1. Heian Shodan (Peaceful Mind)
2. Heian Nidan (Peaceful Mind)
3. Heian Sandan (Peaceful Mind)
4. Heian Yondan (Peaceful Mind)
5. Heian Godan (Peaceful Mind)
6. Tekki Shodan (Horse Riding or Iron horse)
7. Tekki Nidan (Horse Riding or Iron horse)
8. Tekki Sandan (Horse Riding or Iron horse)
9. Bassai Dai (Bassai – To penetrate a fortress. Dai – big/large)
10. Bassai Sho (Bassai – To penetrate a fortress. Sho – small)
11. Kanku Dai (Kanku – To look at the sky. Dai – big/large)
12. Kanku Sho (Kanku – To look at the sky. Sho – small)
13. Jion (Named for either the famous Buddhist temple Jion-ji or the Buddhist saint Jion)
14. Jitte (Jutte) (Ten hands)
15. Enpi (Flying swallow)
16. Gankaku (Crane on a rock)
17. Hangetsu (Half moon)
18. Sochin (Energetic calm)
19. Nijushiho (Twenty four steps)
20. Meikyo (Bright/Polished mirror or Mirror of the Soul)
21. Ji'in (Temple grounds)
22. Chinte (Incredible hands)
23. Unsu (Hand in the clouds)
24. Wankan (King’s crown)
25. Gojushiho Dai (Fifty four steps – big/large)
26. Gojushiho Sho (Fifty four steps - small)

   HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY GRADING MARKS?

Everyone's grading consists often sections including, basic blocks, strikes and kicks,
combinations, kata, self-defence, kumite and spirit. This builds very much like a poem (bear with me),
the basics part of your grading is very much like words, each basic consisting of letters combined in the
right order to form these words, e.g. Soto-uke (outside block) must be performed to body height, not head height. It must come sufficiently far enough across the body to the opposite shoulder, thereby covering the whole upper body. It is vital that the Hikiti (retracting) hand is used correctly. It should be performed in a GOOD front stance and the hips are used to deliver the power to the technique, not the shoulders.

All of these elements are like individual letters combined correctly to form a word. Performed incorrectly,
e.g. a poor stance, blocking too high, poor hikiti hand, etc... The word is spelt incorrectly. In lower grades
the students are marked on their ability to perform all basic techniques and combinations with good
stances and coordination. At each successive grade, new basic techniques are introduced, and the
combinations become more complex, not only testing coordination, but also timing, directional change
and subtle defences before counter attacks. We soon add empi (elbow strike) onto the Soto-uke (outside
block), which involves a change from a circular block into a linear counter strike with the empi. It also
requires changing from a front stance into a horse stance; this now forms two words, which must be
separated and not combined into one movement At green belt level we add gyaku-zuki (reverse punch),
which adds a further element to this combination, but very importantly also changes the stance back to a
front stance. Any weak stances will be greatly highlighted in this combination, as will improper use of
the hikiti hand. At purple belt we introduce a yoko-geri (side kick) into this combination, in between the
horse stance empi (elbow strike), and the gyaku-zuki (reverse punch) in zenkutsu-dachi (front stance).
This must be performed without sliding the rear foot forward as you make the side kick, this clearly
shows up weakness of stance in particular, and leg strength in general. Further techniques including, back fist, round kicks and hook kicks are added at higher grades, but each technique must be performed
correctly like the spelling of a word, and these techniques must be separated like words in a sentence, yet they must still flow with correct timing and distance, like punctuation; as I said before "Just like poetry".

Karate Kata's hold the secrets and applications of these basic techniques and combinations, but
much more than this, they are the soul of karate. Many students go through their gradings with the most
basic knowledge of how to perform their Kata. But you should strive to go beyond this. If you truly
understand your Kata and perform it well. It is like walking in the footsteps of the past Master who
designed the Kata. If you get really good, you may be able to feel what the Master was thinking when he
designed the Kata, this is sometimes described as "Moving Zen'.

All partner work whether one step. Three step or five step. or indeed self-defence must be
performed very strongly, yet with total control and consideration for your partner's safety. Throughout
the entire grading, regardless of level, a strong karate spirit must always be shown. When I assess
students for grades, one of my bench marks is, that all basic blocks must be capable of stopping a
determined attack by a person of similar age and build, likewise all counter attacks must be capable of
stopping a similar determined attacker from continuing their attack. Many students regard the Black Belt
as their ultimate goal and the end of their training. I regard the end of their kyu grades like the end of
primary school. The really hard work starts in training towards their 2nd and 3rd Dan Black Belts. At 3rd
Dan you have reached the end of secondary school and are now hopefully working your way through
university, this is for life, you never stop learning.

A large percentage of students only train for the very minimum of lessons required between
grades. Yet we consistently notice that those students who train the most seem to grade the best. Is this a coincidence? I really don't think so, it just happens far too often. I hope this long winded explanation
will help some of you with your grading results, and certainly give all of you something to think about.

By Sensei John Anderson 6th Dan