A brown belt is generally considered a senior student and getting a brown belt is a major and exciting milestone in your karate journey.

In this first brown belt grading (there are three in total), you will be asked to demonstrate that you’ve mastered all basic stances and techniques to a certain level and show that you are now ready for more advanced techniques and new challenges ahead.

In this post, we will look at grading requirements for your first brown belt grading (3rd kyu) under the Shotokan curriculum and how to best prepare for this grading.

What does the brown belt in karate represent?

The color brown represents a ripening seed ready for harvest.

Brown belt students are considered mature martial artists who’ve grasped the fundamentals and know how to apply them in self-defense to a certain level.

Brown belt students are now ready to move to the next level and begin a new journey in martial arts.

How long does it take to get a brown belt (3rd kyu) in Shotokan karate?

The minimum training time is around 72 hours or at some dojos it is around 50 training sessions since your 4th kyu grading.

It will take around 4 to 6 months to get from a purple belt (4th kyu) to a brown belt (3rd kyu) for a highly motivated and dedicated student.

In total, you would have trained consistently for around two years and half or more to have come this far.

As with previous gradings, someone may take a lot longer to get a brown belt, depending on how often they train, how committed they are as well as their physical fitness and natural athletic ability.

If you are asked to participate in a 3rd kyu grading, it means your instructor judges that you’ve met the requirements to be awarded a 3rd kyu. Congratulations! You should be proud of how far you’ve come and what you’ve been able to achieve.

On the day of the grading, all you have to do is to have confidence in yourself and demonstrate to the best of your ability what you have learned so far.

If you don’t feel like you are ready for this major grading, you can tell your sensei that you would like to skip a grading and go for it the next time. I’ve done it before and I know other students who did that too on occasions. Your sensei will certainly understand and won’t pressure you.

There is absolutely no need to rush. Take your time and enjoy the journey, a particular color belt or grade is never the aim of karate.

How to prepare for your first brown belt (3rd kyu) grading?

As mentioned above, in this grading, you will be examined on all the basic stances and techniques that you have learned so far.

You should be able to demonstrate stable and strong stances and accurate techniques with sufficient power and speed (to the extent that your physical ability allows).

If you fail to demonstrate an area of the curriculum to the standard expected of you at the 3rd kyu level, you will not be awarded a provisional grade and will need to undertake the grading again in the future.

For example, if your kiba dachi is consistently too high or you completely fail to engage your hips when delivering punches from simple stationary positions, you haven’t got the basics right yet.

In a large dojo, your sensei may overlook and asks you to grade when some of your techniques or katas still need more work.

Usually, the examiner is someone who is not your day-to-day sensei and he or she may be able to identify issues that your sensei has overlooked.

If this happens to you, it’s understandable to be disappointed but it’s not your fault. The best thing to do is to put this small problem behind and work hard to prove yourself at the next grading.

Below are some tips to help you prepare for your first brown belt grading:

  • Demonstrate good training spirit at every training session (e.g. total focus, high intensity, loud kiai, and maximum power)
  • Go through all basic techniques regularly. Perform individual techniques as well as their combinations (see the 4th kyu grading requirements for detail). Find ways to improve the speed and power of those techniques
  • Go through all the katas you have learned regularly and their bunkai. Ask your sensei or a senior student to critique your performance
  • Film your kata performances and watch them later. Compare them to the demonstrations by masters and find areas where you need to work on
  • Find opportunities to go through kihon ippon kumite exercises with a partner regularly
  • Find opportunities to spar with partners of different technical levels
  • Take part in both kata and kumite competitions at tournaments as much as you can. Winning will be the icing on the cake but the main benefit of competing is you’re like to spend more time training and preparing and, hence, improve your karate
  • Work on your fitness consistently (e.g. have a regular routine of 2-3 times a week working on your strength and conditioning exercises). It’s difficult to deliver strong techniques from a weak body
  • Make sure you know all proper etiquette around the dojo and can set a good example for new students
  • Memorize basic Japanese words (general, stances, counting, techniques, etc.)
  • Know how to lead warm-up and kihon exercises. As a brown belt student, you may be asked to lead warm-up and basic exercises if your instructor is unexpectedly engaged with something else
  • Take initiative at training, for example, getting training equipment, helping out junior students, cleaning up the dojo, etc. In other words, get ready to be a brown belt before your brown belt grading.

Shotokan brown belt (3rd kyu) grading requirements

There are four technique areas that you need to demonstrate for your 3rd kyu brown belt grading: kihon, kata, kumite and ukemi waza.

1. Kihon

At this grading, you will need to demonstrate that you are now able to perform all basic techniques correctly with sufficient power and and speed.

In the 3rd kyu grading, you are not asked to perform combinations of techniques like in previous gradings but are required to perform individual basic techniques.

This is because the examiner wants to make sure you’ve mastered those basic but foundational techniques to a certain level.

In addition to getting the techniques right, you also need to show progress in terms of power and speed to the extent that your physical ability allows.

For the 3rd kyu brown belt in Shotokan, you will need to learn and demonstrate proficiency with the following stances and techniques.

  1. Stances:
    • Zenkutsu dachi
    • Kokutsu dachi
    • Kiba dachi
    • Neko ashi dachi
  2. Techniques:
    • Oi tsuki
    • Gyaku tsuki
    • Age uke
    • Soto ude uke
    • Uchi ude uke
    • Yoko empi
    • Kizami tsuki
    • Nukite
    • Shuto uke
    • Mae ren-geri
    • Mawashi geri
    • Yoko geri keage
    • Yoko geri kekomi
    • Ushiro geri

In the grading, you will be required to perform the following basic techniques.

The examiner will be looking out for correct and strong stances and correct techniques with power, speed and good martial art spirit.

He or she will also be looking out for good hip rotations, appropriate relaxation between techniques and good kime points.

Oi tsuki (lunge punch)

  • Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left gedan barai
  • Step forward into a right front stance (migi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a lunge punch with the right hand (migi chudan oi tsuki)
  • Step forward into a left front stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi) and perform a lunge punch with the left hand (hidari chudan oi tsuki)
  • Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.

Gyaku tsuki (reverve punch)

  • Start in a ready stance (yoi dachi) and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi with a left hand in chamber and right hand out in a reverse punch position
  • Step forward into a right front stance (migi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a reverse punch with your left hand (hidari gyaku tsuki) aiming at the chest (solar plexus or suigetsu)
  • Step forward into a left front stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi) and perform a reverse punch with your right hand (migi gyaku tsuki) aiming at the chest
  • Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.

Age uke (rising block)

  • 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 (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a rising block with your right hand (migi jodan age uke)
  • Step backward into a left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform a rising block with your left hand (hidari jodan age uke)
  • Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.

Soto ude uke (outside inward block)

  • 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 (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi), perform an outside-inward block with your right hand (migi soto ude uke)
  • Step backward into a left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi), perform an outside-inward block with your right hand (hidari soto ude uke)
  • Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.

Uchi ude uke (inside outward block)

  • 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 (migi hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform an inside-outward block with your right hand (migi uchi ude uke)
  • Step backward into a left front stance (hidari hanmi zenkutsu dachi) and perform an inside-outward block with your left hand (hidari uchi ude uke)
  • Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.

Shuto uke (knife-hand block)

  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Repeat the above technique as directed by the examiner.

Mae geri (front kick)

  • Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi in kamae position
  • Perform a front kick with the right leg to the chest level (chudan mae geri), landing in a right front stance (migi zenkutsu dachi)
  • Perform a front kick with the left leg to the chest level (chudan mae geri), landing in a left front stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi)
  • Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.

Mawashi geri (round house kick)

  • Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi, hands in kamae position
  • Perform a roundhouse kick with the right leg, landing forward into a right zenkutsu dachi (hands in kamae position)
  • Perform a roundhouse kick with the left leg, landing forward into a left zenkutsu dachi (hands in kamae position)
  • Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.

Yoko geri keage (side snap kick)

  • Start in a ready stance
  • Step to the right hand side into a horse riding stance (kiba dachi) and perform a side snap kick with your right leg (migi yoko geki keage)
  • 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).

Yoko geri kekomi (side thrust kick)

  • Start in a ready stance
  • Step to the right hand side into a horse riding stance (kiba dachi) and perform a side thrust kick (migi yoko geri kekomi), landing in a kiba dachi stance
  • 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).

Ushiro geri (back kick)

  • Start in a ready stance and then change to a left zenkutsu dachi, hands in kamae position
  • Turn around and perform a back kick (ushiro geri) with the right leg, landing in a right zenkutsu dachi
  • Turn around and perform a back kick (ushiro geri) with the left leg, landing in a left zenkutsu dachi
  • Repeat the above as directed by the examiner.

2. Kata

You will perform Tekki Shodan kata (also known as Naihanchi in other styles) for this grading and may be asked to perform a Heian kata from your previous gradings as well.

Tekki Shodan is the first advanced kata in the Shotokan curriculum.

It is done entirely in kiba dachi (horse-riding stance) and you will need to put in a lot of practice to have a strong horse stance. In addition, you need to learn to generate power from the hips to deliver powerful and effective techniques in this kata.

While Tekki Shodan is short, it is technically very difficult to perform well.

Tekki Shodan (Naihanchi) was the favorite kata of Choki Motobu who some call the best practical karate fighter ever lived.

Below are demonstrations of the Tekki Shodan kata by legendary Hirokazu Kanazawa sensei, a student of Masatoshi Nakayama sensei, and Kazuaki Kurihara sensei, a 6th dan in Shotokan who is also a multiple-time kata champion at All Japan Karate-do Championships.

3. Kumite

For your first brown belt grading (3rd kyu), you are required to perform the following Kihon Ippon Kumite techniques:

  • One Jodan
  • One Chudan
  • One Mae geri
  • One Yoko geri kekomi
  • One Mawashi geri.

You should have learned all of the Kihon Ippon Kumite below by now and you may choose any one technique from each group to demonstrate. But you may also be asked to demonstrate other techniques as well.

Jodan

  • Jodan Number 1: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Age uke and counter-attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
  • Jodan Number 2: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Hidari tate shuto uke and counter-attack with Shuto uchi
  • Jodan Number 3: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Migi tate shuto uke and counter-attack with Yoko keage and Yoko empi
  • Jodan Number 4: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Jodan juji uke (crossed wrist block) and counter-attack with Mawashi geri and Ushiro empi
  • Jodan Number 5: Attack with Jodan oi tsuki. Defend with Age uke and counter-attack with Mae geri and Age empi

Chudan

  • Chudan Number 1: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Hidari soto ude uke and counter attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
  • Chudan Number 2: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Migi soto ude uke and counter-attack with Yoko empi
  • Chudan Number 3: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Migi uchi ude uke and counter attack with Kizami tsuki and Gyaku tsuki
  • Chudan Number 4: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Hidari shuto uke and counter attack with Kizami tsuki and Nukite
  • Chudan Number 5: Attack with Chudan oi tsuki. Defend with Chudan hiji uke and counter attack with Ushiro mawashi empi 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 Gyaku gedan barai and counter-attack with Kizami tsuki and Gyaku tsuki
  • Mae geri Number 3: Attack with Chudan mae geri. Defend with Gedan juji uke and counter-attack with Jodan shuto juji uchi
  • Mae geri Number 4: Attack with Chudan Mae geri. Defend with Gedan barai and counter attack with Tate shuto uke and Mae empi
  • Mae geri Number 5: Attack with Chudan Mae geri. Defend with Sukui uke and counter attack with Gyaku tsuki

Yoko geri kekomi

  • Yoko geri Number 1: Attack with Yoko kekomi. Defend with Hidari soto ude uke and counter attack with Gyaku tsuki
  • Yoko geri Number 2: Attack with Yoko kekomi. Defend with Hidari chudan heiwan uke and counter attack with Migi jodan haito uchi
  • Yoko geri Number 3: Attack with Yoko kekomi. Defend with Migi ushiro gedan barai and counter attack with Chudan yoko kekomi and Yoko empi

Jodan mawashi geri

  • Mawashi geri Number 1. Attack with Jodan mawashi geri. Defend with Haiwan uchi ude uke and counter attack with Chudan gyaku tsuki
  • Mawashi geri Number 2. Attack with Jodan mawashi geri. Defend with Tate heiko shuto uke and counter attack with Soeto yoko empi
  • Mawashi geri Number 3: Attack with Jodan mawashi geri. Defend with Migi jodan soto ude uke and counter attack with Kizami geri and Gyaku tsuki.

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.

Basically, you can be asked to demonstrate any of the techniques in the curriculum from the white belt level up to the purple belt level.

6. Fitness test

In some dojos, gradings happen after a normal training session that lasts from an hour to 90 minutes.

You will be exhausted by then but will be given only a short break before you are called up for the grading.

This aims to test your physical fitness as well as mental strength.

After the demonstration of techniques, kata and sparring, you may also be asked to do other fitness tests like 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squat kicks, 100 star jumps and pad works, etc.

It is not an official part of the curriculum but some instructors want their students to push their physical limits.

It’s tough but I’d say it’s good for you. Nothing worth having in life ever comes easy.

References

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