NEW JKA Grading System!!

Many studying materials are available on JKA's website.  Unfortunately, there are more materials
available in Japanese, and Japanese materials are more updated.

One of the materials available is the "Grading System" - the content of the Kyu and Dan exam.  When I first read this a while back, I got a little confused because it didn't make sense to me.   It is SO MUCH different than what I have seen the last 25 years.  

Take a look at the new grading syllabus:

   http://www.jka.or.jp/ja/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/7395872968769c52e4aade65f2fa013c.pdf

OK, I'm kidding.  If you can read this, you probably wouldn't be reading this blog :)

I forgot to ask about it to JKA HQ Sensei at the World Cup, but I also read about it on Andre Bertel's (now back to JKA) website.  He also does a good job translating the syllabus to English:

http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-new-jka-grading-syllabus.html

I'm not go into the nitty gritty details, so let's talk about something obvious like Kata.  In the US, the trend has been:

(Testig for) 

8Kyu - Heian Sho Dan

(Syllabus has it that, Jr. beginners are also tested as 9Kyu, but I haven't seen anyone follow it in the US).

7Kyu - Heian 2 Dan

6Kyu - Heian 3 Dan

5kyu - Heian 4 Dan

4kyu - Heian 5 Dan

3kyu - Tekki Shodan

Shodan, 1 kyu, 2kyu- Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, or Empi

Now the new syllabus is this:

10Kyu - No Kata

9Kyu - No Kata

8Kyu - Taikyoku Shodan

7Kyu - Heian Shodan

6Kyu - Heian Nidan

5Kyu - Heian Sandan

4Kyu - Heian Yondan

3Kyu - Heian Godan

2Kyu - Tekki Shodan

1Kyu - Bassai Dai or Kanku Dai

Shodan - Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi, or Jion

Yes, so you will learn Heian Shodan as a (in most dojos) YELLOW BELT, not WHITE!  The document says that this is in effect as of July 1st, 2014.  

There is a lot more change than just the Kata.  Basics are quite different too, all the way up to high Dans (5, 6, 7 Dan).  

I'm sure that there will be some transition period, but instructors must pay extra attention to their examinees, especially for 1Kyu and above.  You don't want to choose Empi or Jion as your Tokui Kata (favorite Kata) for 1Kyu exam and realized that it's not even one of the Kata choices...

I will call the JKA HQ Instructor soon and ask whether this is actually in effect and the intent behind it.  Either way, sooner or later, this is going to be the standard.  I better start transitioning now!

===========================UPDATE=============================
Thanks to our JKA friend from Bahamas, Brian Stapleton, as well as Cmark Hilario.  I think it's 100% confirmed that the new grading system is in-effect.  There's been an official letter sent to the JKA Organizations in each country to notify the new grading content and the effective date previously written.

Thanks to Brian Stapleton and Cmark Hilario.  Cmark sent me the link to the JKA's website with English-translated syllabus:

http://jka.or.jp/en/karate/dan_rank.html

Brian also sent me the PDF version of the syllabus.  

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