Promotion

COURSE PROGRESSION and CHECK LIST

BEGINNING LEVEL

10th Kyu -- Yellow Belt
1.   PKI Dojo regulations and etiquette
2.   Code of the Karate-Ka
3.   Basic Karate Terminology
4.   Ability to perform warm-up exercises adequately
5. Closed stance, shoulder stance, and front stance
6.   Well executed Kamaete
7.   Basic thrust in shoulder stance and front stance
8.   Blocks: Upward, Outward, Inward, Downward
9.   Front kick
10. Moving basics with thrusting, blocking, and front kicking techniques
11. Pivoting and shifting with proper balance
12. Strong KIAI!
13. Kihon Kata Zenkutsu Dachi Dai San (downward block / lunge punch)
14. Tenth Kyu examination

9th Kyu -- Orange Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Explanation of PKI symbol
3.   Knife-hand block and strike
4.   Cat stance (neko ashi dachi)
5.   Hammer-fist strike (kentsui uchi)
6.   Release from wrist grabs
7.   Kihon Kata Nekoashi Dachi Dai Ni
     (outward block / front kick - lunge punch)
8.   Pinan Shodan and explanation
9.   One-step sparring
10. Ninth Kyu examination

8th Kyu -- Orange Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Knowledge of karate history
3.   Simultaneous blocking techniques
4.   Augmented blocking techniques
5.   Spear-hand thrust (nukite)
6.   Back-knuckle strikes (uraken uchi)
7.   Elbow blocking and striking techniques (hiji ate)
8.   Release from rear holds
9.   Straddle stance (shiko dachi)
10. Roundhouse kick (mawashi geri)
11. Moving basics with block-thrust and kick-thrust combination
12. Pinan Nidan and explanation
13. Shinsei and explanation
14. Eight Kyu examination

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

7th Kyu -- Blue Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Inner figure eight stance (uchihachiji dachi)
3.   Hijiate Goho (five direction elbow strike exercise)
4.   Front leg kicking from front stance and cat stance
5.   Thrust and bloc with same arm (tsukidome)
6.   Knee joint kick (sokuto geri)
7.   Side kick (yoko geri)
8.   Break falls to back, side, and front; and with roll
9.   Release from front holds
10. Pinan Sandan and explanation
11. Jyuroku and explanation
12. Three step sparring
13. Attendance at one special seminar
14. Seventh Kyu examination

6th Kyu -- Blue Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   X blocks (kosa uke)
3.   Back of hand block (kote uke)
4.   Release from upper arm grabs
5.   Back stance (kokutsu dachi)
6.   Passing block and passing thrust
7.   Pinan Yondan and explanation
8.   Matsukaze and explanation
9.   Three Haiku poems on Matsu
10. Six Kyu examination

5th Kyu -- Green Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Round house thrust (furi tsuki)
3.   Cross-Leg stance (kosa dachi)
4.   Eight directions of movement (tenshin happo)
5.   Pinan Godan and explanation
6.   Saiha and explanation
7.   Semi-free sparring
8.   Essay on your personal development in karate
9.   Attendance at one additional special seminar
10. Fifth Kyu examination

4th Kyu -- Green Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Five methods of body shifting (tenpo gosoku no ho)
3.   Ability to perform all stances adequately
4.   Back kick (ushiro geri)
5.   Release from lapel and shoulder grabs
6.   Jiin and explanation
7.   Niseishi and explanation
8.   Explanation of Ki
9.   Fourth Kyu examination

ADVANCED LEVEL

3rd Kyu -- Brown Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Strong focus on all basic techniques
3.   Breathing control
4.   Improved falling and tumbling ability
5.   Release from head hold
6.   Bassai Dai and explanation
7.   Sanchin and explanation
8.   Free sparring
9.   Three Haiku poems on Karate-Do
10. Third Kyu examination

2nd Kyu -- Brown Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Choke holds and releases (front and rear)
3.   Five methods of defense (uke no gogenri)
4.   Rohai and explanation
5.   Seienchin and explanation
6.   Demonstration of five throwing techniques
7.   Study of Zen philosophy
8.   Second Kyu examination

1st Kyu --- Brown Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Ability to demonstrate defense from the ground
3.   Explanation of kyusho jitsu for various striking techniques
4.   Jion and explanation
5.   Sochin and explanation
6.   Defense against multiple attackers
7.   Ability to assist in class instruction
8.   Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
9.   First Kyu examination

INSTRUCTOR LEVEL

Shodan -- Black Belt
1.   All of the above plus:
2.   Outstanding character, dojo etiquette
3.   Thesis on assigned topic
4.   Pinan 1-5 and explanation (be prepared to perform one)
5.   Bassai Dai and explanation
6.   Kosokun Dai and explanation
7.   Seipai, Seisan, Shisochin (choose one)
8.   Attendance at one instructor training seminar
9.   Ability to instruct with minimal supervision
10. Thorough Japanese terminology
11. Shodan examination

TESTING ABOVE SHODAN

See Bartholomay Shihan for Kata and special assignments, testing conducted by Shihan panel.

TEST FEES and SCHEDULE

See Bartholomay Shihan for current fees and test dates Print online Promotion Application and return it to Bartholomay Shihan one week prior to your test for review.