Shotokan
Three parts, practised together
Shotokan is organised around three kinds of practice, and a grading examines all three. They are not stages: a beginner does all three from the first month, and a Dan grade is still doing all three.
- Kihon 基本
- The fundamentals — stance, stepping, blocking, striking, kicking — practised alone so the shape is right before it is used under pressure.
- Kata 型
- Set sequences against imagined opponents. Each carries a body of technique in a fixed order, which is how the style was transmitted for generations without being written down.
- Kumite 組手
- Practice with a partner. It begins entirely prearranged — both people know what is coming — and becomes freer as control improves.
The kata library covers each form the federation teaches, individually.
The grades
Progress is marked in kyu grades counting down to first kyu, then in Dan grades counting up. Below is the federation's own record of what each step requires.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Grade | Belt | Kihon | Kata | Kumite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th → 9th Kyu | White → Yellow | Zenkutsu-dachi · oi-zuki · age-uke · gedan-barai | Taikyoku Shodan · Heian Shodan | Gohon Kumite (five-step) |
| 9th → 8th Kyu | Yellow → Orange | Soto-uke · uchi-uke · mae-geri combinations | Heian Nidan | Gohon Kumite |
| 8th → 7th Kyu | Orange → Green | Kokutsu-dachi · shuto-uke · yoko-geri keage & kekomi | Heian Sandan | Sanbon Kumite (three-step) |
| 7th → 6th Kyu | Green → Blue | Kiba-dachi · empi strikes · mawashi-geri | Heian Yondan | Sanbon Kumite |
| 6th → 5th Kyu | Blue → Purple | Compound combinations · ushiro-geri | Heian Godan | Kihon Ippon Kumite (one-step) |
| 5th → 4th Kyu | Purple → Brown 3 | Advanced combinations at full speed | Tekki Shodan | Kihon Ippon Kumite |
| 4th → 2nd Kyu | Brown 3 → Brown 1 | Full syllabus review under pressure | Bassai Dai + all previous kata | Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi-free) |
| 1st Kyu → Shodan | Brown → Black | Complete kihon syllabus, both sides, at full intent | Bassai Dai · Kanku Dai · tokui kata | Jiyu Kumite (free sparring) |
-
10th → 9th Kyu
White → Yellow
- Kihon
- Zenkutsu-dachi · oi-zuki · age-uke · gedan-barai
- Kata
- Taikyoku Shodan · Heian Shodan
- Kumite
- Gohon Kumite (five-step)
-
9th → 8th Kyu
Yellow → Orange
- Kihon
- Soto-uke · uchi-uke · mae-geri combinations
- Kata
- Heian Nidan
- Kumite
- Gohon Kumite
-
8th → 7th Kyu
Orange → Green
- Kihon
- Kokutsu-dachi · shuto-uke · yoko-geri keage & kekomi
- Kata
- Heian Sandan
- Kumite
- Sanbon Kumite (three-step)
-
7th → 6th Kyu
Green → Blue
- Kihon
- Kiba-dachi · empi strikes · mawashi-geri
- Kata
- Heian Yondan
- Kumite
- Sanbon Kumite
-
6th → 5th Kyu
Blue → Purple
- Kihon
- Compound combinations · ushiro-geri
- Kata
- Heian Godan
- Kumite
- Kihon Ippon Kumite (one-step)
-
5th → 4th Kyu
Purple → Brown 3
- Kihon
- Advanced combinations at full speed
- Kata
- Tekki Shodan
- Kumite
- Kihon Ippon Kumite
-
4th → 2nd Kyu
Brown 3 → Brown 1
- Kihon
- Full syllabus review under pressure
- Kata
- Bassai Dai + all previous kata
- Kumite
- Jiyu Ippon Kumite (semi-free)
-
1st Kyu → Shodan
Brown → Black
- Kihon
- Complete kihon syllabus, both sides, at full intent
- Kata
- Bassai Dai · Kanku Dai · tokui kata
- Kumite
- Jiyu Kumite (free sparring)
How grading works sets out who examines, and under whose authority.
Where to practise it
MMAKF teaches Shotokan at its headquarters and at affiliated centres, and runs it as a programme inside schools, companies and universities.