GOJU-RYU KARATE-DO DENTOKAN

SYLLABUS
Updated: 1 February 2011
Level

Hachikyu / 8th Kyu (Beginner)

White
3 months
Shichikyu / 7th Kyu Yellow
3 months
Rokkyu / 6th Kyu Orange
3 months

Kata to be
performed to
achieve this level

Sanchin
Gekisai Dai Ichi

Gokyu / 5th Kyu Green

3 months

Gekisai Dai Ni

Yonkyu / 4th Kyu Blue

4 months
Sankyu / 3rd Kyu Brown
4 months
Nikyu / 2nd Kyu Brown
4 months
Ikkyu / 1st Kyu Brown
6 months
Shodan Black
2 years
Nidan Black
3 years
Sandan Black
4 years
Yondan Black
5 years
Godan Black

Saifa

Godan to Rokudan, 6
years

Rokudan to
Shichidan, 7 years

Three kata: All chosen by

the grading officials.

Shichidan to
Hachidan, 8 years

Kumite to be
performed to
achieve this level

Seiyunchin
Shisochin
Sanseiru
Seipai
Kururunfa

Gokyu and above

One 2-minute freestyle
sparring session.

Tensho

Demonstrate defences against:

Single and double wrist grabs

Front choke

Front hair grab

Front single and double lapel

grabs

Front bear hugs

(under and over the arms)

Rear hair grab

Rear strangle

Arm Bar/Figure 4

Rear bear hugs

(under and over the arms)

Full nelson

Head lock
(both front and rear-facing).

Note: Freestyle
sparring requirement
may be substituted with
Yakusoku Kumite (Prearranged Fighting) at
the discretion of the
testing/grading
authority.
Shodan and above
Three 2-minute
freestyle sparring
sessions.

Higaonna Seisan
Suparinpei

Goshin Jutsu
(Self Defence Techniques) to
be performed to achieve this
level

Note: Freestyle
sparring requirement
may be substituted with
Yakusoku Kumite (Prearranged Fighting) at
the discretion of the
testing/grading
authority.
A thorough
demonstration of
Yakusoku Kumite

*As above + knife defenses:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Overhead knife attack

Straight thrust
Forehand slash
Backhand slash