Grade Requirements

(These were the Grade Requirements outlined in the Handbook used in the last quarter of the 20th century at the University of Wyoming. They may vary from dojo to dojo.)

BEGINNER ORIENTATION PROGRAM

Each lesson will review the previous class’s material.

Lesson 1
Fist, full punch, setting back into Zenkutsu from Ready Position, broken to classic Zenkutsu, Reverse Punch. Low block, set back into broken Zenkutsu with low block, set back with low block into broken Zenkutsu, and reverse punch.

Lesson 2
Forward set into Zenkutsu, lunge punch, cross block, middle block, cross and middle blocks with reverse punches.

Lesson 3
Three step spar-utilizing low, cross and middle blocks.

Lesson 4
Review lessons 1-3, explain, demonstrate and perform class-opening formalities, explain and demonstrate formalities of inter-student communication and how to correctly interact with black belts.

Lesson 5
Horse stance, back kick, back kick from horse stance in motion, high and middle blocks.

Lesson 6
Side thrust kick to knee, low and cross blocks, first 8 blocks of the 14 point blocking system.

Lesson 7
Hammer Fist and knifehand blocks, first 12 blocks of the 14 point blocking system, front facing side thrust kick.

Lesson 8
Hook block, 14 point blocking system, elbow set.

Lesson 9
Back stance, back stance in motion, outer knife block, outer knife block with back stance in motion forward and back, front kick.

Lesson 10
Cat stance, cat stance with front kick, Sanchin stance, Sanchin stance in motion forward and back, close and vertical punches.

Lesson 11
Round kick, backfist snap, lateral backfist.

Lesson 12
Backfist punch, inner knife strike, outer knife strike.

BASICS

STANCES
Zen Kutsu dachi
Kiba dachi (horse stance)

Kokutsu dachi (back stance)

Neko ashi dachi (cat stance)
t-stance
sanchin (dai and sho)

KICKS

Front snap

Back

Side Thrust (to side and front facing)

Round Kick

STRIKES
Inverted punch
Vertical punch
Full twist punch
Inner knife hand
Outer knife hand
Back fist snap
Back fist punch
Lateral back fist

BLOCKS
High
Middle
Low
Cross
Hammer
Outer Knife
Hook

HAND POSITIONS
Fist
Shuto (knife hand)

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Reverse punch
Lunge punch
Blocks and reverse punch with zen kutsu
Back kick from kiba dachi
3 step spar
move forward and back in back stance with knife hand block
move forward and back in cat stance with front kick

14 POINT BLOCKING SYSTEM

high, middle, low, low, middle, high, cross, cross, hammer, hammer, outer knife, outer knife, hook, hook

8 POINT SOFT BLOCKING SYSTEM

ELBOW SET 
Up, back, round, side, down

Basic Breaklocks

CHOKE-FRONT

  1. Crossover release-elbow strike
  2. Cross and wrist lock-arm bar
  3. Arm-wheel
  4. Hip-wheel
  5. Arm and wrist take-down-reinforced
  6. Wrist takedown
  7. Body drop (aiki)

CHOKE-REAR

  1. Left arm bar-drop back under left arm
  2. Entangled arm throw
  3. Over-head throw-drop to knee
  4. Wrist lock
  5. Step-back body drop
  6. Body drop-spin and execute as front body drop

STRANGLE-REAR

  1. Shoulder throw
  2. Overhead throw-drop to knee
  3. Arm bar-holding side
  4. Arm bar-strangle side

HEADLOCK-SIDE

  1. Pressure point and rear drop
  2. Groin punch
  3. Rolling throw

BODY HOLD-FRONT

  1. Hip push and knee strike-throw

BODY HOLD-REAR

  1. Arm release and elbow strike-throw
  2. Body drop (Aiki)
  3. Sacrifice

WRIST GRIP-NORMAL

  1. Twisting release and strike
  2. Lift and punch
  3. Lift and elbow strike-spinning backward
  4. Strike inner wrist and strike head
  5. Arm bar

WRIST GRIP-REVERSE

  1. Aiki wrist technique
  2. Arm bar
  3. Wrap around and throw
  4. Wrist takedown

7th Kyu Grade Requirements (Yellow Belt)

Basic Skills: Lunge punches, blocks and reverse punches, all basic stances in motion, outer knife block with back stances in motion forward and back, inner knife, backfist snap and punch, basic kicks (front, round, side thrust, back), 14 point blocking system, elbow set, outer knife strike.
Forms: Pinan I
Counters to be used with low, middle and high blocks include full punch, short punch (vertical), spearhand, inner knife, round elbow, upward elbow.  Counters to be used with cross blocks include full punch, close punch (inverted), outer knife, and round elbow.
General One Step and Free Spar Experience

6th Kyu Grade Requirements (Yellow Belt – Green Tip)

Special Skills: kicks (hook, spinning hook, spinning back, lunge, crescent), breakfall experience, side punch in horse stance (cross step and lunge punch), “U” punch, 8 point soft block set.
 
Breaklocks:  from the master list of breaklocks, perform all the front choke breaklocks.  Perform front choke breaklocks not on the master list in Shobu Line fashion for 45 seconds.
  
Bag Kick: Perform basic kicks (front, round, side, back) against the swinging bag.
Forms:  Three out of the five Pinans
 
One Step Kumite with single Counters:
  
Regular Facing with Regular Block
1.      Step back into back stance with outside cross block, step in the rear foot into cat stance striking with outer knife to ribs.
2.      Step back into back stance with outside cross block, step in with rear foot into a short horse stance striking with a side elbow to the kidney.
3.      Step back into back stance with outside cross block, slip into body punch.
 4.      Step back into back stance with outside cross block, step in with lunge punch to the jaw.
 5.      Step back into cat stance with outside cross block, front kick to ribs.
 6.      Step back into cat stance with outside cross block, slip in with inner knife to ribs.
 
Regular Facing with Reverse Block
1.      Evade to front corner in zenkutsu with knife hand block, step up with rear foot into short horse stance striking with side elbow to head.
2.      Evade to front corner in zenkutsu with knife hand block, step up with rear foot into cat stance striking with a backfist to head.
 
Reverse Facing with Regular Block
1.      Step back into horse stance blocking with inside cross block, slip in and counter with side elbow (blocking Hand).
2.      Step back into horse stance blocking with inside cross block, slip in and counter with backfist to face (blocking hand).
 
Reverse Facing with Reverse Block
1.      Evade to front corner in zenkutsu with knife hand block, step in with rear foot to cat stance striking with outer knife (blocking hand) to head.
2.      Evade to front corner in zenkutsu with knife hand block, step in with rear foot to cat stance striking with and elbow strike (blocking hand) to head.
 
Blocks and counters using the Same Hand
 
1.      Rising block, full punch
2.      Rising block, hammerfist
3.      Middle block, backfist snap
4.      Middle block, palmheel
5.      Cross block, side elbow
6.      Cross block, backfist
7.      Palm push, outer knife
8.      Palm push, chicken neck strike
9.      Chicken neck block up, palmheel
10.  Chicken neck block up, face rip
11.  Oxjaw down, spear
12.  Punching block
13.  Palmheel strike while evading to front oblique
One and Half Minute Shobu Line against Multiple Attackers

5th Kyu (Green Belt)

Special Skills: Flying kicks (front, round, side, reverse side), throws (Osoto Gari, Ouchi Gari, Taiotoshi, Ippon Seionage, Ogoshi, Kosoto Gari, Kouchi Gari)

Forms: Pinans I-V

Breaklocks: Demonstration of all breaklocks on the master list and a shobu line for breaklocks lasting two minutes.

One Step Kimite with Double and Triple counters:

Double Counters with Hands

1.      High block, full reverse punch, outer knife
2.      High block, full reverse punch (face), full reverse punch (abdomen)
3.      Middle block, reverse round elbow, round elbow
4.      Middle block, reverse full punch (abdomen), upward elbow
5.      Low block, full reverse punch (face), spear to throat
6.      Low block, slip in “U” punch

Double counters with Legs (Assume a Right Lunge punch Attack)

1.      Evade to rear with right foot, right crescent kick to the punching arm, right side thrust kick to body
2.      Evade to left rear corner with left foot, left front kick to ribs, right round kick to front middle body
3.      Evade to rear with right foot. Right side thrust kick middle body, right side thrust to the knee
4.      Evade to rear with right foot, right round kick to the head, right hook kick to spine or kidney
5.      Evade to rear with left foot, left front kick ribs, right crescent kick to chest
6.      Evade to right side crossing in front with left leg, spinning right foot back kick, left front kick
7.      Evade to left rear corner with left foot, left round kick to back, right round kick to face
8.      Evade to rear with right foot, step up right foot to left foot, leap and double front kick

Triple Counters with Hands

1.      High block, full reverse punch to body, round punch to temple, full reverse punch to face.
2.      High block, full reverse punch to body, backfist snap to the face, oxjaw thrust to collarbone
3.      Middle block, full reverse punch to body, full punch to face, full reverse punch to body.
4.      Middle block, full reverse punch to body, outer backfist to body, close punch to face timed with pivot step up into an almost hook stance.
5.      Cross block, palmheel to face, palmheel to temple, round elbow to body.
6.      Cross block, close punch to body, round punch to body, outer knifehand strike to temple timed with pivot step up into an almost hook stance.

Two Minute Shobu Line against Multiple Attackers: Defender must demonstrate a variety of evasion directions, blocks, and counters.  Hand and leg strikes should be mixed with takedowns.

4th Kyu (Green Belt – Brown Tip)

Forms: Seisan and Sanchin

Combination leg techniques:

  1. Round kick, spinning back kick, front lunge kick, step spinning heel kick (R,L,R,R)
  2. Front lunge kick, front lunge kick, flying front kick (R,L,L)
  3. Front kick, round kick, side thrust kick (R,L,R)
  4. Front kick, front kick, round kick, cross step side thrust kick (R,L,R,R)
  5. Front kick, cross step side thrust kick, cross step round kick (R,R,R)
  6. Round kick, spinning heel kick, spinning back kick (R,L,R)
  7. Side thrust kick, cross step side thrust kick, cross step round kick (R,R,R)
  8. Front kick, reverse crescent (turning) kick (R,L)
  9. Side thrust kick, cross step round kick, skipping side thrust kick (R,R,R)
  10. Front kick, step and flying side thrust kick to the side (R,R)
  11. Front lunge kick, reverse flying side thrust kick (R,R)
  12. Spinning heel kick, front lunge kick, side thrust kick, spinning heel kick (R,L,R,L)
  13. Crescent kick, spinning and leaping crescent kick (R,R)
  14. Round kick, back kick, side thrust (R,R,L)

Tracking Leg Techniques:

  1. Slipping front kick with the front leg.
  2. Slipping front kick with the rear leg and a slight hesitation.
  3. Flying side thrust kick with the rear leg.
  4. Reverse flying side thrust kick (front foot) rear leg pumps for distance and height.
  5. Slipping in (crossing behind) back kick with front leg.
  6. Slipping in round kick with the front leg.
  7. Slipping in (crossing behind) hook kick with front leg.

Tracking Hand Techniques:

  1. Hammerfist to top of head, initiate with strong leg pump of rear foot for distance and height, strike with hand on same side as the pumping leg.
  2. Lunge punch from rear leg side.
  3. Slipping in rake down guard and reverse punch.
  4. Outer knife with lead hand time with long leaping step of front foot.
  5. Outer knife with rear hand executed like the previous hammerfist strike.
  6. Spinning outer knifehand executed with the rear hand.

3rd Kyu (Brown Belt)

Form:  Seiuchin
 
One step Prearranged Kumite (combination counters)
1.      Evade to left front oblique in zenkutsu with right reverse outer knife block, right outer knife to ribs, grab shoulder with left hand, pull shoulder and kick out opponent’s right leg for takedown, finish with right reverse punch executed going down on one knee.
2.      Evade crossing in front with left foot, execute spinning right back kick, follow with right backfist to face as right foot sets down, and finish with left reverse punch in zenkutsu.
3.      Left hand circular catch (inside) in backstance, right punch can be (vertical punch) to body, right palmheel to face, right inner knifehand to neck shifting to zenkutsu with front left foot.
4.      Left-hand circular catch (inside), right punches low, middle, and high, outer reap throw.
5.      Left hand circular catch (inside), right knee strike to abdomen, push opponent clear while holding on to him to make room for a right step forward followed by a left knee strike to the abdomen, push away for right front kick to middle body.
6.      Evade to left with right reverse circular catch (outside), right round kick middle body, right side thrust to back of attacker’’ right knee, step down to either right hammerfist or left reverse punch at the back of the head.
7.      “X” block high, pull down into right knee strike to abdomen, right elbow to face, dump throw.
8.      Evade to left in guard with left foot (right foot forward in cat stance), spin counter clockwise on cat foot into left side elbow strike to ribs, right knife hand (oxjaw) to neck, kick out attacker’s lead foot for takedown with your left foot, finish with right foot stomp.
9.      Left elbow block, spin clockwise into right side elbow strike to kidney, grab shoulders and pull down.
10.  Cross palm block with left hand, right close punch to body, right uppercut to jaw, left down elbow to back of head, rotary throw.
 
The techniques are designed to practice alternately both right and left sides.
 

2nd Kyu (Brown Belt – One Black Stripe)

Forms:  Naiuhanchi I, II, III

Speed Combinations:

1.      Left backfist, right vertical reverse punch.
2.      Left outer knife, right inner knife.
3.      Left palmheel, right short reverse punch, right full reverse punch.
4.      Left tiger mouth strike (hold at throat), right nihon spear.
5.      Left outer knife to ribs and right one knuckle punch to sternum in a short stance followed by a right oxjaw to the collarbone and a right nihon spear in a long stance.
6.      Step out with left vertical punch as left foot hits in cat stance, left spear hand to throat, shift to zenkutsu timing a left oxjaw to collarbone with foot placement, left nihon spear.
7.      Step out into short zenkutsu with double punch high followed by a double punch low.
8.      “U” punch.

 

1st Kyu (Brown Belt – 2 Black Stripes)

Form: Shi Ho Hai

Written Examination:  All prospective blackbelts are required to complete a five day take home exam on such subjects as history, philosophy, technique execution, form interpretation, principles of training, and combat strategies.

Special Combat Strategies:  Brown belts are required to demonstrate a variety of combat strategies to minimally include jamming, counters to attacks, relentless attack, timing breaks before and during attack sequences and takedowns.

Technique Review:  Brown Belts are held fully responsible for improvement and further development of all the previous grade level requirements.

Instructional Internship:  Brown Belts are required to have some instructional experience, which will be decided by their supervising black belt.

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