Advanced Rank Requirements

If you have reached brown belt, you are now considered an 'Advanced Rank'. This means that you have shown proficiency and growth and have dedicated a year and a half or more to your training. This is a big accomplishment, and you should be proud of your efforts.

CHILDREN- 3rd Kyu

The main focus for children at this level is to continue working on their kata. Brown belt kids currently know 2 Kata (Seisan and Wansu) but over the course of the next few belts we will expect to see big improvements in balance, stances, power, focus and all of the small details.

At the brown belt level children will also now begin learning their 3rd kata, which is called Sunsu. (This kata will not be performed on the next test)

All prior self-defense and kumite drills are still performed at testing and with each belt level there is an expectation that they will continue to improve and increase in strength.

ADULT / TEENS -3rd Kyu

Adult and teens will continue adding to their self-defense knowledge with some defenses against a straight punch, these techniques teach on how to use side-steps, and angles to your advantage while also showing you different ways to use elbow strikes.

You will also begin learning Kusanku Kata. You must complete the kata entirely AND perform it along with all prior kata on your next test. (This is the first time you will be expected to perform a new Kata at your test)

KATA REQUIREMENTS: Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku

SELF DEFENSE REQUIREMENTS:

-All prior defenses learned to date

-3 defenses against a straight punch using angles and elbow strikes as a defense

CHILDREN - 2nd Kyu

There are no changes to the children's curriculum from 3rd kyu (listed above) Children will continue learning Sunsu. Sunsu will now be added to the kata requirements to test for 1st Kyu. This is the first time you will be expected to perform a new kata at testing.

SELF DEFENSE REQUIREMENTS:

-All prior self defense techniques learned

KATA REQUIREMENTS: Seisan, Wansu, Sunsu

ADULT / TEENS

As a 2nd kyu you are now working toward your final Kyu rank testing. You will also begin learning the final Kata in our system; Sunsu. You will need to complete Sunsu before testing AND you'll be expected to perform it along with all other Kata previously learned on your test for 1st kyu.

SELF DEFENSE REQUIREMENTS:

-All prior self defense techniques learned to date

KATA REQUIREMENTS: Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, Sunsu

In addition to these physical requirements, you will also be expected to know a vast amount of history.

You can find more information about history (as well as some study guides) by following this link: History Study Guide (Advanced Ranks) (ingramskarate.com)

For some more basic history, this link may be helpful: Here's A Quick History Study Guide For Beginner Students (ingramskarate.com)

I also recommend that you take a look at the web page for the Organization that our dojo is affiliated with: The World United Isshinryu Karate Association. You can find a lot of information about our style there as well.

You can find the WUIKA website here: Isshinryu Karate - WUIKA United States (wuikausa.org)