Brown & Double White Belt (1st Kyu)

The student completes the techniques independently.

The student performs their techniques to a high standard. Their movements are consistently developed, powerful, fast and with good timing.

The student demonstrates consistent and fully developed body dynamics when performing their techniques. The student can also demonstrate that they understand that body dynamics is used to generate power, balance, and stability.

The student demonstrates consistently high levels of intensity and focus within each technique.

The student completes their kata independently.

The student must demonstrate a good understanding of movements within the kata. Each movement must be consistently fully developed and performed to the correct target.

The student must demonstrate five or six of the following criteria, one of which must be technique:

• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.
• Dynamics: movements are performed sharply with good balance. The transitions between moves are completed with correct muscle engagement.
• Eye direction: the kata is performed with the student looking in the correct direction and engaging their eyes before each move.
• Timing: the kata is performed with the correct timing and tempo for each move or group of moves.
• Kime: the student matches their breathing to each technique to tense the body and generate maximum power.
• Zanshin: the student is totally focused; each move has intent, and the kata is performed with intensity

The student completes their sparring independently.

The student demonstrates good, consistent body dynamics within their sparring.

The student demonstrates five or six of the following criteria:

• Accuracy: attacks and counterattacks must be consistently to the correct target.
• Distance: any attacks and counterattacks must be consistently at an appropriate range to just touch the target.
• Pressure: each movement must look real and have the intention to do harm but retain full control.
• Control: each technique is completed had full speed and power without excessive contact or harm to the partner.
• Timing: each technique is explosive, but the sparring is not rushed. The student and their partner are able to synchronise their blocking and striking techniques.
• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.

AND

The student can demonstrate a high level of understanding of free sparring, with consistently effective attacking, blocking, counterattacking, movement, and consistent intensity. They must demonstrate a clear thought process and awareness behind their sparring.

The student completes the required techniques independently.

The student performs their techniques to a high standard. Their movements are consistently developed, powerful, fast and with good timing.

The student demonstrates consistent and fully developed body dynamics when performing their techniques.

The student is focused.

The student must demonstrate good intensity consistently within their techniques.

The student completes their kata independently.

The student must demonstrate a good understanding of movements within the kata. Each movement must be consistently fully developed and performed to the correct target.

The student must demonstrate three or four of the following criteria:

• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.
• Dynamics: movements are performed sharply with good balance. The transitions between moves are completed with correct muscle engagement.
• Eye direction: the kata is performed with the student looking in the correct direction and engaging their eyes before each move.
• Timing: the kata is performed with the correct timing and tempo for each move or group of moves.
• Kime: the student matches their breathing to each technique to tense the body and generate maximum power.
• Zanshin: the student is totally focused; each move has intent, and the kata is performed with intensity.

The student completes their sparring independently.

The student demonstrates good, consistent body dynamics within their sparring.

The student demonstrates three or four of the following criteria:

• Accuracy: attacks and counterattacks must be consistently to the correct target.
• Distance: any attacks and counterattacks must be consistently at an appropriate range to just touch the target.
• Pressure: each movement must look real and have the intention to do harm but retain full control.
• Control: each technique is completed had full speed and power without excessive contact or harm to the partner.
• Timing: each technique is explosive, but the sparring is not rushed. The student and their partner are able to synchronise their blocking and striking techniques.
• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.

AND

The student can demonstrate a good understanding of free sparring, with consistently effective attacking, blocking, counterattacking, movement, and consistent intensity.

The student completes the required techniques independently.

The student demonstrates good, consistently developed form with some power, speed, and timing.

The student demonstrates good, consistent body dynamics when performing their techniques.

The student must be generally focused.

The student must demonstrate some intensity within their techniques.

The student completes their kata independently without a count or support, with the correct techniques in the correct order in the correct directions.

The student must demonstrate a good understanding of movements within the kata. Each movement must be consistently fully developed and performed to the correct target.

The student may demonstrate one or two of the following criteria:

• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.
• Dynamics: movements are performed sharply with good balance. The transitions between moves are completed with correct muscle engagement.
• Eye direction: the kata is performed with the student looking in the correct direction and engaging their eyes before each move.
• Timing: the kata is performed with the correct timing and tempo for each move or group of moves.
• Kime: the student matches their breathing to each technique to tense the body and generate maximum power.
• Zanshin: the student is totally focused; each move has intent, and the kata is performed with intensity.

The student completes their sparring independently.

The student demonstrates basic body dynamics within their sparring.

The student demonstrates one or two of the following criteria:

• Accuracy: attacks and counterattacks must be consistently to the correct target.
• Distance: any attacks and counterattacks must be consistently at an appropriate range to just touch the target.
• Pressure: each movement must look real and have the intention to do harm but retain full control.
• Control: each technique is completed had full speed and power without excessive contact or harm to the partner.
• Timing: each technique is explosive, but the sparring is not rushed. The student and their partner are able to synchronise their blocking and striking techniques.
• Technique: movements performed correctly to a high standard. They are clear, fully developed, and consistent.

AND

The student can demonstrate a basic understanding of free sparring, with some effective attacking, blocking, counterattacking, movement, and some intensity.

The student cannot complete the techniques they are asked to demonstrate with support after three attempts. 

The student cannot complete their kata with support after three attempts.

OR

The student completes their kata but lacks basic technique and understanding even with support after three attempts.

The student cannot complete their sparring with support after three attempts.

OR

The student completes their sparring correctly but lacks basic technique, engagement and understanding of the necessary body dynamics even with support after three attempts.

OR

The student fails to demonstrate a basic understanding of free sparring. They cannot show effective attacking, blocking, movement, counterattacking, or attitude.