Promotion

How often are promotions?

At our club, promotion examinations take place once per semester/summer session. All beginner ranks (yellow through purple belt) promotions are personally supervised by Sensei Tabata at MIT, and promotions for advanced ranks (brown and up) are held at the regional NECKC promotion, although students may attend the NECKC promotion for beginner ranks as well.

Who is allowed to promote?

Generally the rules for who is allowed to try to promote are extremely lax. For advanced ranks, Sensei Tabata sometimes imposes attendance requirements at the advanced classes (typically a minimum of 7/14 of the advanced classes held in a semester), but even if you're not going to try to promote, you are encouraged to attend the promotion practice and work out with the people trying to advance. If you are not attempting to promote, there is no fee for attending the practice.

Special Preparation

Every semester, Sensei Tabata attempts to hold a special session dedicated to Kata practice shortly before the promotion or tournament. This is a great oportunity to improve your performance by receiving advice form your colleagues and by observing the way other people execute!



NECKC/NAKF Promotion Requirements

The promotion requirements listed below have been implemented by NECKC/NAKF in Spring 2005. Kata must be performed up to and including the kata listed for a rank.


Kyu Level


Current Rank Techniques Kata New Rank
Belt Passed
10 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Heian Shodan
9 Kyu-A
White with Yellow Stripe 
 9 Kyu-A
Basics
Free Sparring
Heian Nidan
9 Kyu-B
Yellow
9 Kyu-B
Basics
Free Sparring
Heian Sandan
8 Kyu-A
Yellow with Orange Stripe
8 Kyu-A
Basics
Free Sparring
Heian Yodan
8 Kyu-B
Yellow with 2 Orange Stripes
8 Kyu-B
Basics
Free Sparring
Heian Godan
7 Kyu-A
Orange
7 Kyu-A
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Shodan
Tekki Shodan
7 Kyu-B
Orange with Blue Stripe
7 Kyu-B
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Shodan
Tekki Nidan
6 Kyu-A
Blue
6 Kyu-A
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Shodan
Tekki Sandan
6 Kyu-B
Blue with Green Stripe
6 Kyu-B
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Shodan
Bassai Dai
5 Kyu-A
Green
5 Kyu-A
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Nidan
Kwanku Dai
5 Kyu-B
Green with Purple Stripe
5 Kyu-B
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Nidan
Kwanku Dai
4 Kyu-A
Purple
4 Kyu-A
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Nidan
Jitte
4 Kyu-B
Purple with Brown Stripe
4 Kyu-B
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Nidan
Hangetsu
3 Kyu-A
Brown
3 Kyu-A
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Sandan
Empi
3 Kyu-B
Brown with 1 Red Stripe
3 Kyu-B
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Sandan
Empi
2 Kyu-A
Brown with 2 Red Stripes
2 Kyu-A
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Sandan
Gankaku
2 Kyu-B
Brown with 3 Red Stripes
2 Kyu-B
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Sandan
Gankaku
1 Kyu-A
Brown with Black Stripe
1 Kyu-A
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Yodan
Jion
1 Kyu-B
Brown with 2 Black Stripes
1 Kyu-B
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Yodan
Jion
1 Kyu-C
Brown with 3 Black Stripes
1 Kyu-C
Basics & Bo Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Yodan
Sho-No-Kon-Bo
Shodan 5 Kyu
Black (Shodan 4 Kyu)

 
 
 
 
 

Shodan Level


Current Rank Techniques Kata
New Rank
4 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Yodan
Bassai Sho
3 Kyu
3 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Sandan
Kwanku Sho
2 Kyu
2 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Kobo Nidan
Wankan
1 Kyu
1 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Kobo Shodan
Wankan
Nidan 
4 Kyu

 
 

Nidan Level


Current Rank Techniques Kata
New Rank
4 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Rohai
Shushi-No-Kon-Bo
3 Kyu
3 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Jiin
2 Kyu
2 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Nijushiho
1 Kyu
1 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Nijushiho
Sandan 
4 Kyu

 
 
 

Sandan Level


Current Rank Techniques Kata
New Rank
4 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Chinte
Sakugawa-No-Kon-Bo
3 Kyu
3 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Sochin
2 Kyu
2 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Unsu
1 Kyu
1 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Unsu
Yodan 5 Kyu

 

Yodan Level


Current Rank Techniques Kata
New Rank
5 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Gojushiho Dai
4 Kyu
4 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Gojushiho Dai
3 Kyu
3 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Gojushiho Sho
2 Kyu
2 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Gojushiho Sho
1 Kyu
1 Kyu
Basics
Free Sparring
Multiple Sparring
Heian Shodan - Sai
Godan