Novice

Shichikyū

The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required to earn the rank of Shichikyū (7th class), which is expressed by wearing a yellow belt. This is typically achieved after 4-6 months of training.

1. Demonstrate a general understanding of dōjō etiquette and protocol.
2. Demonstrate the required terminology, techniques, and striking points.
3. Perform the required kata (Hajimete Undō no Karatedō, Futatsu Mae Undō no Karatedō)
4. Explain the Eight Points of Harmony.
5. Explain the difference between inside and outside techniques.
6. Demonstrate inside and outside 7-3 stepping.
7. Perform 10 self-defense techniques, including inside and outside wrist releases.
8. Demonstrate ability in kumite.

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• Terminology
  • Sensei a title given to teachers “one who has lived before you”
  • Dōjō training hall “Way-place”
  • Karate empty hands
  • Goshin-Jutsu self-defense “body-protection art”
  • Dachi stance
  • Uke Block / opponent “receiver”
  • Tsuki
  • Keri
  • Ukemi
  • Japanese counting

• Stances
  • Heisoku-dachi attention stance “closed-feet stance”
  • Fudō-dachi ready stance “immovable stance”
  • Zenketsu-dachi front stance “front-bend stance”
  • Kōkutsu-dachi back stance “rear-bend stance”
  • Neko-ashi-dachi
  • Ni-kobushi-dachi
  • Tsuru-dachi
  • Seiza
• Blocks
  • Morote uke
  • Age uke
  • Gedan-barai uke
  • Hittsui uke
• Punches
  • Seiken-oi tsuki
  • Seiken-gyaku tsuki
  • Seiken-choku tsuki

• Strikes
  • Riken uchi backfist strike
  • Hassō-shutō uchi downward knife hand strike “diagonal hand-blade strike”
  • Tate-shutō uchi bent wrist knife hand strike “vertical hand-blade strike”
  • Makkikomi-shutō uchi

• Kicks
  • Mae geri exercise kick “front kick”
  • Mae geri-keage front snap-kick
  • Yoko geri side exercise kick “side kick”
  • Yoko geri-keage side snap-kick

• Striking Points
  • Koshi ball of the foot
  • Sokutō knife edge of the foot “foot-blade”
  • Seiken front of the first two knuckles “proper fist”
  • Shutō knife hand “hand-blade”

Breakfalls

• • Ushiro-ukemi rear breakfall
  • Mae-ukemi front breakfall
  • Yoko-ukemi side breakfall
  • Kaiten ukemi shoulder roll “forward rolling breakfall”

• Manipulations and Takedowns
  • De-ashi-barai leg sweep “forward foot sweep”
  • Mae-geri nage push-‘n’-pull throw;
  • playground shove
  • inside wrist release
  • outside wrist release

Rokyū

The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required to earn the rank of Rokyū (6th class), which is expressed by wearing a green belt. This is typically achieved after 8-12 months of total training time.

1. Know the required terminology and demonstrate the required techniques.
2. Perform the required kata (Mittsu Mae Undō no Karatedō, Yottsu Mae Undō no Karatedō, and Hajime Bō).
3. Recite the list of all 30 kyūsho.
4. Perform 20 self-defense techniques.
5. Demonstrate an appropriate level of ability in kumite.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of all previous qualifications.

Typically these are:

• Terminology
  • Kyūsho
  • Uchi
  • Keage
  • Rei
  • Gi
  • Obi
  • Hajime
  • Matte
  • Yame
  • Kiotsuke
  • Kiai
  • Kata
  • Waza
  • Kumite

• Stances
  • Kiba-dachi horseback stance
  • Tsuru-dachi sleeping crane stance
  • Sanchin-dachi

• Blocks
  • Shutō uke knife-hand block “hand-blade block”
  • Tsukamu uke grasping block
  • Jūji uke X block “figure-10 block”
• Punches
  • Tate tsuki vertical punch
• Kicks
  • Hittsui geri
  • Mawashi geri
  • Mikazuki geri
• Strikes
  • Empi uchi elbow strike “monkey elbow strike” / “swallow-flying strike”
  • Teishō uchi palm-heel strike “bottom-palm strike”
  • Haitō uchi ridge-hand strike
  • Uraken uchi “reverse fist strike”
• Manipulations and Takedowns
  • Ikkyō Arm lever / shoulder depression “first principle”
  • Kote-gaeshi Supinating wrist lock “wrist return”
  • Ō-goshi Hip throw “major hip throw”
  • Ō-soto-gari Reap “major outer reap”
  • Shovel pin
  • Double-leg takedown

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