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 * Shomen-ate * Ai-gamae-ate * Gyaku-gamae-ate * Gedan-ate * Ushiro-ate * Oshi-taoshi * Ude-gaeshi * Hiki-taoshi * Ude-garame * Waki-gatame * Kote-hineri * Kote-gaeshi * Tenkai-kote-hineri * Shiho-nage * Mae-otoshi * Sumi-otoshi * Hiki-otoshi | Randori-no-kata-no-ura-waza * Shomen-ate – Waki-gatame * Ai-gamae-ate – Kote-mawashi * Gyaku-gamae-ate – Gedan-ate * Gedan-ate – Ai-gamae-ate * Ushiro-ate – Tenkai-kote-hineri * Oshi-taoshi – Kote-mawashi * Hiki-taoshi – Tenkai-kote-hineri * Kote-gaeshi – Kote-gaeshi * Tenkai-kote-hineri – Waki-gatame * Shiho-nage – Shiho-nage | Koryu-dai-san Section A : Suwari-waza * Oshi taoshi * Gyaku gamae ate * Kote gaeshi * Ryote mochi sukui nage Section A : Hanza Handachi Waza * Tenkai kote hineri * Shiho nage * Gedan ate * Hiji kime Section B : Tachi Waza * Kote mawashi * Uchi tenkai nage * Gyaku gamae ate * Hiji kime * Mae otoshi * Ushiro waza mae otoshi * Ushiro waza tenkai kote hineri * Mune tori kata gatame Section C : Tanto Dori * Ushiro ate * Gyaku gamae ate * Tentai oshi taoshi * Ushiro ate * Ude gamtame * Kote gaeshi * Tenkai kote hineri * Shomen giri gedan ate Section D : Bokken Dori * Mae otoshi * Shiho nage * Aigamae ate * Oshi taoshi * Oshi taoshi * Hiji kujiki Section E : Jo Dori * Gyaku gamae ate * Shomen ate * Hishigi * Renraku waza hiji hishigi * Irimi mae otoshi * Hiji kujiki Section E : Jo No Tsukai * MiGyaku gamae ate * Shomen ate * Hishigi * Renraku waza hiji hishigi * Irimi mae otoshi * Hiji kujiki Section F : Tachi tai Tachi (Bokken) * Ai uchi men * Hidari men * Migi men * Tsuki * Do * Kote nuki kote * Kaeshi men * Combination of cuts and blocks |
Details for the exact requirements for each Kyu grade can be found on the BAA website.