Our syllabus blends practical karate with self-defence skills relevant to the UK. Progression is carefully managed so that you learn the application and purpose of individual techniques, as well as how to perform them, before joining them together into more sophisticated drills.

The syllabus has 10 grades before 1st Dan (black belt), and if you train most weeks with some practice in your own time then you can expect to move up a grade every six months. However, our focus is always on useful, practical skills rather than the acquisition of belts. 

The sections below provide an outline of the key new learnings at each level. They are not the complete syllabus. Remember as well that you need to be competent at everything from lower levels too and may be tested on it.

In the list below there are links to Kanazawa Hirokazu performing the syllabus kata. In the separate bunkai page you will find links to some of the syllabus bunkai where it is freely available on YouTube.

We hold a grading about every four months, although we may move dates if people are nearly, but not quite, ready to grade. Gradings last three hours and take place as part of a normal session. Every one goes through their grading material even if they are not looking to earn their new belt at this time. The exception is the black belt grading which is a closed session (those grading and those already holding a black belt only) with external examiners. These happen once a year.

Gradings are nothing to be afraid of. They are a way of testing your knowledge and building your confidence in your karate and self-defence skills. 

New students focus on getting the basics right. Self defence doesn't need 100 techniques, or flashy sequences of techniques. The most important lessons are the ones you learn first: avoiding dangerous situations, how to punch and kick hard, etc. You will also learn the techniques you need for the kata introduced at yellow belt. To earn your red belt you will learn:

• Self Defence:
  • The fundamentals of power generation
  • Weight distribution and the basic fighting stance
  • Close range strikes (hook, upper cut, elbow, head butt, hammerfists, knee)
  • Medium range strikes (jab, cross, power slap)
  • Long range srikes (pushing kick, groin kick, roundhouse kick)
  • Blocking cricular and straight punches
• Karate
  • Downward and upward block
  • Front and reverse punch
  • Front and back stance
  • Knife hand strike
• Drills
  • Combinations of hand techniques (jab, cross, hook, etc.) against focus pads while moving around the floor
  • Playing for grips (forearm / neck; back / triceps; neck / neck)

To earn your yellow belt, you will need to understand the purpose of kata and why we practice it, as well as learn the first of our nine core kata. We introduce the principles of throwing and basic arm locks. The principles of flexibility and maintaining strength and fitness are included on the syllabus as well as your first "fitness test" which we use to measure progress towards the standards required to train effectively at higher levels. Fitness is absolutely critical to self-defence but our aim is to help you improve, and gain knowledge on how to manage your own future development. We do not set absolute standards that you need to achieve. Finally, we add simple escapes from chokes and bear hugs. 

• Self Defence
  • Defence from choke from behind
  • Defence from bear hug from behind, three different arm positions
  • Releases from grabs
• Karate
  • Breakfalls
  • Heian Shodan (Shotokan version)
  • Side-snap kick
  • Side kick to knee
  • Leg sweep
  • Inward block and outward block
  • Basic principles of throwing
  • Outer reaping throw
  • Hip throw
• Drills
  • Simple combinations of hand / leg techniques
  • Free sparring
  • Grappling for the back
  • Clinch sparring
  • "Get Up and Hold Down"

This is a critical level for self-defence training. At this point, you've been training in our system for about a year and have understood the basics of self-defence against an unarmed opponent. We now introduce the basic principles of dealing with armed attackers - knife and stick - as well as how you can find and use weapons in an emergency. In the karate syllabus at this level we introduce bunkai, the process of applying kata in a practical way with the first four drills from Heian Shodan. You will learn the second of the kata, Heian Nidan, as well as some additional throws and takedowns. 

• Self Defence
  • Knife threats from the front, side and behind
  • Stick attacks
  • Using bags, belts, phones, etc., as weapons in an emergency
  • Power slap with dialogue
• Karate
  • Heian Nidan (Shotokan version)
  • Principles of bunkai
  • Bunkai drills 1-4 from Heian Shodan
  • Hip throw, cross buttocks throw, ring throw
  • Dropping elbow, round elbow, rising elbow
  • Three different knee strikes
• Grappling
  • Mount hold, scarf hold, side control - pressure tested
  • Ground fighting arm locks from mount and scarf hold
  • Rear naked strangle and choke
  • Shrimping
  • Getting up from the ground

At this level the basic techniques are fleshed out to more "what if?" scenarios. The third kata is added.

• Self Defence
  • Using a stick offensively
  • Defending from chokes from the front and when pushed against a wall
  • Defending from bear hugs from the front and side
  • Defending from leg shoots at all ranges
  • Responding to knife threats
• Karate
  • Drills 4 - 8 from Heian Shodan
  • Heian Sundan (Shotokan version)

Anti-grappling makes its first appearance at this level. We introduce this late in the syllabus because ideally we will not be fighting on the ground, but we need to know what to do in case we end up there.

• Self defence
  • Escape from mount hold, scarf hold and side control
  • Defending from chokes on the ground
  • Defending from stomps and other kicks to the head while on the ground
• Karate
  • Shoulder throws
  • Heian Yondan (Shotokan version)
  • Bunkai drills 1 - 8 from Heian Nidan
  • Back kick on the spot and turning
  • Advanced breakfalls including forward and backward roll
  • Single and double leg takedowns

• Self-defence
  • Responding to knife attacks
• Karate
  • Returning wave kick
  • Heian Godan
  • Bunkai drills 1 - 5 from Heian Sundan

• Karate
  • Jumping kicks (front, roundhouse, back)
  • Crossing kicks
  • Skipping kicks
  • Tekki Shodan
  • Bunkai drills 1 - 7 from Heian Godan

• Karate
  • Kanku Dai
  • Bunkai drills 1 - 8 from Tekki Shodan

• Karate
  • Bassai Dai
  • Seconday bunkai

To achieve a black belt requires extreme focus and dedication. Above all else we are looking for the right mindset for self defence and karate. The syllabus introduces very little new material as you are expected to spend your time perfecting your technique and power along with that critical mindset as well as developing a deep understanding of the underlying theory of what we teach. At this final stage we introduce the hand gun and long gun (rifle / machine gun) defences. 

The black belt grading is conducted in front of an external panel of senior experts. Before this grading you will be expected to have attended relevant sessions conducted by external experts (e.g., Peter Consterdine, Iain Abernethy) to expand your knowledge. You will also need to have the necessary fitness for the grading which will last at least four hours and involve pushing you to your physical limits. 

Finally, you will need to attend an oral examination where we will assess your knowledge of karate, self-defence, fitness training, self-defence law, etc.  While the black belt is not a teaching qualification, our intention is that you have sufficient knowledge to be able to continue your learning without supervision and therefore we must establish that you have the necessary skill to do this.

• Self Defence
  • Hand gun threats from front, back, shoulder and hostage taking
  • Rifle threats from front and back
  • Gun "throw"
• Karate
  • Jion
  • Secondary bunkai