Belt Exams
Belt exams at SK BUDO take place twice a year, usually in December and June.
Athletes who have not attended kata seminars are only admitted to the exam after individual sessions with a coach.
Exam requirements
Kata and kihon for the belt exam follow the requirements of the SHOTOKAN (IJKA) style.
Additional exam requirements.
| Belt colour | Kyu | Physical standards | Throws | Sparring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 8-9 | fist push-ups – 20 reps; sit-ups (lying, knees bent) – 20 reps; squats with mae-geri – 20 reps | break-fall backward, sideways, forward from knees | movement in free stance – 3 min. |
| Orange | 7 | fist push-ups – 25 reps; sit-ups – 30 reps; squats with mae-geri – 30 reps | break-fall backward, sideways, with a partner | 3 x 2 min. (no contact) |
| Green | 6 | push-ups – 40 reps (10 – fingers, 10 – koken, 20 – seiken); sit-ups – 50 reps; squats with mae, joko – 50 reps | rear leg sweep, front leg sweep, hip throw | 6 x 2 min. |
| Light blue | 5 | push-ups – 45 reps (10 – fingers, 10 – koken, 25 – seiken); sit-ups – 60 reps; squats with mae, joko, mawashi – 60 reps | hip throw, back throw, side sweep | 8 x 2 min. |
| Dark blue | 4 | push-ups – 50 reps (10 – fingers, 10 – koken, 10 – narrow stance, 10 – seiken); sit-ups – 70 reps; squats with mae, joko, mawashi – 70 reps | hip throw, back throw, side sweep | 10 x 2 min. |
| Light brown | 3 | push-ups – 60 reps (15 – fingers, 15 – koken, 15 – narrow stance, 15 – seiken); sit-ups – 70 reps; squats with mae, joko, mawashi, uchiro – 70 reps | outer hook, inner hook, hip throw | 12 x 2 min. |
| Brown | 2 | push-ups – 70 reps (15 – fingers, 15 – koken, 15 – narrow stance, 25 – seiken); sit-ups – 80 reps; squats with mae, joko, mawashi, uchiro – 80 reps | executing throws during sparring | 15 x 2 min. |
| Dark brown | 1 | push-ups – 80 reps (20 – fingers, 20 – koken, 20 – narrow stance, 20 – seiken); sit-ups – 90 reps; squats with mae, joko, mawashi, uchiro – 90 reps | executing throws during sparring | 20 x 2 min. |
- From the light blue belt onward, proficiency with hanbo and bo is required. Kihon and kata according to requirements.
- All physical exercises are performed to standard, counted by the instructor.
- An athlete's 8th-1st kyu grade is confirmed by the corresponding SK BUDO certificate.
Exam fees (EUR)
| Kyu | Total | Exam | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Kyu | 20 | — | includes awarding of the yellow belt |
| 8th Kyu | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 7th Kyu | 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 6th Kyu | 30 | 25 | 5 |
| 5th Kyu | 35 | 25 | 10 |
| 4th Kyu | 40 | 30 | 10 |
| 3rd Kyu | 45 | 30 | 15 |
| 2nd Kyu | 50 | 35 | 15 |
| 1st Kyu | 55 | 35 | 20 |
The dan exam (black belt) is held before a dedicated commission led by a Sensei or Shihan of high dan grade. The dan grade is confirmed by a special certificate registered at the karate federation headquarters (in our case, IJKA, London) and signed by the chief instructor who conducted the exam.
SK BUDO President Aleksandr Zõkov