There are 10 Kyu and 10 Dan in JKA karate. To obtain certification for each rank, you must fulfill the certification requirements and complete the testing procedure. Testing—or grading—is carried out by a panel of instructors authorized as JKA technical examiners.
Typically, Dan grading sessions take place 4 times per year, and Kyu grading takes place twice or trice. In order to be eligible for testing, you must first have gained the appropriate amount of continuous experience at your current rank. Then, depending on the level of Dan you are being graded for, you may have to take the test outside your own country or region (at the higher Dan ranks, only Tokyo JKA HQ is authorized to evaluate, grade and issue certification).
These details are summarized in the following chart.
| Rank | Min. Experience | Testing Location |
| 10th to 1st Kyu | Branch dojo or group | |
| 1st Dan | 1yr Cannot apply same day as attaining 1st Dan | Prefectural HQ or Branch dojo or group, with permission of Tokyo JKA HQ |
| 2nd Dan | 1 yr at 1st Dan rank | National (Prefectural) HQ or Regional HQ, with permission of Tokyo JKA HQ |
| 3rd Dan | 2 yrs at 2nd Dan rank | |
| 4th Dan | 3 yrs at 3rd Dan rank | Tokyo JKA HQ or Regional HQ, with permission of Tokyo JKA HQ |
| 5th Dan | 4 yrs at 4th Dan rank | |
| 6th Dan | 6 yrs at 5th Dan rank | Tokyo JKA HQ |
| 7th Dan | 7 yrs at 6th Dan rank | Spring camp in JKA HQ or Autumun camp in JKA HQ or Funakoshi Gichin Cup world championships |
| 8th Dan | 7 yrs at 7th Dan rank | Upon recommendation by Instructor Committee |
| 9th Dan | 8 yrs at 8th Dan rank | Upon recommendation by Instructor |
| 10th Dan | 9 yrs at 9th Dan rank | Committee |
Kihon: -> In place basics in SHIZEN TAI to ZENKUTSU DACHI and back to SHIZEN TAI
CHUUDAN JUNZUKI
JOUDAN AGEUKE
CHUUDAN SOTOUKE,
MAEGERI (ZENKUTSUDACHI, GEDAN KAKIWAKE)
* “GOREI” command (From right side two action in turn for each WAZA)
Kihon: -> Chudan Jun-zuki <- Jodan Age-uke -> Chudan Soto-uke <- Shuto-uke à Mae-geri
Kata: Heian Shodan
Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan
* Examiners look predominantly for correct basic form
Kihon: ->Chudan Jun-zuki <- Jodan Age-uke -> Chudan Soto-uke <- Chudan Uchi-uke -> Shuto-uke -> Mae-geri -> Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Heian Nidan
Kumite: Gohon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan
Kihon: -> Chudan Jun-zuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki <- Chudan-Uchi-uke -> Shuto-uke -> Mae-geri -> Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right -> Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Heian Sandan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan left/right
* Examiners look for correct pivoting of the hips during renzoku-waza, and clear grasp of the hand techniques
Kihon: ->Chudan Jun-zuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki <- Chudan-Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Shuto-uke -> Mae-geri -> Mawashi-geri -> Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right -> Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Heian Yondan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri left/right
Kihon: -> Chudan Jun-zuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Gyaku-tsuki <- Chudan-Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) -> Mae-geri -> Mawashi-geri ->Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right -> Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Heian Godan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri left/right
* Examiners are looking for appropriate degree of strength and sharpness of execution in each technique (Kihon, Kumite, Kata)
Kihon: ->Chudan Jun-zuki -> Sambon Renzuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) <- Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) -> Mae-geri -> Mawashi-geri -> Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right -> Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Tekki Shodan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi left/right
Kihon: -> Chudan Jun-zuki -> Sambon Renzuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) <- Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki ->Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) -> Mae-geri Mawashi-geri ->Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) left/right -> Yoko Ke-komi (Kibadachi) left/right
Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassaidai, Kankudai, Jion, Empi)—student may choose any of these
Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi left/right
Kihon: -> Chudan Jun-zuki -> Sambon Renzuki <- Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Chudan Soto-uke+Yoko Empi+Yoko Uraken (Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi) <- Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki -> Shuto-uke+Nukite (Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi) -> Mae-geri Rengeri (Chudan/Jodan) -> Mawashi-geri -> Yoko Ke-age (Kibadachi) -> left/right Yoko Ke-komi (Zenkutsu-dachi) left/right
Kata: Sentei Kata (Bassaidai, Kankudai, Jion, Empi)—student may choose any of these
Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite—Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi/Mawashi-geri one side
Examiners look for ease and naturalness of execution, for speedy and powerful kime, and for smooth, instantaneous, dynamic elasticity of delivery.
【KIHON】 IDO KIHON Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
3. JOUDAN AGEUKE, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
4. CHUUDAN SOTOUKE, YOKOENPI, YOKOURA KENUCHI, GYAKUZUKI (ZENKUTSU DACHI changing stance to KIBA DACHI changing stance to ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
5. CHUUDAN UCHIUKE, KIZAMI ZUKI, GYAKUZUKI (step back)
6. KOUKUTSU SHUTOU UKE, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step in)
7. MAEGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE) (step in)
8. RENGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
9. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
10. YOKOGERI KEAGE (KIBADACHI – right and left) (step in)
11. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI)
【KATA】 BASSAI DAI, KANKU DAI, ENPI or JION (your choice)
【KUMITE】 JIYU IPPON KUMITE (right JOUDAN JUNZUKI, right CHUUDAN JUNZUKI, right CHUUDAN MAEGERI, right CHUUDAN YOKOGERI KEKOMI, right CHUUDAN MAWASHI GERI – one side only)
【KIHON】 IDO KIHON Moving basics
1. CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
2. SANBON RENZUKI (step in)
3. AGEUKE, SOTOUKE (with same arm), GYAKUZUKI (step back)
4. UCHIUKE, KIZAMIZUKI, GYAKUZUKI (KOKUTSU DACHI to ZENKUTSU DACHI) (step in)
5. KOUKUTSHU SHUTOUUKE, KIZAMI MAEGERI, ZENKUTSU NUKITE (step back)
6. RENGERI (GEDAN KAKIWAKE CHUUDAN, JOUDAN) (step in)
7. YOKOGERI KEAGE, YOKOGERI KEKOMI (KIBA DACHI, alternate feet)
8. YOKOGERI KEKOMI (ZENKUTSUDACHI) (step in)
9. MAWASHIGERI (step in)
10. AGEUKE (step back), MAWASHIGERI, YOKOURA KENUCHI, CHUUDAN JUNZUKI (step in)
【KATA】 Student’s favorite KATA
【KUMITE】 JIYU KUMITE