This is a summary of the BAA Kyu Grading Syllabus.
| Red Belt | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Starting belt. | ||
| 6th Kyu – White Belt | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Unsoku Ukemi – side and back breakfalls |
Randori-no-kata 1–5 (left or right, candidate’s choice) | Kakarigeiko – single attacker, with open-handed attack which must include Shomen-ate and Yokomen-uchi. |
| 5th Kyu – Yellow Belt (Minimum of 40 hrs of practice) | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Unsoku Tandoku-undo (Sections 1–3) Ukemi – Forward roll |
Randori-no-kata 1–10 (left or right, candidate’s choice) | Kakarigeiko – single attacker with or without Tanto, to include Shomen and Yokomen (Aigamae and Gyakugamae) attacks. |
| 4th Kyu – Orange Belt (more than 3 months at 5th Kyu recommended) | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Unsoku Tandoku-undo Ukemi – Kote-gaeshi, supported Shikko – Forward/Turning |
Randori-no-kata 1–14 (performed left or right, examiner’s choice). Suwari-waza – 2 techniques (candidate’s choice, both students kneeling). |
Kakarigeiko – grasp attacks, Aigamae and Gyakugamae. Tanto Kakarigeiko – single attacker with Tanto. |
| 3rd Kyu – Green Belt (more than 3 months at 4th Kyu recommended) | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Ukemi – Sumi-otoshi, supported. | Randori-no-kata Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza (1 – 5) Suwari-waza – 4 techniques (candidate’s choice, both students kneeling). |
Kakarigeiko – Multiple attackers e.g. Ninindori, with variation of attack, open-handed. Hikitategeiko – Single attacker with Tanto. Passive – no counters |
| 2nd Kyu – Blue Belt (more than 6 months at 3rd Kyu recommended) | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Ukemi (floating/falling leaf) | Randori-no-kata Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza Shichi-hon-no-kuzushi (1–7) to show balance disturbance, circular movement and control (no break falls) |
Kakarigeiko Ninindori Hikitategeiko – Single attacker with Tanto – ‘active’ (with counters). |
| 1st Kyu – Brown Belt (more than 9 months at 2nd Kyu recommended) | ||
| Core Skills | Technique | Application |
| Randori-no-kata Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza Koryu-dai-Yon (1–14) to show balance disturbance, circular movement and control. Kuzushi – demonstration of a variety of balance disturbances for randori. Koryu-dai-san Suwari-waza Section A (8 techniques) |
Hikitategeiko – Empty-handed (Toshu) | |
- At all levels after 6th Kyu, previous syllabus will be required at the discretion of the examiners.
- Duration, intensity and quantity of the ‘Application’ sections will be at the discretion of the examiners.
This is a summary of the techniques in the above katas.
Randori-no-kata
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Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza
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Koryu-dai-san
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Details for the exact requirements for each Kyu grade can be found on the BAA website.