Joint-friendly Dan examinations

Purpose and eligibility

These examinations award Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan in Shotokan karate to candidates with multiple knee and hip replacements. Each tests every concept and skill the corresponding standard Dan examination tests, at the same standard, using techniques and loading patterns that a replaced hip or knee can perform without injury. Where the standard examination asks for a movement that pivots or rotates a loaded joint, or that lands or drops onto one, this syllabus substitutes a movement that tests the same thing a different way. Every adaptation is listed in the adaptations table for that grade.

Eligibility, all grades:

• At least one replaced hip or knee, confirmed by the candidate in writing; written clearance from the candidate's surgeon or physician for the movements in this syllabus is obtained before the date is fixed

• The minimum interval at the previous grade: one year at 1st Kyu for Shodan, one year at Shodan for Nidan, two years at Nidan for Sandan

• Age 18 or over for Sandan

The companion document, Joint-Friendly Yondan Examination (Over 60), covers 4th Dan on the same principles.

Adaptation rules applied throughout

Six rules adapt the standard examination. They are stated once here so that each grade's section can refer to them by number.

1. Pre-set support foot. Before a roundhouse kick, the support leg is set partially turned outward; before a side thrust or back kick, the support heel is set turned in the direction of the kick. The kick then rotates on a foot already pointed the right way instead of pivoting under load mid-kick, which reduces the shearing force on the support-leg knee. A deliberately pre-set foot is the specified method, not a fault.

2. Stepped turns. Every change of direction is stepped through rather than pivoted on the ball of a loaded foot.

3. Stance depth. Front stance is natural length. Back stance is shortened, or rooted stance (fudo-dachi) may be used in its place, which removes the deep rear-knee flexion and inward hip rotation of a full back stance. Straddle stance is moderate width. Depth is not scored; form is.

4. Kick height. Front kicks are knee to waist height; roundhouse, side, and back kicks are waist height or below. Height is not scored; chamber, hip connection, and recovery are.

5. No in-place multi-kicking on one leg, and no jumping. In-place double or triple kicks re-chambered on one leg become stepped combinations on a 45-degree line. Jumps in kata are performed as steps.

6. Kumite. Jiyu ippon kumite is used at every grade, with no separate jiyu kumite round. The attacks removed from the standard list are those whose natural counters pivot the support leg; self-defense is added at each grade to test close-range reading and control of a committed attacker in a form the candidate controls for joint loading.

Each combination below is marked Same (identical to the standard examination), Adapted (the standard line with one or more rules applied), or Replaced (a different line that tests the same concept). Each grade's adaptations table repeats this in full.

Examination board, scoring, and record (all grades)

The board has two voting examiners and an optional third seat, none of whom is or has been the candidate's student. Each examiner scores every section independently; scores are averaged. Pass requires a total of 70 or more and the floor (60 percent of the maximum) met in every section. A section below its floor fails the grading regardless of the total; the board may offer a retest of that section alone within six months. Examiners score within each section on a four-band scale: 90 to 100 percent is a model performance; 70 to 89 is solid standard with minor faults; 50 to 69 shows the material with faults the grade should not have; below 50 is not at standard. At every grade the physical sections run in the order Kata, Kihon, Self-defense, Kumite. Kata comes first so it is performed fresh, where precision can be judged cleanly. Kumite comes last deliberately: the candidate should be tired by then, and the board is looking for someone who can still focus mentally as well as physically under fatigue. A candidate over 60 may ask for a rest of two to three minutes between any two sections. The whole examination is recorded on continuous, unedited video. The grading file holds the signed syllabus, the candidate's confirmation of joint replacements and the clearance letter, the video, the scoring sheets with written justifications, and the certificate.

Shodan (1st Dan)

Components

Section (in order on the day)	Content	Weight	Floor
1. Kata	One of Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion (candidate's choice)	30	18
2. Kihon	Nine combinations, three repetitions each	30	18
3. Self-defense	One combination at realistic speed	15	9
4. Jiyu ippon kumite	Four attacks, both sides, candidate defending	25	15

Section 1: Kata (30 points)

One kata from the Shodan list, the candidate's choice, declared at least 14 days before the grading: Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, or Jion. Performed once at full speed and kime. Jumps (Kanku Dai, Enpi) are performed as steps (rule 5) and the drop in Kanku Dai is performed as a lowered stance rather than to the floor. Bassai Dai and Jion need no adaptation beyond rules 2 and 3, and are the natural choices for a candidate with replaced knees.

Scoring criteria, weighted equally: correct sequence, embusen, and rhythm; kime and the contrast between tension and relaxation; hip and body connection; zanshin, breathing, and kiai placement.

Section 2: Kihon (30 points)

From gedan barai in front stance. Each combination is performed three times in the direction stated; turns are stepped (rule 2).

1. Triple punch (sanbon renzuki) — stepping in. [Same]

2. Rising block, reverse punch (age-uke, gyaku-zuki) — stepping back. [Same]

3. Outside block, side elbow strike, side back-fist, reverse punch (soto-uke, yoko-empi, yoko-uraken, gyaku-zuki) — stepping in, front stance to straddle stance to front stance. [Adapted] Straddle stance at moderate width (rule 3); the stance changes are stepped weight transfers, not pivots on the planted foot (rule 2).

4. Inside block in back stance, jab, reverse punch in front stance (uchi-uke, kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki) — stepping back. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3).

5. Knife-hand block in back stance, spear-hand in front stance (shuto-uke, nukite) — stepping in. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3).

6. Front kick on the spot, front kick stepping in (mae-geri, mae-geri). [Adapted] The on-the-spot kick returns to the starting stance before the stepping kick; height to rule 4.

7. Roundhouse kick (mawashi-geri) — stepping in. [Adapted] Support foot pre-set (rule 1); height to rule 4.

8. Side snap kick in straddle stance, right and left (yoko-geri keage, kiba-dachi) — stepping in. [Adapted] Straddle stance moderate width (rule 3); the step across is a step, not a slide-and-pivot; height to rule 4.

9. Side thrust kick in front stance (yoko-kekomi, zenkutsu-dachi) — stepping in. [Adapted] Support heel pre-set toward the kick (rule 1); height to rule 4.

Examiners look for: correct form on every block, strike, and kick; hip connection; kime with relaxation between techniques; correct hikite and chamber; head level; and clean transitions between stances. Hesitation or self-correction costs points; reduced depth, height, and support-foot rotation do not.

Section 3: Self-defense (15 points)

One self-defense combination, declared at least 14 days before the grading, against a committed grab or strike of the candidate's choosing. Performed once slowly with explanation, then twice at realistic speed with the attacker committing fully. Scoring: realism, economy, finishing position, and adaptation when the board changes the attack. The candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground.

Section 4: Jiyu ippon kumite (25 points)

The standard Shodan examination uses jiyu ippon kumite with five attacks: jodan oi-zuki, chudan oi-zuki, chudan mae-geri, chudan yoko-kekomi, and mawashi-geri. This examination uses four, dropping yoko-kekomi because its natural counters pivot the support leg:

1. Jodan oi-zuki

2. Chudan oi-zuki

3. Chudan mae-geri

4. Mawashi-geri (attacker declares jodan or chudan)

Each attack is announced, delivered from free stance with full commitment, and performed on both sides, so the candidate defends eight exchanges. The candidate may respond with any technique and any timing. Examiners look for kime, fluidity of movement, and connection between the block or evasion and the counter, together with distance, stance, and timing, and above all that the candidate understands how to get off the power line of the attack rather than meeting it head-on. A step off-line scores the same as a pivot.

Shodan: adaptations from the standard examination

Element	Standard examination	This examination	Status	Concept preserved
Kihon 1, 2	Sanbon renzuki; age-uke gyaku-zuki	Identical	Same
Kihon 3	Soto-uke, yoko-empi, yoko-uraken, gyaku-zuki through kiba-dachi	Same line, moderate-width kiba-dachi, stepped stance changes	Adapted	Three stance changes in one combination with a strike from each
Kihon 4, 5	Uchi-uke / shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, then zenkutsu	Same lines, back stance shortened or fudo-dachi	Adapted	Block in a rear-weighted stance, drive forward into the counter
Kihon 6	Mae-geri on the spot, mae-geri stepping in	Same line, kick returns to stance between	Adapted	Two front kicks, one static and one moving
Kihon 7	Mawashi-geri stepping in	Same line, support foot pre-set (rule 1)	Adapted	Circular kick with hip rotation
Kihon 8	Yoko-geri keage in kiba-dachi, right and left	Same line, moderate width, stepped crossover	Adapted	Snap kick from straddle stance both sides
Kihon 9	Yoko-kekomi in zenkutsu-dachi	Same line, support heel pre-set (rule 1)	Adapted	Thrust kick with hip drive
Kata	Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, or Jion	Same list; jumps as steps, drop as lowered stance	Adapted	Kata at Shodan standard
Kumite	Jiyu ippon, five attacks	Jiyu ippon, four attacks (yoko-kekomi removed)	Adapted	Semi-free defense against straight punches, a straight kick, and a circular kick
Self-defense	One combination	Same; the candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground	Adapted	Close-range reading of a committed attack; compensates for the removed kumite attack
Interval	One year at 1st Kyu	One year at 1st Kyu	Same

Nidan (2nd Dan)

Components

Section (in order on the day)	Content	Weight	Floor
1. Kata and bunkai	Favorite kata plus two bunkai applications	30	18
2. Kihon	Ten combinations, three repetitions each	25	15
3. Self-defense	Two combinations at realistic speed	20	12
4. Jiyu ippon kumite	Four attacks, both sides, candidate attacking and defending	25	15

Section 1: Kata and bunkai (30 points)

The candidate's favorite kata, declared at least 14 days before the grading (20 points), performed once at full speed and kime, with jumps as steps and drops as lowered stances (rule 5). Two bunkai applications from the kata are then demonstrated and explained against a partner (10 points), so that understanding is tested from Nidan onward.

Scoring criteria for kata as at Shodan. Scoring criteria for bunkai: fidelity to the actual movement of the kata; function against a partner who attacks with intent; the quality of the explanation.

Section 2: Kihon (25 points)

From gedan barai in front stance. Three repetitions each; turns stepped (rule 2).

1. Lunge punch, middle level (chudan oi-zuki) — stepping in. [Same]

2. Lunge punch to the face, reverse punch to the body (jodan oi-zuki, chudan gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Same]

3. Triple punch (sanbon renzuki) — stepping in. [Same]

4. Rising block, outside block with the same arm, reverse punch (age-uke, soto-uke, gyaku-zuki) — stepping back. [Same]

5. Inside block in back stance, jab, reverse punch in front stance (uchi-uke, kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3).

6. Knife-hand block in back stance, spear-hand in front stance (shuto-uke, nukite) — stepping back. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3).

7. Front kick on the spot, front kick stepping in (mae-geri, mae-geri). [Adapted] Kick returns to stance between; height to rule 4.

8. Side snap kick, side thrust kick in straddle stance, alternating feet (yoko-geri keage, yoko-kekomi, kiba-dachi). [Replaced] The standard examination alternates feet with the kicks chained in place. Here each kick is delivered from a stepped straddle stance with the support heel pre-set (rule 1) and the foot returned to the floor between kicks (rule 5); snap and thrust still alternate, right and left.

9. Side thrust kick in front stance (yoko-kekomi, zenkutsu-dachi) — stepping in. [Adapted] Support heel pre-set (rule 1); height to rule 4.

10. Roundhouse kick, side back-fist, reverse punch to the body (mawashi-geri, yoko-uraken, chudan gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Adapted] Support foot pre-set before the roundhouse (rule 1); the kicking leg lands into front stance for the back-fist and punch; height to rule 4.

Examiners look for what they look for at Shodan, with more demanded of hip speed, the quality of the transition from kick to hand technique, and composure across a longer list.

Section 3: Self-defense (20 points)

Two self-defense combinations, declared at least 14 days before the grading, against two different categories of attack (a grab and a strike). Performed as at Shodan. Scoring: realism, economy, finishing position, adaptation, and connection to a kata principle the candidate can name. The candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground.

Section 4: Jiyu ippon kumite (25 points)

The standard Nidan examination adds a two-minute round of jiyu kumite to jiyu ippon kumite. This examination uses jiyu ippon only, with the candidate both attacking and defending, so that initiative is still tested. Four attacks, each performed on both sides and in both roles, so sixteen exchanges:

1. Jodan oi-zuki

2. Chudan oi-zuki

3. Chudan mae-geri

4. Mawashi-geri (attacker declares jodan or chudan)

As attacker the candidate is scored on techniques that are crisp and committed but controlled, so that if the partner misses the block the attack does not injure them; an attack pulled short of real distance and an attack that would land hard on a missed block are both faults. As defender, examiners look for kime, fluidity of movement, and connection between the block or evasion and the counter, together with distance, stance, and timing, and above all that the candidate understands how to get off the power line of the attack rather than meeting it head-on. The candidate may respond with any technique and any timing.

Nidan: adaptations from the standard examination

Element	Standard examination	This examination	Status	Concept preserved
Kihon 1 to 4	Chudan oi-zuki; jodan oi-zuki chudan gyaku-zuki; sanbon renzuki; age-uke soto-uke gyaku-zuki	Identical	Same
Kihon 5, 6	Uchi-uke / shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, then zenkutsu	Same lines, back stance shortened or fudo-dachi	Adapted	Block rear-weighted, drive into the counter
Kihon 7	Mae-geri on the spot, mae-geri stepping in	Same line, kick returns to stance between	Adapted	Static and moving front kick
Kihon 8	Yoko-geri keage, yoko-kekomi, kiba-dachi, alternating feet in place	Same kicks from a stepped straddle stance, foot down between, support heel pre-set	Replaced	Snap and thrust distinguished and alternated on both sides; removes chained kicks on one loaded leg
Kihon 9	Yoko-kekomi in zenkutsu-dachi	Same line, support heel pre-set	Adapted	Thrust kick with hip drive
Kihon 10	Mawashi-geri, yoko-uraken, chudan gyaku-zuki	Same line, support foot pre-set, kick lands into stance for the hand techniques	Adapted	Circular kick flowing into two hand techniques
Kata and bunkai	Favorite kata plus two bunkai	Same, jumps as steps and drops as lowered stances	Adapted	Kata at Nidan standard; understanding shown by performed bunkai
Kumite	Jiyu ippon, five attacks, both roles, plus a two-minute round of jiyu kumite	Jiyu ippon, four attacks, both roles; no jiyu kumite round	Adapted	Initiative tested by having the candidate attack as well as defend; yoko-kekomi removed
Self-defense	Two combinations	Same; the candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground	Adapted	Close-range reading and control against a grab and a strike
Interval	One year at Shodan	One year at Shodan	Same

Sandan (3rd Dan)

Components

Section (in order on the day)	Content	Weight	Floor
1. Kata and bunkai	Favorite kata plus three bunkai applications	30	18
2. Kihon	Seven combinations from free kamae, three repetitions each	20	12
3. Self-defense	Two combinations at realistic speed	15	9
4. Jiyu ippon kumite	Three attacks, both sides, both roles	25	15
5. Teaching	Five-year rule; demonstration only if under five years	10	6

Section 1: Kata and bunkai (30 points)

The candidate's favorite kata, declared at least 14 days before the grading (20 points), performed once at full speed and kime, with jumps as steps and drops as lowered stances (rule 5). The candidate then demonstrates and explains three bunkai applications from the kata against a partner (10 points).

Scoring criteria for kata as at Shodan. Scoring criteria for bunkai: fidelity to the actual movement of the kata; function against a partner who attacks with intent; the quality of the explanation; the ability to answer a “what if” from the board without stalling.

Section 2: Kihon (20 points)

From free kamae (jiyu kamae). Three repetitions each; turns stepped (rule 2).

1. Jab, lunge punch to the face, reverse punch to the body (kizami-zuki, jodan oi-zuki, chudan gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Same]

2. Rising block, outside block with the same arm, reverse punch (age-uke, soto-uke, gyaku-zuki) — stepping back. [Same]

3. Inside block in back stance, jab, reverse punch in front stance (uchi-uke, kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3).

4. Knife-hand block in back stance, front-leg front kick, spear-hand in front stance (shuto-uke, kizami mae-geri, nukite) — stepping back. [Adapted] Back stance shortened or rooted stance (rule 3); the front-leg kick is delivered from that stance and lands forward into front stance; height to rule 4.

5. Front kick and reverse punch, side thrust kick and reverse punch, roundhouse kick and reverse punch (mae-geri gyaku-zuki, yoko-kekomi gyaku-zuki, mawashi-geri gyaku-zuki) — stepping in. [Adapted] Three kick-and-punch pairs, each stepping in. Before the side thrust the support heel is pre-set toward the kick; before the roundhouse the support leg is pre-set partially turned out (rule 1). Each kick lands into front stance for its punch; height to rule 4.

6. Back kick (ushiro-geri) — stepping in. [Adapted] The standard stepping back kick turns the body 180 degrees on the support leg. Here the candidate steps across so that the back is already presented, pre-sets the support heel (rule 1), and delivers the kick from that position without a pivot.

7. Front kick, side thrust kick, back kick on the same leg in front stance, right and left (mae-geri, yoko-kekomi, ushiro-geri). [Replaced] Outside block on the 45-degree line, front-leg front kick, reverse punch; then inside block on the opposite 45-degree line, back kick, side thrust kick, reverse punch (soto-uke, kizami mae-geri, gyaku-zuki; uchi-uke, ushiro-geri, yoko-kekomi, gyaku-zuki). All three kicks are still performed, but from a stepped position with the support heel pre-set (rules 1 and 5) rather than re-chambered in place on one leg; adds body shifting and blocks on angles.

Examiners look for what they look for at Nidan, with more demanded of the hip change between hanmi and shomen, the fluency of kick-to-punch transitions, and the ability to change direction without losing posture.

Section 3: Self-defense (15 points)

Two self-defense combinations, declared at least 14 days before the grading, against two different categories of attack. Performed as at Shodan. Scoring: realism, economy, finishing position, adaptation, and connection to a kata principle the candidate can name. The candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground.

Section 4: Jiyu ippon kumite (25 points)

The standard Sandan examination adds a two-minute round of jiyu kumite to jiyu ippon kumite. This examination uses jiyu ippon only, in both roles, with three attacks that together cover straight punch, straight kick, and circular kick:

1. Chudan oi-zuki

2. Chudan mae-geri

3. Mawashi-geri (attacker declares jodan or chudan)

Each attack on both sides and in both roles, so twelve exchanges. As attacker the candidate is scored on techniques that are crisp and committed but controlled, so that if the partner misses the block the attack does not injure them; an attack pulled short of real distance and an attack that would land hard on a missed block are both faults. As defender, examiners look for kime, fluidity of movement, and connection between the block or evasion and the counter, together with distance, stance, and timing, and above all that the candidate understands how to get off the power line of the attack rather than meeting it head-on. The candidate may respond with any technique and any timing.

Section 5: Teaching (10 points)

Teaching is examined because a Sandan in an independent dojo will assist with or conduct kyu gradings. Five-year rule: a candidate who has taught as the instructor of record for five years or more submits a teaching record (years and where; membership by grade; students graded, with dates; other instructor qualifications), and the board awards the section from the record. A candidate with less than five years gives a 10-minute teaching demonstration on a technical point chosen by the board, with the board's uke as the student.

Sandan: adaptations from the standard examination

Element	Standard examination	This examination	Status	Concept preserved
Kihon starting position	Free kamae	Free kamae	Same
Kihon 1, 2	Kizami-zuki jodan oi-zuki chudan gyaku-zuki; age-uke soto-uke gyaku-zuki	Identical	Same
Kihon 3	Uchi-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki	Same line, back stance shortened or fudo-dachi	Adapted	Rear-weighted block into two punches
Kihon 4	Shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi, kizami mae-geri, nukite	Same line, back stance shortened or fudo-dachi	Adapted	Block, front-leg kick, hand strike in one flow
Kihon 5	Mae-geri gyaku-zuki, yoko-kekomi gyaku-zuki, mawashi-geri gyaku-zuki	Same line, support foot pre-set before the side thrust and the roundhouse	Adapted	Three different kicks each flowing into a punch
Kihon 6	Ushiro-geri stepping in	Back kick delivered from a stepped-across position with the heel pre-set, no pivot	Adapted	Back kick with hip drive; removes the 180-degree pivot on the support leg
Kihon 7	Mae-geri, yoko-kekomi, ushiro-geri on the same leg, in place	Blocks on the 45 with front kick, then back kick and side thrust from the opposite 45	Replaced	All three kicks still performed; removes re-chambering on one loaded leg; adds body shifting and angled blocks
Kata and bunkai	Favorite kata plus three bunkai	Same, jumps as steps and drops as lowered stances	Adapted	Kata at Sandan standard; understanding shown by performed bunkai
Kumite	Jiyu ippon, five attacks, both roles, plus a two-minute round of jiyu kumite	Jiyu ippon, three attacks, both roles; no jiyu kumite round	Adapted	Initiative and defense both tested; jodan oi-zuki and yoko-kekomi removed as their counters pivot the support leg
Self-defense	Two combinations	Same; the candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground	Adapted	Close-range reading and control; compensates for the removed kumite attacks
Teaching	Record if five or more years; demonstration if fewer	Identical	Same
Interval and age	Two years at Nidan; 18 and over	Two years at Nidan; 18 and over	Same

Purpose and eligibility

This examination awards Yondan (4th Dan) in Shotokan karate to candidates aged 60 and over who have multiple joint replacements. It tests every concept the standard Yondan examination tests, at the same standard, using techniques and loading patterns that a replaced hip or knee can perform without injury. Where the standard examination asks for a movement that pivots or rotates a loaded joint, this syllabus substitutes a movement that tests the same thing a different way, and each adaptation is listed in the adaptations table at the end.

Eligibility:

• Age 60 or over on the day of the grading

• Sandan held for at least three years (the minimum interval)

• At least one replaced hip or knee, confirmed by the candidate in writing; written clearance from the candidate's surgeon or physician for the movements in this syllabus is obtained before the date is fixed

• A written paper or an equivalent practical contribution to Shotokan karate, demonstrated as part of the examination (Section 6)

Examination board and conduct

The board has two voting examiners and one optional third seat. No examiner is or has been the candidate's student, and none has tested under him.

Seat	Grade	Role
Head examiner	Sandan or higher Chairs the board, leads questioning,	casts the deciding vote, signs the record
Second examiner	Nidan	Scores independently, questions the candidate, signs the record
Third seat (optional)	Any yudansha not trained by the candidate	Scores independently

The board's authority is real. A fail on any section stands. Each examiner scores every section independently; scores are compared only after the final section, and the head examiner decides where there is no consensus. The whole examination is recorded on continuous, unedited video from at least one fixed camera; a second angle is recommended for kumite and self-defense. A candidate over 60 may ask for a rest of two to three minutes between sections.

Components at a glance

Six sections, scored out of 100. These are the same six sections as the standard Yondan examination: kata with performed bunkai, kihon, self-defense, kumite, teaching, and a contribution to the art in the form of a paper or an equivalent practical work.

Section (in order on the day)	Content	Weight	Approx. time
1. Kata and bunkai	Tokui kata plus three applications explained and performed	25	15 min
2. Kihon	Seven combinations from free kamae, four repetitions each	20	15 min
3. Self-defense	Two combinations at realistic speed	15	10 min
4. Jiyu ippon kumite	Three attacks, both sides, both roles	20	10 min
5. Teaching	Five-year rule; demonstration only if under five years	10	0 to 10 min
6. Contribution to the art	Written paper, or a practical contribution presented after the kumite	10	10 min

The physical sections run in the order Kata, Kihon, Self-defense, Kumite. Kata comes first so it is performed fresh, where precision can be judged cleanly. Kumite comes last deliberately: the candidate should be tired by then, and the board is looking for someone who can still focus mentally as well as physically under fatigue. The Section 6 presentation follows the kumite. Section 5 is settled from the record before the day where the five-year rule is met. A candidate over 60 may ask for a rest of two to three minutes between any two sections.

Section 1: Kata and bunkai (25 points)

The candidate performs a tokui kata of his choosing, declared at least 14 days before the grading (15 points). The candidate then demonstrates and explains three bunkai applications from the kata against a partner (10 points).

Kata is performed once at full speed and kime.

Bunkai: three applications, each stated as the movement in the kata, the attack it answers, and the principle at work, then performed at a speed that shows it works. The board may ask for any application on the other side or against a different attack.

Scoring criteria for kata, weighted equally: correct sequence, embusen, and rhythm; kime and the contrast between tension and relaxation; hip and body connection on every technique; zanshin, breathing, and kiai placement. Stance depth is scored for correctness of form, not for how low it is; straddle stance is performed at a moderate width.

Scoring criteria for bunkai: fidelity to the actual movement of the kata; function against a partner who attacks with intent; the quality of the explanation; the ability to answer a “what if” from the board without stalling.

Section 2: Kihon (20 points)

Seven combinations from free kamae (jiyu kamae), each performed four times in the direction stated. Stance length is natural rather than deep and is not scored for depth. Turns between lines are stepped through, not pivoted on the ball of a loaded foot. Each combination is listed in English with the Japanese in brackets.

1. Jab, step and punch face, punch chest, punch chest (kizami-zuki, oi-zuki jodan, chudan, chudan) — stepping forward. The jab is from the front hand in place; the step carries the first punch to the face and the next two to the chest without a second step.

2. Rising block, outside block with the same arm, reverse punch (age-uke, soto-uke, gyaku-zuki) — stepping backward.

3. Front kick with the back leg, lunge punch on the same side, reverse punch (mae-geri, oi-zuki, gyaku-zuki) — stepping forward. The kicking leg lands forward into front stance and the lunge punch is thrown from that landing.

4. Knife-hand block, front-leg front kick, spear-hand thrust (shuto-uke, kizami mae-geri, nukite) — stepping backward. The block is taken in a shortened back stance or rooted stance at the candidate's discretion; the front leg kicks from that position and returns forward into front stance for the spear-hand.

5. Front-leg roundhouse kick, back-leg front kick, reverse punch (kizami mawashi-geri, mae-geri, gyaku-zuki) — stepping forward. The roundhouse is joint-friendly because the support leg is set partially turned outward before the kick is launched, so the kick rotates on a foot that is already pointed the right way rather than pivoting under load mid-kick, which reduces the shearing force on the support-leg knee. The roundhouse is at waist height or below; the front kick follows as the roundhouse leg lands.

6. Turn, step forward into back stance, shift into front stance with jab, reverse punch (kokutsu-dachi, kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki) — stepping forward. The turn is stepped, not pivoted; back stance is shortened.

7. Turn 45 degrees, outside block, front-leg front kick, reverse punch; turn 45 degrees the other way, inside block, back-leg side thrust kick stepping forward, reverse punch; downward block, spinning back kick, reverse punch (soto-uke, kizami mae-geri, gyaku-zuki; uchi-uke, yoko-kekomi, gyaku-zuki; gedan barai, ushiro mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki). This replaces the standard in-place combination of front kick, side thrust, and back kick on one leg, and covers all three of those kicks. Each 45-degree turn is a step that carries the hip, so the standing leg does not pivot. The side thrust is delivered with the back leg stepping forward and the support heel pre-set in the direction of the kick before launch, so there is no pivot under load. For the spinning back kick the support heel is likewise pre-set and the rotation is driven by the step of the lead foot, not by a pivot on the planted one. All kicks at waist height or below.

Examiners look for: hip connection on every technique, kime at the end point with relaxation between, correct hikite and chamber, head level, unbroken breathing, and the ability to change direction without losing posture. Hesitation or self-correction mid-combination costs points; reduced stance depth, reduced kick height, and reduced support-foot rotation do not. Pre-setting the support foot before a roundhouse, side thrust, or back kick is the joint-friendly method this syllabus specifies, not a fault: the board scores whether the foot is set deliberately and the kick is then delivered with hip connection, not whether the foot turned during the kick.

A candidate may declare before the day that a specific kick or stance in combinations 5, 6, or 7 is beyond the range of a particular replaced joint and substitute a front kick, a rooted stance, or a stepped turn; the substitution is written on the scoring sheet and the board scores the combination as adapted. Adaptations declared under this section apply equally to kicks used in Sections 3 and 4.

Section 3: Self-defense (15 points)

Two self-defense combinations, declared by the candidate at least 14 days before the grading, each performed at least three times: once slowly with explanation, then twice at realistic speed with the attacker committing fully. The attacker is a yudansha of similar size; the board may substitute its own uke for any repetition. At least one response in each combination must trace to a movement in the candidate's tokui kata or another kata he names.

Self-defense matters all the more here because the kumite section is reduced from five attacks to three, and self-defense tests what the removed attacks tested (reading a committed attack at close range, controlling the attacker after the counter) in a form that the candidate can control for joint loading.

Scoring criteria, applied per combination: realism (the attack would hurt if it landed; the defense does not depend on the attacker stopping short); economy (the fewest movements that end the threat); position (the candidate finishes balanced, protected from the attacker's other weapons, and able to leave); adaptation (when the board changes the attack, the candidate adjusts rather than restarts); connection to the art (at least one response is visibly a kata principle and the candidate can name it).

Full-force strikes are pulled or delivered to pads; joint controls are applied to the partner's tap. The candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground in any repetition, and takedowns are finished with the candidate's weight on both feet.

Section 4: Jiyu ippon kumite (20 points)

The standard Yondan examination uses jiyu ippon kumite with five attacks (jodan oi-zuki, chudan oi-zuki, chudan mae-geri, chudan yoko-kekomi, and mawashi-geri) plus a two-minute round of jiyu kumite. This examination uses three attacks and no jiyu kumite round, which together cover the same three categories of attack (straight punch, straight kick, circular kick):

1. Chudan punch (chudan oi-zuki)

2. Front kick at stomach level (chudan mae-geri)

3. Roundhouse kick (mawashi-geri; the attacker declares jodan or chudan)

The candidate both attacks and defends. The partner is a yudansha of similar size chosen by the candidate; the board may substitute its own uke for any exchange. Each attack is announced, delivered from free stance with full commitment, and performed on both sides and in both roles: twelve exchanges. The candidate may respond with any technique and any timing.

Defending, examiners look for kime, fluidity of movement, and connection (the block or evasion and the counter are one movement driven from the hips, not two), together with distance, stance, and timing, and above all that the candidate understands how to get off the power line of the attack rather than meeting it head-on. Attacking, examiners look for techniques that are crisp and committed but controlled, so that if the partner misses the block the attack does not injure them; an attack pulled short of real distance and an attack that would land hard on a missed block are both faults. Footwork is scored on angle and timing, not depth or speed of stance change; a short shift that takes the attack off-line scores the same as a long one, and a step off-line scores the same as a pivot.

Section 5: Teaching (10 points)

Teaching is examined because a Yondan in an independent dojo will grade students and the rank should attest to that ability.

Five-year rule: a candidate who has taught karate as the instructor of record for five years or more submits a teaching record instead of giving a demonstration, and the board awards the section from the record. A candidate with less than five years gives a 10-minute teaching demonstration on a technical point chosen by the board, with the board's uke as the student.

The teaching record, submitted at least 14 days before the grading:

☐ Years as instructor of record and where

☐ Current membership by grade

☐ Yudansha graded to Shodan and above, with dates

☐ Students selected for regional or national teams, with team and year

☐ Other instructor qualifications (coaching, first aid, safeguarding)

Section 6: Contribution to the art (10 points)

Yondan candidates make a contribution to the art, in one of two forms:

• A written paper of 2,500 to 4,000 words on a technical or pedagogical topic in Shotokan karate, submitted at least 14 days before the grading, or

• A practical contribution to improving Shotokan karate, presented to the board as part of the examination: a method, syllabus, drill set, or adaptation that other instructors could adopt, with the reasoning behind it and evidence that it works.

A practical contribution is presented in up to 10 minutes after the kumite, followed by questions from the board. The board scores it on the same criteria as a paper: technical accuracy and depth; originality (the candidate says something he believes, not a summary of what others say); honesty about limits; and clarity (an intelligent yudansha from another style could follow it). A practical contribution is additionally scored on whether it is usable by someone other than the candidate.

Adaptations from the standard examination

The standard Yondan examination is the reference. Every line below is marked Same, or Adapted (the concept is kept; the technique or loading changes). Nothing in the standard examination is dropped without an entry showing where its concept is tested instead.

Element	Standard examination	This examination	Status	Concept preserved
Kihon starting position	Free kamae	Free kamae	Same	Techniques launched from a fighting posture, not a formal stance
Kihon repetitions	Four per combination	Four per combination	Same	Consistency under repetition
Kihon 1	Jab, triple punch, stepping in (kizami-zuki, sanbon renzuki)	Jab, step and punch face, chest, chest	Adapted	Jab setting up a multiple-punch sequence; one step, three targeted punches instead of three identical ones
Kihon 2	Rising block, outside block same arm, reverse punch, stepping back	Identical	Same	Two blocks on one arm, hip reversal into the counter
Kihon 3	Inside block in back stance, jab, reverse punch, stepping in	Moved to combination 6 with a stepped turn added	Adapted	Back-stance block transitioning to front-stance punches; back stance shortened, turn stepped not pivoted
Kihon 4	Knife-hand block, front-leg front kick, spear-hand, stepping back	Identical, with shortened back stance or rooted stance permitted	Adapted	Block, front-leg kick, hand strike in one flow; stance depth is the only change
Kihon 5	Front kick, lunge punch, reverse punch, stepping in	Front kick with the back leg, same-side lunge punch, reverse punch	Same	Kick landing into a punch on the same side
Kihon 6	Front-leg roundhouse, side thrust kick, reverse punch, stepping in	Front-leg roundhouse, back-leg front kick, reverse punch	Adapted	Front-leg circular kick followed by a rear-leg kick and a punch; the side thrust becomes a front kick. The roundhouse is kept because the support leg is pre-turned before the kick, which removes the pivot under load; height reduced
Kihon 7	Front kick, side thrust, back kick on the same leg in place, right and left	Turn 45, outside block, front-leg front kick, reverse punch; turn 45 the other way, inside block, back-leg side thrust stepping forward, reverse punch; downward block, spinning back kick, reverse punch	Adapted	All three kicks are still performed (front, side thrust, back), each from a stepped position rather than re-chambered in place on one leg, with the support heel pre-set toward the kick so there is no pivot under load; the spinning back kick's rotation is driven by the lead-foot step. Adds 45-degree turns and blocks on angles
Kata and bunkai	Tokui kata with three bunkai applications performed and explained	Identical	Same	Understanding demonstrated against a partner
Kumite	Jiyu ippon, five attacks, both roles, plus a two-minute round of jiyu kumite	Jiyu ippon, three attacks (chudan oi-zuki, chudan mae-geri, mawashi-geri), both sides, candidate attacking and defending; no jiyu kumite round	Adapted	The two attacks removed (jodan oi-zuki, yoko-kekomi) are the ones whose natural counters pivot the support leg; the three kept cover straight punch, straight kick, and circular kick
Self-defense	Two combinations at realistic speed	Identical; the candidate is not thrown or taken to the ground	Adapted	Close-range reading of a committed attack and control of the attacker afterward; also compensates for the removed kumite attacks
Teaching	Record if five or more years teaching, demonstration if fewer	Identical	Same	Attests to grading authority in an independent dojo
Contribution to the art	Paper, or a practical contribution demonstrated at the examination	Identical	Same
Minimum interval	Three years at Sandan	Three years at Sandan	Same
Eligibility	No age or joint requirement	Age 60 or over, at least one replaced hip or knee, written clearance	Adapted	The whole syllabus is adapted for candidates 60 and over with joint replacements, not only kumite

Scoring and pass rules

Each examiner scores every section independently on the scoring sheet (see the scoring sheets and rubrics). Section scores are averaged; the total is out of 100.

Pass requires both a total of 70 or more and the floor met in every section. A section below its floor fails the grading regardless of the total; the board may offer a retest of that section alone within six months.

Within each section, examiners score against a four-band scale: 90 to 100 percent of the maximum means the examiner would use this as a model for their own yudansha; 70 to 89 is solid Yondan standard with minor faults; 50 to 69 shows the material but with faults a Yondan should not have; below 50 is not at Yondan standard. Examiners write one or two lines of justification per section, and any adaptation the candidate declared under Section 2 is written on the sheet.

Record of grading

The grading file, kept in full with copies to each examiner and to the dojo's records:

☐ This syllabus, in the version agreed before the day, signed by the candidate and both examiners

☐ The candidate's written confirmation of joint replacements and the surgeon's or physician's clearance

☐ Continuous, unedited video of the whole examination

☐ The teaching record as submitted, or video of the teaching demonstration

☐ The paper, or the materials of the practical contribution and video of its presentation

☐ Each examiner's completed scoring sheet with written justifications

☐ A signed grading certificate

Suggested certificate wording: “This certifies that [candidate] was examined for the grade of Yondan (4th Dan), Shotokan Karate, on [date] at [location], before a board of [head examiner, grade and lineage] and [second examiner, grade and lineage], under the Joint-Friendly Yondan Examination syllabus attached, which adapts the standard Yondan examination for candidates over 60 with joint replacements, and was found to meet the standard. A full video record of the examination is held by the dojo.”