© 2026 Bushido Martial Arts

Syllabus

We aim to keep things simple…

Upon completion of the appropriate number of hours at your current belt you will be invited to perform a demonstration of the items listed in the below syllabus/training guide.   Provided that your performance meets our minimum standard as an organisation, you will be deemed to have completed the requirements of your current belt and be promoted to the next level.

Should you not be successful you may reattempt the demonstration in the next session.

The syllabus below should be practiced in relevance to your current belt, i.e. if you are wearing a solid yellow belt, then you need to demonstrate “7th Kyu – Yellow Belt” syllabus (the same as if you are in year 7 at school, then you work upon the year 7 syllabus).

Please note, we have added links where possible to videos and supplementary information.

Basic Techniques

  • Square punch: Choku-zuki
  • Stepping punch: Oi-zuki
  • Rising block: Age-uke
  • Outside mid-level block: Soto-uke
  • Inside mid-level block: Uchi-uke
  • Low sweeping block: Gedan-barai
  • Sword-hand block: Shuto-uke
  • Front kick: Mae-geri
  • Roundhouse kick: Mawashi-geri
  • Side snapping kick: Yoko-geri-keage
  • Side thrusting kick: Yoko-geri-kekomi

Basic Stances

  • Front stance: Zenkutsu-datch
  • Back stance: Kokutsu-datch
  • Horse stance: Kiba-datch

Ungraded White Belts

Ungraded

Plain White Belt

  • Minimum age – 5
  • Minimum – 10 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 months at this grade
  • Ippon Kata
  • Basic Stances
  • Basic Techniques

White Belts (those under 11 years old)

12th Kyu

Plain White Belt

  • Minimum Age – 5
  • Minimum – 4 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 1 month at this grade
  • Ippon Kata
  • Basic Techniques
  • Basic Stances

11th Kyu

White Belt with one black tab

  • Minimum Age – 5
  • Minimum – 6 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 1 month at this grade
  • Ippon Kata
  • Basic Techniques
  • Basic Stances

10th Kyu

White Belt with two black tabs

  • Minimum Age – 5
  • Minimum – 8 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 month at this grade
  • Ippon Kata
  • Basic Techniques
  • Basic Stances

Coloured Belts

9th Kyu Apprentice 

For Under 11s

Orange Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 5
  • Minimum – 8 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 months at this grade
  • First half of Heian Shodan

9th Kyu 

Orange Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 5
  • Minimum – 12 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • Heian Shodan

8th Kyu Apprentice

For Under 11s

Red Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 6
  • Minimum – 8 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 months at this grade
  • First half of Heian Nidan

8th Kyu

Red Belt

  • Minimum Age – 6
  • Minimum – 12 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • Heian Nidan

7th Kyu Apprentice

For Under 11s

Yellow Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 7
  • Minimum – 8 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 months at this grade
  • First half of Heian Sandan

7th Kyu

Yellow Belt

  • Minimum Age – 7
  • Minimum – 16 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • Heian Sandan

6th Kyu Apprentice

For Under 11s

Green Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 7
  • Minimum – 8 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 2 months at this grade
  • First half of Heian Yondan

6th Kyu

Green Belt

  • Minimum Age – 7
  • Minimum – 16 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • Heian Yondan

5th Kyu Apprentice

For Under 11s

Blue Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 8
  • Minimum – 12 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • First half of Heian Godan

5th Kyu

Blue Belt

  • Minimum Age – 8
  • Minimum – 40 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 5 months at this grade
  • Heian Godan

4th Kyu Apprentice

For Under 11s

Purple Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 9
  • Minimum – 12 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • First half of Kanku Dai

4th Kyu

Purple Belt

  • Minimum Age – 9
  • Minimum – 40 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 5 months at this grade
  • Kanku Dai
  • Kihon Ippon Kumite

Brown Belts

3rd Kyu

Plain Brown Belt

  • Minimum age – 10
  • Minimum 72 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 6 months at this grade
  • Attended Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Tekki Shodan
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

2nd Kyu

Brown Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 11
  • Minimum 72 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 6 months at this grade
  • Attended Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Tekki Nidan
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

1st Kyu

Brown Belt with Red Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 12
  • Minimum 72 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 6 months at this grade
  • Attended Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Tekki Sandan
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

Black Belts

1st Dan Apprentice

Black Belt with White Stripe

  • Minimum Age – 13
  • Minimum 3 months at this grade
  • Grading exam at Brown & Black belt annual course
  • 2 x Heian Kata – Examiner Choice
  • Tekki Kata – Examiner Choice
  • Weapon Kata
  • Bassai Dai
  • Jiyu Ippon kumite x 2
  • Choice of demonstration of self-defence, Kumi-bo, or win a Sanbon Ippon match

1st Dan

Plain Black Belt

  • Minimum age – 14
  • Minimum 144 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 12 months at this grade
  • Grading exam at Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Bassai Dai
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

2nd Dan

Black Belt with embroidery

  • Minimum Age – 18
  • Minimum 288 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 24 months at this grade
  • Grading exam at Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Free choice of advanced kata
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

3rd Dan

Black Belt with embroidery

  • Minimum Age – 21
  • Minimum 432 hours training at this grade
  • Minimum 36 months at this grade
  • Must teach at every Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Free choice of advanced kata
  • Jiyu Ippon Kumite

4th Dan onwards

Black Belt with embroidery

  • Minimum Age – 25 to complete 4-dan
  • Minimum Age – 30 to complete 5-dan
  • Minimum Age – 36 to complete 6-dan
  • Must lead a regular dojo
  • Must teach at every Brown & Black belt annual course
  • Free choice of advanced kata and bunker
Dojo Location

Wheatfields Junior School Gym

Downes Road

St Albans, Hertfordshire

AL4 9NT

We love martial arts and provide training year round for all.

Traditional training, with a modern approach.

TRAINING TIMES

MONDAYS  17:30 – 18:30

MONDAYS 18:30 – 19:30

MONDAYS 19:30 – 20:30

THURSDAYS 18:30 – 19:30

© 2026 Bushido Martial Arts.