Well well, here in Japan (I've lived here for 20 years). Gradings are unbelievably soft. For all grading up until blackbelt you simply do the below. 1. Kihon Kata - simple movement, blocks depend on your grade 2. 10 Punches, 10 Kicks 3. 10 push ups 4. And then your Kata Finished in like 10-12 mins For Brown belts almost the same just more advanced Kata Black belt !!! - same just two Kata and thats it no Kumite. Now in Japan, for Brown and Black you have to grade twice. Once for your local Dojo as above. Then you need to go the the official JKF Dojo's and do it again, but this time sparring a stranger or two. You make you go around 2min non stop but not counting any point. So simple.
