go-kyu
Yon-kyu
San-kyu
Ni-kyu
Ik-kyu
Shodan

Curriculum Requirements

Proper practice leads to improved skill. Improved skill leads to proper advancement.
This is the discipline of growth. A belt means nothing without true progress.

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. All students and parents should note that
these requirements are generalized. Some skills come easily, while others are hard-earned. Each
student advances at his/her own pace. The dojo is a place of personal learning, not comparison.
Intermediary belt ranks may be utilized as students see progress between kyu ranks.

Parental feedback is important to young students’ progress as they’re expected to conduct themselves respectfully outside the dojo. The sensei need to see studentʼs effort, technical ability, and focus consistent with their rising rank. Please note that students are expected to learn to tie their
own belts, carry their gear bags, and take pride in their education, conduct, and home practice
to advance. Personal responsibility must be developed to use karate skills safely and
wisely.

Adult students have one-on-one accountability with their sensei. Etiquette and consistency are factors that should
be taken seriously.

At any age, if you are curious about promoting, ask a sensei what can be done to prepare for
the next rank. Typically, courteous students who give their best effort in class and make
corrections as needed promote regularly. As rank advances, time between ranks increases.
Evaluation is based on growth over time, not a single dayʼs performance.

Brown belts (san-kyu and up) should be very active in training and assisting in order to get the
practice time needed to prepare for black belt. Assisting allows advanced students the
opportunity to broaden their perspectives beyond their personal experience. In time, it brings
forth a sense of ownership for technical knowledge and instills the character and leadership
necessary for advanced ranks.

General fitness includes push-ups, sit-ups, plank, and stretching with proper form. All
exercises should be practiced (with modifications if necessary) until mastery. Home practice is
comprised of all exercises and skills that have not yet been mastered, particularly any correction
that is given in class. This habit is essential to training.

Students should approach the curriculum as basic technical information. Productive classwork
adds layers to these foundational basics. The challenge is for each student to realize Wado
concepts in each movement and train the mind, body, and spirit to use them consistently.

Gold – Hachi-kyu

Punching Techniques

  tsuki waza
Front punch  junzuki
Jab  kozaimazuki
Reverse punch  gyakuzuki
Combination punch  renzuki

Kicking Techniques

  keri waza
Front kick (add shuffle-up)  maegeri (+surashi)

Blocking Techniques

  uke waza
High block  jodan uke
Low sweeping block  gedan-barai
Low block  gedan uke

Stance Technique

  tachi waza
Attention stance  musubi dachi
Ready stance  hachiji dachi
Open horse stance  shikodachi
Front punch stance  junzukidachi
Reverse punch stance  gyakuzukidachi

First Basic Kata
kihon kata no ichi
Renwaku Waza (Combination Techniques)
1, 2, 3, 4
Ukemi Waza (Receiving Techniques)
Breakfall
Additional Requirements
Correct belt tying
Knows left from right
Establishing daily practice habit with attention to posture, fitness, and technique

Orange Belt – Nana-kyu

Punching Techniques

  tsuki waza
Kick – Front Punch  kette junzuki
Kick – Reverse punch  kette gyakuzuki

Kicking Techniques

  keri waza
Roundhouse kick (add shuffle-up)  mawashigeri (+suriashi)

Blocking Techniques

  uke waza
Middle block  soto uke
Inside block  uchi uke
Mid-level block  chudan uke

Stance Technique

  tachi waza
Front-facing cat stance  shomen nikoashidachi
Side-facing cat stance  hamni nikoashidachi

Striking Techniques

  uchi waza
Hammerfist  tetsui
Spearhand  yohan nukite

Pinan Nidan
Renwaku Waza
5,6
Sanban
Chudan uke 1, 2
Maegeri 1
Ukemi Waza
Forward roll
Additional Requirements
Three Target Levels – gedan, chudan, jodan
Maintain daily practice

Blue Belt – Roku-kyu

Punching Techniques

  tsuki waza
Lunge punch  junzuki no tsukkomi
Kick – Lunge punch  kette junzuki no tsukkomi
Jumping lunge punch  tobikomizuki

Kicking Techniques

  keri waza
Side kick (add shuffle-up)  sokoto (+suriashi)

Blocking Techniques

  uke waza
Open hand block  shuto uke

Stance Technique

  tachi waza
Natural stance  shizentai dachi
Parallel stance  heiko dachi

Striking Techniques

  uchi waza
Backfist  uraken
Open hand strike  shuto
Ridge hand  haito
Elbow strike  empi
Palm strike  shotai

Pinan Shodan
Renwaku Waza
7, 8
Sanban Kumite
Jodan uke 1
Maegeri 2, 3

Additional Requirements
Proper posture through Ten Chi Jin

Purple Belt – Go-kyu

Punching Techniques

  tsuki waza
Sweeping away punch  nagashizuki

Kicking Techniques

  keri waza
Hook kick  ura mawashigeri
Back kick  ushirogeri
Knee kick  hizageri
Kick to the side  yokogeri

Blocking Techniques

  uke waza
Back of hand block  haishu uke
Elbow block  hiji (empi) uke

Stance Techniques

  tachi waza
Natural stance  heisoku dachi
Full cat stance  maehanmi nekoashidachi
Reverse cat stance  gyaku nikoashidachi
Side-to-side seishan stance  yoko seishan

Striking Techniques

  uchi waza
Hook punch  kagizuki
Uppercut  uchizuki
Vertical punch  tate ken

Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yondan (first half)
Renwaku Waza
9, 10
Sanban Kumite
Jodan uke 2, 3, 4
Maegeri 4, 5, 6

Green Belt – Yon-kyu

Punching Techniques

  tsuki waza
Lunge reverse punch  gyakuzuki no tsukkomi
Kick – Lunge reverse punch  kette gyakuzuki no tsukkomi

Kicking Techniques

  keri waza
Double kick  nidangeri
Jumping front kick  maetobigeri

Blocking Techniques

  uke waza
X block  juji uke
Hook block  kake uke

Stance Techniques

  tachi waza
Back stance  kokusidachi
Reverse Cat stance, heels up  ryoashi tsumasakidachi

Pinan Yondan

Pinan Godan
Renwaku Waza
11, 12
Ohyo Kumite
1, 2

Green/Brown Belt – San-kyu

Stance Techniques

  tachi waza
Neihanshi stance  neihanshidachi
Cross legged stance  kosadachi

Striking Techniques

  uchi waza
Groin rip  kiuteki
    
Pinan kata (all)
Wanshu
Renwaku Waza
13, 14
Ohyo Kumite 3, 4
Junior Brown Belt – Ni-Kyu

Stance Techniques

  tachi waza
Neihanshi stance  neihanshidachi
Vertical seishan stance  tate seishan
Wide parallel stance  jigotai dachi

Striking Techniques

  uchi waza
Middle knuckle strike  nakadaka
One finger strike  ippon ken

Kusanku
Renwaku Waza
15, 16
Ohyo Kumite
5, 6
Kihon Kumite
1

Brown Belt – Ik-Kyu

All previous kata
Neihanchi
Renwaku Waza
17, 18
Ohyo Kumite
7, 8
Kihon Kumite
2

Black Belt – sho-dan

Stance Technique

  tachi waza
Crane stance  sagiashidachi
Half horse stance  hanshikodachi

Proficiency in all previous kata
One additional advanced kata
Renwaku Waza
19. 20