This will be your second brown belt grading as part of the Shotokan grading syllabus.
While you will repeat most of the basic technique combinations that you have done in the 4th kyu grading, you will need to demonstrate a new and advanced kata, Bassai Dai.
You will also be examined on Jyu Ippon Kumite techniques and sun-dome for the first time.
In this post, we will look at detailed grading requirements for your second brown belt grading (2nd kyu).
How long does it take to get your brown belt (2nd kyu) in Shotokan karate?
Some dojos require you to complete a certain number of hours to be graded for 2nd kyu (e.g. 72 hours), but some dojos may require you to complete a certain number of training sessions (e.g. 50 training sessions).
Some dojos also require a minimum training time between the 3rd kyu grading and the 2nd kyu grading in addition to the number of training hours.
Generally, you will need to have trained consistently for about 6 months before you are asked to go for your 2nd kyu grading.
As with the 3rd kyu grading, there will be no provisional grade for 2nd kyu. If there are any material shortcomings in your techniques or katas, you will have to attempt the grading again in the future.
Please check out some tips to help you prepare for this grading in the previous post of this series.
Shotokan brown belt (2nd kyu) grading requirements
There are four technique areas that you need to demonstrate for your 2nd kyu grading: kihon, kata, kumite and ukemi waza.
1. Kihon
You need to know the following stances and techniques for your 2nd kyu grading.
- Stances:
- Zenkutsu Dachi
- Kokutsu Dachi
- Kiba Dachi
- Neko Ashi Dachi
- Hachji Dachi
- Heisoku Dachi
- Techniques:
- Oi tsuki
- Gyaku tsuki
- Age uke
- Soto ude uke
- Uchi ude uke
- Yoko empi
- Kizami tsuki
- Kizami kekomi
- Nukite
- Shuto uke
- Mae ren-geri
- Mawashi geri
- Yoko geri keage
- Yoko geri kekomi
- Uraken
- Ushiro geri
In the grading, you will be required to perform these techniques as listed below. The examiner will count and the general rule is one count, one move.
Sanbon tsuki (three punches, Jodan, Chudan, Chudan)
- Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
- Step forward into right front stance (migi zenkutsu dachi) and perform three punches: Jodan oi tsuki (migi), Chudan oi tsuki (hidari) and Chudan oi tsuki (migi)
- Step forward into left front stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi) and perform three punches: Jodan oi tsuki (hidari), Chudan oi tsuki (migi) and Chudan oi tsuki (hidari)
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.
Gyaku tsuki sanbon (reverse punch to the chest, punch to the face, and reverse punch to the chest)
- Start in ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
- Step forward into right front stance (migi zenkutsu dachi) and perform 3 punches: a reverse punch with your left hand (hidari gyaku tsuki) aiming at the chest, followed by a lunge punch to the face (migi jodan oi tsuki) and another reverse punch to the chest (hidari gyaku tsuki)
- Step forward into left front stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi) and perform 3 punches again: migi gyaku tsuki aiming at the chest, hidari jodan oi tsuki aiming at the face, and migi gyaku tsuki aiming at the chest
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.
Age uke (rising block), Gedan barai (lower block) and Gyaku tsuki (reverse punch)
- Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
- Step backward into a right front stance with the body making a 45 degree angle (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a rising block with your right hand (migi jodan age uke), immediately followed by a lower block (gedan barai) with the same hand. Counter-attack with a reserve punch (hidari gyaku tsuki)
- Step backward into left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a rising block with your left hand (hidari jodan age uke), immediately followed by a lower block (gedan barai) with the same hand. Counter-attack with a reverse punch (migi gyaku tsuki)
- Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.
Note that the first move is to go backward in order to create an extra layer of safety in case your block misses the attack or is not strong enough.
The same rule applies to other combinations of block and counterattack techniques listed below.
When performing the above combination of techniques, imagine someone is coming for you with a straight punch to the face, followed by a gedan punch or a kick. You move backward and block with an age uke and a gedan barai, then immediately counter-attack with a gyaku tsuki .
Soto ude uke (block from outside inwards), Yoko empi (sideway elbow attack), Uraken (back fist strike) and Gyaku tsuki (reverse punch)
- Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
- Step backward into right front stance (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi), perform an outside-inward block with your right hand (migi soto ude uke) and immediately counterattack with a migi yoko empi and migi uraken in kiba dachi stance, followed by a hidari gyaku tsuki in zenkutsu dachi stance
- Step backward into left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi), perform an outside-inward block with your left hand (hidari soto ude uke) and immediately counterattack with a hidari yoko empi and hidari uraken in kiba dachi stance, followed by a migi gyaku tsuki in zenkutsu dachi stance
- Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.
When performing this combination of techniques, imagine someone is coming for you with a straight punch to the chest. You move backward and block with a soto ude uke, then immediately counterattack with yoko empi and uraken using the same hand, followed by a gyaku tsuki by the other hand.
Uchi ude uke (block from inside to outside), Kizami tsuki (leading arm punch) and Gyaku tsuki (reverse punch)
- Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
- Step backward into right front stance (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform an inside-outward block with your right hand (migi uchi ude uke) and counter-attack immediately using the same hand with a lead-arm punch (kizami tsuki), followed by a hidari gyaku tsuki
- Step backward into left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform an inside-outward block with your left hand (hidari uchi ude uke) and counter-attack immediately using the same hand with a lead-arm punch (kizami tsuki), followed by a migi gyaku tsuki
- Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.
When performing this combination of techniques, visualize that someone is coming for you with a straight punch to the chest, you move backward and block with an uchi ude uke and immediately counter-attack with a kizami tsuki with the same hand and a gyaku tsuki with the other hand.
Shuto uke (knife-hand block), kizami geri (front leg kick) and Nuki-te (spear hand strike)
- Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi)
- Step backward with your right leg into a back stance (kokutsu dachi) and perform a knife-hand block with your left hand (hidari shuto uke), followed by a leading leg kick (hidari kizami geri) and a migi nuki-te (spear hand strike) in zenkutsu dachi
- Step backward with your left leg into a back stance (kokutsu dachi) and perform a knife-hand block with your right hand (migi shuto uke), followed by leading leg kick (migi kizami geri) and a hidari nuki-te (spear hand strike) in zenkutsu dachi
- Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.
When performing this combination of techniques, visualize someone is coming for you with a chudan attack, you move backward and block with a shuto uke and then counter-attack with a leading leg kick (usually aiming to destroy the front knee of the opponent) and a spear-hand strike.
Spear-hand strike is only effective if you’ve conditioned your hands to some extent. If not, a simple gyaku tsuki is a better choice.
Mae ren-geri (front kicks to jodan level and chudan level)
- Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi, hands in kamae position
- Perform a front kick with the right leg to the face level (jodan mae geri), landing the right leg into zenkutsu dachi stance then perform chudan mae geri with the left leg, landing the left leg forward into a zenkutsu dachi stance
- Perform a front kick with the left leg to the face level (jodan mae geri), landing the left leg into a zenkutsu dachi stance then perform chudan mae geri with the right leg, landing the right leg into a zenkutsu dachi stance
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.
Mae geri (front kick), Mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) [nidan geri] and Gyaku tsuki (reverse punch)
- Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi, hands in kamae position
- Perform a front kick and a roundhouse kick with the right leg (nidan geri), landing in a right zenkutsu dachi (kamae position) then do a reverse punch with the left hand (hidari gyaku tsuki)
- Perform a front kick and a roundhouse kick with the left leg, landing in a left zenkutsu dachi (kamae position) then do a reverse punch with the right hand (migi gyaku tsuki)
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.
Yoko nidan geri (side snap kick and side thrust kick, same leg)
- Start in a ready stance
- Step to the right hand side into a horse riding stance (kiba dachi) and perform a side snap kick (migi yoko geki keage) and side thrust kick (migi yoko geri kekomi) with your right leg
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner (you are likely required to do five kicks to the right and then turn around and do another five kicks to the left).
Kizami kekomi (thrust kick with the lead leg), Ushiro geri (back kick)
- Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi, hands in kamae position
- Perform a kizami kekomi with the left leg then turn around and perform a back kick with the right leg, landing forward in a right zenkutsu dachi
- Perform a kizami kekomi with the right leg then turn around and perform a back kick with the left leg, landing forward in a left zenkutsu dachi
- Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.
At some dojos, you may be asked to perform Mawashi geri and Yogo geri kekomi from a stationary position, facing the examiner.
2. Kata
You will perform Bassai Dai kata for this grading and usually will be asked to perform a Heian kata as well.
Bassai Dai is an advanced kata and many karatekas have selected this kata in international competitions.
Bassai Dai means “to storm a fortress” or “to penetrate a fortress“. The first move of the kata where the karateka launches forward with a powerful soete-uchi-uke reflects the name and spirit of this kata.
Bassai Dai is practiced in many karate styles with minor variations.
Below are a few demonstrations of the Bassai Dai kata.
3. Kumite
From the 2nd kyu grading onward, you are required to demonstrate Jyu Ippon Kumite techniques or one-step sparring exercises.
For your 2nd kyu grading, you are required to demonstrate:
- 2 Jodan
- 2 Chudan
- 2 Mae geri
- 1 Yoko geri
- 1 Mawashi geri
- 1 Kizami tsuki
- 1 Gyaku tsuki.
Some dojos may require you to demonstrate specific techniques (e.g. Jodan number 1 & 3, Chudan number 1 & 2), but some dojos may allow you to choose among the techniques you have learned.
Below is an example.
Jodan
- Jodan Number 1: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Tate shuto uke and counter-attack with Gyaku tsuki
- Jodan Number 2: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Nagashi uke and counter-attack with Ura tsuki
Chudan
- Chudan Number 1: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Soto ude uke and counter attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
- Chudan Number 2: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Hidari Seiryuto gedan uke and counter attack with Uraken uchi
Chudan mae geri
- Mae geri Number 1: Attack with Chudan mae geri. Defend with Gedan barai and counter attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
- Mae geri Number 2: Attack with Chudan mae geri. Defend with Migi gedan barai, Tate uke and counter attack with Choku tsuki
Yoko geri
- Yoko geri Number 1: Attack with Yoko kekomi. Defend with Hidari soto ude uke and counter attack with Gyaku tsuki
Mawashi geri
- Mawashi geri Number 1. Attack with Jodan mawashi geri. Defend with Haiwan uke and counter attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
Kizami tsuki
- Kizami tsuki Number 1: Attack with Jodan kizami tsuki. Evade by steping to the left and counter attack with Jodan Uraken uchi and Hidari gyaku tsuki
Gyaku tsuki
- Gyaku tsuki Number 1: Attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki. Evade by stepping the right foot to the left and counter attack with Kizami tsuki and Gyaku tsuki
4. Sun dome test
The sun-dome test is a test of your ability to stop a strike at a spot just an inch from the target.
The examiner will hold a pencil loosely and move it around randomly.
The pencil will be your moving target and you need to attack it with Kizami tsuki and Gyaku tsuki.
Your techniques should be delivered with full power and speed but you should be able to control your techniques so that you always stop your fist at about an inch from the pencil.
The sun-dome test is introduced from the 2nd kyu grading because you are now considered an advanced enough student that your punches and kicks can cause a lot of damage.
Therefore, it’s necessary for you to learn how to control your techniques and keep a safe distance to protect your training partners as well as avoid getting yourself into trouble.
4. Ukemi waza
Ukemi Waza are break-fall techniques.
You are required to perform Ukemi Waza Level 3 or higher. Level 3 includes the following techniques:
- Shoulder roll from standing position
- Shoulder roll to side breakfall
- Side breakfall from simple throw.
You need to demonstrate both the left and right sides.
5. Other techniques
Please prepare for situations where you are asked to perform other techniques by the examiner, for example, a combination of previously learned techniques or techniques you’ve performed in previous gradings.
Basically, you can be asked to demonstrate any of the techniques in the curriculum from the white belt level up to the brown belt level.
6. Fitness test
As mentioned in the previous post, in some dojos, fitness tests are part of grading.
Gradings usually happen after a normal training session that lasts from an hour to 90 minutes. Therefore, you will really need to push yourself hard to stay focused and demonstrate your techniques, kata and kumite the best you can.
Afterward, you may be asked to do other fitness tests like 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squat kicks, 100 star jumps and pad works, etc.
References
The JKA Kyu and Dan Rank Certification System
Shotokan Karate International Australia Grading Syllabus
Understanding the Meaning of Karate Belt Colors
Zanshin Shotokan Karatedo Grading Curriculum
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