7 kyu¶

Introduction¶

7 kyu is the grade where the early basic training begins to take on a clearer Kyokushin character. Here the student is introduced to neko ashi dachi, to broader work with tettsui, to more circular blocks, and to kicking forms that require greater height, better leg control, and clearer direction.

In Masutatsu Oyama’s teaching, karate does not grow only by adding more techniques, but by the body learning to carry technique with greater precision, better control, and deeper coordination. At this grade, that becomes clear: the student must be able to keep the body lighter and more gathered in neko ashi dachi, begin to understand circular blocking better, and at the same time carry technique with security in strikes, kicks, and kata.

What the student learns¶

At 7 kyu, the student learns to:

carry the body more lightly and more gathered in neko ashi dachi
understand the difference between centered weight and withdrawn, living readiness
work more clearly with tettsui as its own technique family
direct technique toward upper level, middle section, and lower level with greater precision
begin to understand circular blocking as more than a simple stopping technique
kick with better height, better leg path, and clearer retraction
take the first steps into the Pinan series
begin to meet formalized partner training at a higher level
work with breathing more consciously through nogare and ibuki
carry technique under increased physical load and somewhat higher demands in kumite

Grading content¶

Stances¶

Neko ashi dachi¶

Neko ashi dachi is a gathered and light stance where the weight is mainly carried by the rear leg while the front leg remains light and alive. It teaches the student to keep the body ready, mobile, and balanced without losing structure.

In Oyama’s material, cat stance / neko ashi dachi belongs to the basic stances, but it requires more control than the earlier beginner stances. At 7 kyu, it becomes important because the student must now be able to work with lightness, readiness, and a clear center of gravity at the same time.

Punches and strikes¶

Tettsui¶

Tettsui is the striking surface of the hammer fist. In Oyama’s terminology, the heavy, powerful outer part of the fist is used as a robust and direct weapon. At this grade, tettsui becomes a clear main group in training and teaches the student to strike with weight, path, and direction rather than pure speed.

Tettsui oroshi uchi¶

Downward hammer-fist strike. This trains a clear falling path, control in shoulder and elbow, and the ability to carry power downward without the upper body collapsing.

Tettsui komekami uchi¶

Hammer-fist strike to the temple. This trains direction toward side targets and a more concentrated, shorter striking path.

Tettsui hizo uchi¶

Hammer-fist strike to the spleen or side of the body. This teaches the student to direct the technique toward the side of the middle section with clear body connection.

Jodan tettsui mae uchi¶

Forward hammer-fist strike to the upper level. This trains direction straight forward with a heavy striking surface and clear finishing.

Chudan tettsui mae uchi¶

Forward hammer-fist strike to the middle section. This trains the body to carry the technique straight toward the center without losing posture.

Gedan tettsui mae uchi¶

Forward hammer-fist strike to the lower level. This trains low direction and clear control in the path of the strike.

Jodan tettsui yoko uchi¶

Side hammer-fist strike to the upper level. This teaches the student to strike to the side with clear direction and correct height.

Chudan tettsui yoko uchi¶

Side hammer-fist strike to the middle section. This trains transfer of power sideways with a stable body line.

Gedan tettsui yoko uchi¶

Side hammer-fist strike to the lower level. This trains a low side path without the student losing balance or stance.

At 7 kyu, the point is not only to recognize several tettsui variants. The student should begin to understand that the same striking surface can be used in different directions and at different levels, but only if the body’s structure holds.

Blocks¶

Seiken mawashi gedan barai¶

Circular low block with seiken. This teaches the student to sweep a low attack away with a clear circular path and bodily support in the movement.

Shuto mawashi uke¶

Circular block with knife hand. This teaches the student to block with more living control, a larger arc, and a clearer sense of catching or guiding movement than in earlier simpler blocks.

In Oyama’s teaching, and in later Kyokushin material, circular blocks become important because they do not only stop the attack, but guide, deflect, and control it. At this grade, the student therefore begins to understand that a block can be active and steering, not only defensive.

Kicks¶

Chusoku mae keage¶

Front rising kick with the ball of the foot as the striking surface. This trains a fast upward path, clear knee lift, and safe retraction.

Haisoku uchi keage¶

Inward-swinging rising kick with the instep as the striking surface. This teaches the student to control a more circular leg path and maintain height without losing balance.

Teisoku soto keage¶

Outward-swinging rising kick with the sole or arch of the foot as the active path. This trains the arc of the leg and better control over the opening of the hip.

Sokuto yoko keage¶

Side rising kick with the foot edge as the striking surface. This teaches the student to form sokuto clearly and lift the kick to the side with correct path and return.

In Oyama’s material, both mae keage and yoko keage are fundamental rising kicks, and their value lies in control, correct striking surface, and precision in the leg path. At 7 kyu, this is more important than hard impact. The student should show direction, height, and retraction.

Kata¶

Pinan sono ichi¶

Pinan sono ichi is the first kata in the Pinan series and marks a clear step beyond Taikyoku. In What is Karate?, Oyama shows how Pinan no kata no. 1 introduces new changes of direction, neko ashi dachi, and greater variation in technique than the earlier simpler basic forms.

At 7 kyu, Pinan sono ichi is important because the student must now begin to show more than basic patterns. The kata still requires order and clarity, but also greater technical awareness, more varied body control, and better understanding of the form’s direction.

Breathing techniques¶

Nogare¶

Nogare is a softer and more flowing form of breathing. It teaches the student to breathe with control without hardening the body, and to keep movement alive.

Ibuki¶

Ibuki is the powerful breathing form. Oyama describes ibuki as a central part of karate, where the lower abdomen is tensed and breathing is used to strengthen both body and concentration.

At 7 kyu, the student therefore begins not only to perform technique, but also to carry technique with more conscious breathing. This marks an important step toward deeper technical control.

Kumite no waza¶

Sequences¶

Kumite no kata sono ichi

Explanation of the steps¶

At this grade, no separate list of individual stepping terms is given. Instead, a named partner form is specified: Kumite no kata sono ichi. This means that the progression lies in the student beginning to work within a more formal and structured kumite frame, where timing, distance, and order become clearer than before.

In Oyama’s line, formal kumite is a necessary bridge between basic technique and free fighting. The student must therefore begin to show that technique, movement, and reaction can be held together even in partner work.

Physical requirements¶

25 push-ups¶

Basic arm, shoulder, and trunk strength at a clearly higher level than before.

20 sit-ups¶

Basic abdominal strength and work capacity with continued increasing demands.

20 squats¶

Basic leg strength and endurance. The requirement also supports stance work, kicking work, and the ability to carry technique with a stable lower body.

The physical requirements show that the grade now places higher demands on the body’s ability to truly carry the training. It is no longer enough to recognize the technique. It must also be maintained during work.

Kumite¶

Jiyu kumite: 5¶

At 7 kyu, the number of rounds remains at five, but the practical level rises because the technique has become broader, the body more tired, and the assessment somewhat more complex. The student should still not be assessed as a finished fighter, but should now be able to carry more technique, more control, and better calm in free form.

Respect, self-restraint, posture, and usable basic technique remain essential. But at this level, it also becomes clearer whether the student loses structure when pressure rises.

Terminology¶

The student should know related terminology in:

Japanese
English
their own language

At 7 kyu, this mainly means that the student should recognize and use the names of neko ashi dachi, the tettsui techniques, the circular blocks, the four kicks, Pinan sono ichi, kumite no kata sono ichi, and the basic breathing terms. Terminology helps the student understand instruction more quickly and follow the progression more clearly.

What the instructor looks for¶

The instructor mainly looks for:

that neko ashi dachi is kept light but stable
that the weight is truly carried backward without the stance becoming dead
that tettsui is struck with the correct path and striking surface
that the student clearly distinguishes between forward and side tettsui
that seiken mawashi gedan barai has real circular direction
that shuto mawashi uke does not become an empty gesture but a guided block
that mae keage and yoko keage rise with control and retract clearly
that the correct striking surface is used: chusoku, haisoku, teisoku, and sokuto
that Pinan sono ichi holds together in direction, rhythm, and focus
that the student begins to understand the difference between simple basic training and a formal kumite frame
that breathing does not collapse when load increases
that the student works calmly, responsively, and respectfully throughout the grading

At 7 kyu, assessment is therefore not only about more techniques, but about clearer coordination between lightness, control, breathing, and technical variation.

Common mistakes at 7 kyu¶

Common mistakes at this grade are:

allowing neko ashi dachi to become too high or too loose
placing too much weight on the front leg
turning tettsui into an arm throw instead of an ordered strike
confusing the directions of the tettsui variants
losing height or line in the side techniques
allowing seiken mawashi gedan barai to become too large or too loose
performing shuto mawashi uke without clear arc and control
throwing mae keage upward without clear retraction
failing to form haisoku, teisoku, and sokuto correctly
going through Pinan sono ichi as a mere memorized sequence without technical awareness
becoming so tense that breathing weakens
making formal kumite stiff or uncertain because the foundation does not yet hold enough

At this level, it is common for the student to want to show more advanced technique before lightness and precision are ready. In Oyama’s line of thinking, development lies instead in refining the structure while the scope grows.

Summary¶

7 kyu is the grade where basic training begins to gain more form, more variation, and more depth.

What was previously built mainly on straight basic techniques is now carried further through neko ashi dachi, tettsui, circular blocking, rising kicks, the first Pinan kata, and more conscious breathing. The grade is important because the student now begins to move from simple basic structure toward a more clearly formed Kyokushin technique.

The central point at 7 kyu is not only that more content is added, but that the student begins to show lightness, precision, breathing control, and greater technical substance in the whole.