For many, the grading process within the Hara Shotokan Karate Academy is viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate all the recent months hard work and the ability to progress to the next belt.
:: Background :: Kihon :: Kumite :: Kata ::
Many people who have never trained Karate view the coloured belt system incorrectly, with the assumption that coloured belts are the stops along the journey and that Black Belt is the target destination. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Black Belt (Shodan) is actually the START of the journey, the coloured belts before that are merely preparation for the rest of the journey.
Currently, there are 10 grades of Black Belt and the journey of Karate is life-long...
In Okinawa, where Karate was developed into what we have today, there were no coloured belts, colour was introduced by Westerners that adopted Karate training in their own countries.
Originally, the whole Gi (uniform), including the Obi (belt) was white, signifying the purity of the spirit, and a Karateka (student of Karate) would wash the Gi after each training - but not the Obi.
Over time, the Obi would get more and more dirty, while the Gi remained white, thus people would identify the level of time and experience within training that a Karateka had, by the darkness of the Obi, the blacker the Obi, the more experienced at Karate.
That is where the symbolism of the "Blackened Belt" became synonymous with the presumption of Karate skill.
In order to develop within karate, approximately every six months a kyu grading examination is carried out.
This is very much dependant upon the level of karate demonstrated, experience, commitment and confidence of each individual.
The regular training sessions attended within the week, will provide students with the basic techniques (kihon), kata knowledge and experience required to undertake the grading.
Grading's should be viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate to your examiners, instructors and fellow karateka's that the techniques you have learned in the prior months can be carried out with conviction, passion and positivety.
Click here to confirm the latest grading dates & click the pictures below to confirm the syllabus for each grading.
Kumite, (sparring) for training and learning is done with absolute control so as not to inflict damage or injury on yourself, or your training partners.
It is necessary for a student to complete and perfect certain systems of "structured" kumite in order to satisfy grading requirements. The higher the grade attempted, the more technically difficult structured Kumite becomes. Here is an overview of the Structured Kumite.
:: Gohon :: Sanbon :: Ippon :: Jiyu Ippon :: Jiyu :: Competition ::
Gohon Kumite: (5-step Basic Sparring)
This is where an attacker first announces his attack intention, then moves forward towards his opponent attacking with each of his 5 steps. The defender must step backwards matching his attacker step for step to maintain safe distance while simultaneously defending the attack with the appropriate defensive techniques. The defender must then counter-punch after the 5th defence to signify the snatching of control from the attacker.
Sanbon Kumite: (3-step Intermediate Sparring)
This is where an attacker first announces his attack intention, then moves forward towards his opponent with an attack. The defender must use the appropriate techniques to defend all 3 attacks in the combination, then counter-punch to signify the snatching of control from the attacker.
Ippon Kumite: (1-step Basic Sparring)
This is where an attacker first announces his attack intention, then moves forward towards his opponent only one step per attack. The attacks include face and body punches, snap and thrust kicks to the body, each attack done completed using both sides of the body.
The defender must take a single step backwards with an appropriate technique to deflect each attack, followed immediately by a counter attack technique to signify the snatching of control from the attacker.
Jiyu-Ippon Kumite: (1-step Free-Style Kumite)
This form of Kumite has no formal stance, distance or posture restrictions whatsoever. Students are free to defend naturally and by whatever posture is comfortable for them. The attacker first announces his attack intention, then moves forward towards his opponent only one step per attack.
The attacks include face and body punches, snap and thrust kicks to the body and to the head. Each attack done twice, using both left and right hands and feet. The defender must deflect or otherwise foil the attack using appropriate techniques, followed immediately by a counter attack technique to signify the snatching of control from the attacker.
The purpose for this is to further the a transition between basic, structured Kumite, and the ability to apply free-style techniques to real defence situations.
Jiyu Kumite: (Totally Free-Style Sparring)
There is no formal requirement for attack or defence. It may be any appropriate techniques without warning or acknowledgement. It may also be any appropriate defence method.
Of course, for the purpose of training, grading or competition, contact control is very important, to avoid injury.
Kumite for Competition is conducted under the most controlled of environments. Under the direction of rules such as the W.K.F. tournament rules and guidelines, Kumite is conducted on flat, matted surfaces with padded safety equipment and up to 5 officials refereeing and judging each ring of only 2 competitors at a time under closely controlled time and point scoring methods.
This kind of Kumite requires great skill, timing and immense control.
Click here to view the Hara Shotokan Karate Academy's Kumite and Kata Competition Rules.
Kata are patterns of movements and techniques, also referred to as 'form', that demonstrate physical combat principles, as part of a grading syllabus at lease one kata will be required to be completed.
As a karate-ka becomes more advanced, 'bunkai' will also be required to be demonstrated as part of the grading, 'bunkai' is the application of each move within the kata.
Below is a list of the most common Shotokan Karate Kata, a video to watch and some history about them.
:: Taikyoku :: Heian :: Tekki :: Bassai :: Kanku :: Empi ::
:: Jion :: Hangetsu :: Gankaku :: Jitte :: Chinte :: Nijushiho :: Sochin ::
::Unsu :: Goju shiho :: Jiin :: Wankan :: Meikyo ::
For beginners, a somewhat simplified version of Heian Shodan was introduced, which is called Taikyoku Shodan. This is most often used for 9th Kyu grading's as a "stepping-stone" to Heian Shodan.
There are also Taikyoku Nidan and Taikyoku Sandan to learn, each involving similar patterns but somewhat more complex techniques than the previous.
The old name for the Heian Kata was Pinan. These Kata were developed by Master Yasutsune Itosu as intermediate Kata to the much longer main Kata of Shorin-Ryu. He did not make them up however, they were based on much older training forms called Channan, which had their origin in China.
Master Funakoshi considered Pinan Shodan too difficult for an introductory Kata so he changed Pinan Nidan to Heian Shodan and Pinan Shodan to Heian Nidan.
The Okinawan name for these was Naihanchi and they are directly taken from the long form called Hua-Chuan which is one one of the main training forms of Tiger Style Northern Shaolin Wu-Shu. It was on Okinawa that the Kata was split into three separate sections that we now call Tekki Shodan, Nidan and Sandan.
The name means "Iron Horse", the Kiba-dachi stance used exclusively in these Kata is the main training stance of Northern Shaolin Tiger Style of Wu-Shu.
Bassai Kata - To penetrate a fortress
Again these Kata are from Northern Shaolin sources but from which sub-style we are not sure. They do however, have strong Tiger Style characteristics.
The name used on Okinawa was "Passai" and it translates as "Capture the Fortress".
We are taught that Bassai-Dai symbolises the capture of the fortress and Bassai-Sho symbolises the fight to get out again.
The Kanku Kata were taught to the Okinawans by Master Kwang Shang Fu - Military Attaché to Okinawa in 1724.
The Okinawan way of saying his name is Kushanku and this was the Okinawan name for these Kata.
Master Funakoshi changed the name to Kanku which means "viewing the sky".
When an intermediate student of Shotokan Kata views Kanku-Dai for the first time, there is always a sense of strong familiarity. This is because the Kata is made up primarily of techniques and combinations which appear in each of the 5 Heian Kata. It is widely believed that the Heian Kata were in fact each a small excerpt of Kanku-Dai, broken up to make learning this Kata easier for students.
Whether this is true or not is not important, however it is true to say that once a student has a reasonable working knowledge of the 5 Heian Kata, Kanku-Dai is far easier to learn.
A classic white crane style Kata brought to Okinawa in 1644 by Military Attaché Master Wang-Shu. The Kata was named after him hence its Okinawan name of "Wanshu". This translates to "excellent or incredible arms" and perhaps this explains the lovely hand techniques this Kata contains.
This is the classic "mainstream" Shaolin Kata, complete with the "Ming" salute at the beginning. Shaolin was also named Jion-Ji by the Japanese but the literal translation of the Kanji is "to love the sound" (of Shaolin).
This is a Wutang Kata that came to us through Master Itosu's training in Na-Ha-te from Master Higaonna. It is named after the third Chinese Zen Patriarch but the name Hangetsu, given to it by Master Funakoshi, means "half moon" - a description of the dominant stance used in the Kata.
Its original name was 'Seisan', and is perhaps the oldest kata in karate, versions on this kata can be found in many styles. It is said that Bushi Matsumura introduced this kata into Okinawa from China.
Yet another White Crane form, this time taught by Master Ching-To, attaché to Okinawa from the Ming court in 1732, and so the Okinawans named it in his honour "Chinto".
Master Funakoshi later renamed it Gankaku (the crane on a rock).
Another Shaolin classic. The name means "ten hands". If you master this Kata, your enemies will feel as though you had ten hands. It is said that the techniques in Jitte are designed to disarm a bo wielding opponent.
Chinte - Incredible/Strange hands
This Kata is one of the older ones and it's salute at the beginning betrays its Wutang origin.
The final moves of this Kata were originally supposed to represent the ocean waves disappearing into the dry sand on the beach just as your enemies would vanish before you if you master these techniques.
'Shoin' was Gichin Funakoshi's name for the kata, however, late the older name was re-adopted.
Another of Aragaki's Kata, but this one is thought to have its origins in one of the Dragon sub-styles.
The name translates to "twenty four steps". The form they are taken from is called "Kaisan". The old name was "Niseishi".
This kata was probably created by Yoshitaka Funakoshi in the late 1930's. There are a number of similarities to the older Aragaki Sochin especially at the end of the kata, so he may have used the older version as a model.
Another Dragon Style Kata from Aragaki. Where he trained is not known but the strong Chinese influences in this Kata suggest it was certainly in Mainland China.
The name used on Okinawa is "Unshu" and it means "cloud defence" - even if your enemies surround you like a cloud, you will surely defeat them if you master Unsu.
These Kata are a departure from the norm as they have their origin in a Southern Shaolin Style called "Phoenix Eye". The form they are taken from is called "Kaisan". The name on Okinawa was "Useishi" but this was changed to Gojushiho - "fifty four steps".
'Shokyo' was the name given to the kata by Gichin Funakoshi, later it was changed back to Jiin. The standard Shotokan version lacks the last four techniques that are found in the Shorin Ryu version.
This is a Shaolin-based Kata of unknown origin. The old name was Wanduan.
To the layman, Wankan appears to be a simple Kata to perform, mainly due to the short length and few movements. The truth is that the Kata is full of technical subtleties that make it far more difficult to perform than would first appear.
This is a very mysterious Kata. It seems that the Japanese knew it long before Master Funakoshi introduced Okinawan Karate into Japan. There is even a Japanese legend concerning Ameratsu, the Sun Goddess.
It appears Ameratsu lost her mirror and could not admire herself and so went into a sulk. The world therefore, was in darkness. At last the other Gods decided something must be done so they sent a great warrior to perform a "war dance" outside her cave.
Hearing the noise, Ameratsu became curious and came out of the cave. The "war dance" was reputed to be Meikyo.
Meikyo translates to "mirror of the soul". The old name for Meikyo was Rohai and this is now coming back into use.