How It Works
Gradings take place every 3 months usually.
To be eligible to grade students must have completed the minimum training period and have attended the minimum number of lessons.
All grading students must have a karate suit, bearing the IKA badge.
All members must have an up to date BIKO licence and membership.
IN SHOTOKAN KARATE STUDENTS PROGRESS THROUGH A BELT SYSTEM WITH EACH LEVEL HAVING A DIFFERENT COLOUR. EACH LEVEL BEFORE BLACK BELT ARE KNOWN AS KYU GRADES.
Every Kyu grade has its own syllabus that needs to be learnt and during the grading progress this syllabus will be marked on a number of factors. If the student reaches the desired standard they will pass their grading and move on to their new Kyu grade.
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10th & 9th Kyu
①Chudan Oi-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Kakiwake gedan kamae
⑥Mae-geri（step forward）
From Kiba-dachi
⑦Yoko ke-komi (both sides)
Kata
Heian Shodan
(Performed to the count)
Kumite
Gohon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
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8th Kyu
From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae
①Chudan Oi-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Kakiwake gedan kamae
⑥Mae-geri（step forward）
From Kiba-dachi
⑦Yoko ke-komi (both sides) / Yoko ke-age (both sides)
Kata
Heian Shodan
Kumite
Gohon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
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7th Kyu
①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
From Jiyu-na-kamae
⑦Mae-geri（step forward）
⑧Mawashi-geri（step forward）
From Kiba-dachi
⑨Yoko ke-age（step forward）
⑩Yoko ke-komi（step forward）
Kata
Heian Nidan
Kumite
Gohon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
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6th Kyu
①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke（step back）
From Jiyu-na-kamae
⑦Mae-geri（step forward）
⑧Mawashi-geri（step forward）
From Kiba-dachi
⑨Yoko ke-age（step forward）
⑩Yoko ke-komi（step forward）
Kata
Heian Sandan
Kumite
Gohon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
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5th Kyu
①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai (step backward)
From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae
⑦Mae-geri, Oi-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑧Mawashi-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊Keep the hand at same position before kicking
From Kiba-dachi
⑨Yoko ke-age switch legs Yoko ke-komi
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑩Turning & stepping forward Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki
Kata
Heian Yondan
Junro-Shodan
Kumite
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
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4th Kyu
From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae
①Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki (frontal hip position for both punches) (step forward)
②Jodan Age-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Chudan Uchi-uke, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑥Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai (step backward)
From Zenkutsu-dachi Gedan-kamae
⑦Mae-geri, Oi-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑧Mawashi-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊Keep the hand at same position before kicking
From Kiba-dachi
⑨Yoko ke-age switch legs Yoko ke-komi
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑩Turning & stepping forward Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki
Kata
Heian Godan
Kumite
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
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3rd Kyu
① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)
Kata
Tekki Shodan
Kumite
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
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2nd Kyu
① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)
Kata
Bassai Dai
Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
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1st Kyu
① Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Jodan Age-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nukite（step back）
⑤Gedan Barai, Nekoashi-dachi Uchi-uke, slide forward to Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-zuki Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑥From Jiyu-na-kamae,
Mae-geri, Jodan Oi-zuki, Chudan Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
＊In Oi-zuki (hanmi, side facing), Gyaku-zuki (shomen, frontal facing)
⑦ From Jiyu-na-kamae
Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri, Ura Mawashi-geri（both sides）
Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑧Yoko Ke-age, same leg Yoko Ke-komi (step forward) Mawatte (turn around), from Gedan-kamae
⑨Turning & stepping forward Ura Shuto-uchi, same place Haito-uchi (step forward)
Kata
Bassai Dai
Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
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1st Dan
①Long step forward Sanbon-zuki（step forward）
②Long step backward Jodan Age-uke, Front leg Mae-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
③Chudan Soto-uke, Kiba-dachi Enpi, Zenkutsu-dachi Ura-ken, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
④Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke, Nekoashi-dachi Gedan Barai, Front leg Mae-geri, Gyaku-zuki（step back）
＊Keep Nekoashi-dachi after kicking, then shift to Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki
⑤Mae-geri Oi-zuki, Mawashi-geri Gyaku-zuki, Ushiro-geri Gyaku-zuki, Ura Mawashi-geri Gyaku-zuki (both sides）
⑥From Zenkutsu-dachi, Jiyu-na-kamae, same leg Yoko Ke-age, Yoko Ke-komi, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
Mawatte (turn around), from Jiyu-na-kamae (both sides are acceptable, choose either left or right side)
⑦Yose ashi (move the back leg half step) Kizami-zuki, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑧Move with front leg forward, Gyaku-zuki, change side Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
⑨Move with front leg forward, Mae-geri, Oi-zuki, Gyaku-zuki（step forward）
*Attention to the seventh combination of the Shodan syllabus, yose ashi is compulsory. The Dan test candidate must move the back leg half step, then perform a Kizami-zuki, Gyaku-zuki combination.
Kata
Tokui Kata
Candidates choice of:
Bassai-Dai
Kanku-Dai
Enpi
Jion
Shitei Kata
Examiners choice of:
Heian-Shodan to Heian Godan
Tekki-Shodan
Junro-Shodan to Junro-Godan
Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
Jodan Oi-zuki
Chudan Oi-zuki
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri
Mawashi-geri
Ushiro-geri
Jiyu Kumite
Free Sparring
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2nd Dan
Kata
Tokui Kata
Kata of choice
Shitei Kata
Examiners choice of:
Bassai-Dai
Kanku-Dai
Enpi
Jion
Hangetsu
Junro-Kata
Gankaku
Jitte
Kumite
Jiyu Kumite
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Red Dragons
Our red Dragons's take Red Orange Green Blue purple brown and black belts before transferring to Karate Kids at around 6 yrs old.
After transferring they will next grade to a yellow belt.
Red Dragons
Ages 3-5
Junior Team
Ages 6-17
Competition Squad
Ages 6-17
Private Sessions
Ages 6-17
What Our Clients Say
"Coach Hazem and the team are great. My son has attended for a year and he has learnt so much. The classes are very flexible and enjoyable. Would highly recommend."
Christopher Hill
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"Sending my very 6 year old daughter here has bought her confidence on so much. Coach Hazem knows exactly the right way to get the best out of her. The family atmosphere at the club is lovely, everyone is so friendly. I cannot recommend enough."
Karl Shipp
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"I’m very pleased we have found IKA. Great team, very supportive and encouraging, friendly and fun. My 3 year old son loves it, he always looks forward to the next session. Thank you!"
Olena Kushakovska
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"I recommend this place 100%. My son loves karate lessons. Since he joined the club, he is very excited, with each lesson, he is eagerly waiting for the next lessons. The trainer is a great authority for him. Kelly is very nice and is always available to help. IKA is the best."
Kinga Gal
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"I have been looking for a good Karate Academy for my daughter. I can assure that IKA is definitely the best in Ipswich! Keep the good work going coach!"
Hatice Koksal
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