Contents
The correction ladder: Position → Reflex
The IKKU/IFK syllabus's "Progression of Learning" gives the coach a correction algorithm: first the position, then balance, co-ordination, form, speed, power, finally reflex. In line work and on the pad alike, correct one rung at a time — never power before form.
The vocabulary, family by family
| Family | Content (syllabus selection) |
|---|---|
| Dachi (stances) | Sanchin (hourglass) · Zenkutsu (forward) · Kiba (horse) · Kokutsu (back) · Nekoashi (cat) · Shiko · Tsuruashi (crane) · Kakeashi · Kumite-no-kamae (fighting stance) |
| Tsuki (punches) | Seiken chudan/jodan · Ago uchi · Shita tsuki · Kagi tsuki · Tate/Jun/Kage tsuki · Morote tsuki · Sanbon tsuki |
| Uchi (strikes) | Uraken (gammen/sayu/hizo/mawashi/oroshi) · Shuto (gammen/sakotsu/hizo…) · Tettsui · Hiji ate (elbow) · Shotei · Haito · Koken · Nukite |
| Uke (blocks) | Jodan uke · Chudan soto/uchi uke · Gedan barai · Morote uke · Mawashi uke · Shuto mawashi uke · Juji uke · Kake uke · Koken uke |
| Geri (kicks) | See the kicking curriculum below |
Knockdown's kicking curriculum
| Kick | Role in knockdown | Age gate |
|---|---|---|
| Kansetsu-geri (low kick) | The attrition war — targets the thigh, cumulative | Body target; gedan-geri forbidden in cadet competition (EKO 19.9) |
| Mae-geri | Distance keeper, body stop | All bands, on the pad |
| Mawashi-geri chudan | The primary scoring kick to the body | All bands, on the pad |
| Mawashi-geri jodan | The head-kick ippon threat | Pad/target only for young bands; helmet « clap » at cadet |
| Yoko / Ushiro / Ushiro-mawashi | Linear and turning attacks | Jodan versions run through the gate |
| Hiza-geri (knee) | Close range | Body only (head hiza banned at cadet) |
| Kakato-geri (heel/axe) | Downward to head/collarbone | Jodan gated |
Ido geiko & tai sabaki
Ido geiko puts the kihon in motion: forward, back and turning in zenkutsu, then kokutsu/nekoashi, sanchin, kiba (front/rear kosa) — and at IKO green belt, step work in kumite-no-kamae: okuri ashi, fumi ashi, kosa, oiashi/sagari. The kaiten (spinning) and dako (45°) ido arrive at yellow. Tai sabaki — moving off the line while keeping counter distance — is the defensive core of knockdown infighting.
The yakusoku bridge
- Block-only (IKO white/orange) — hand or leg blocks tsuki/keri, no contact;
- Uke-kaeshi (IKO blue) — block + counter, hand/leg permutations;
- Sanbon / ippon / renraku kumite — pre-arranged three-step / one-step / linked (IFK/IKKU at every grade);
- Uke-kaeshi in fighting stance + step work (IKO green);
- Jiyu kumite — free rounds, graded by age and grade (30–60 s at white → ×10 at brown).
This bridge is what makes young partner work safe: their two-person drills are yakusoku forms, not free rounds.
Frequently asked questions
Pinan or Heian?
Where do children start on the pad?
Sources
IKO Kyokushinkaikan — Technical Syllabus (April 2011): the full dachi/tsuki/uchi/uke/geri vocabulary, ido geiko, the yakusoku bridge per belt. IKKU (Arneil/IFK lineage) — Grading Syllabus: the "Progression of Learning", sanbon/renraku/ippon kumite, sayu-geiko. EKO — 2018 kumite rules (the cadet gedan-geri and hiza gates). Ōyama, historical canon (vocabulary). Paak kyokushin corpus, file 03. Content verified September 2026.