• Requirements for 9th kyu
    Yellow Belt

    Japanese pronunciation is easy.  Break words into short syllables ending with a vowel where possible.  For example, Uke (block) is pronounced U-ke (oo-kay).  These words are spelled correctly but have hyphens to separate syllables.

    To achieve 9th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Ki-hon, Tai-Ki-O-Ku Sho-Dan, and San-Bon Ku-mi-te and know the following terminology.

    NUMBERS
      I-Chi (Sho)—  1  
      Ni—  2  
      San—  3  
      Shi (Yon)—  4  
      Go—  5  
      Ro-ku—  6  
      Shi-chi (Nana)—  7  
      Ha-chi—  8  
      Ku—  9  
      Ju— 10  
      Ju I-Chi— 11  
      Ju-Ni— 12  
      Ju-San— 13  
      Ni-Ju— 20 (2 tens)  
      Go-Ju-Shi-Ho— (5 tens and 4 steps)  
           "54 Directions", the name of an advanced kata  

    KARATE BASICS
      Do-Jo— training hall, school  
      Ka-Ra-Te— empty handed techniques  
      Karate-Do— way of the empty hand  
      Sho-To-kan— style of karate  
      Gi-Chin Fu-Na-Ko-Shi— founder of shotokan  
      Sho-man— front of the training hall, representing those who trained prior to us  
      Sen-Sei— instructor  
      Sem-Pai— senior student  
      Ko-Hai— junior student  

    EQUIPMENT
      Gi— uniform  
      O-bi— belt  
      Ma-ki-wa-ra— punching board  

    AREAS OF THE BODY
      Jo-dan— head  
      Chu-Dan— chest area  
      Ge-Dan— lower area  
      Hi-Ki-Te— draw hand, chamber  
      Gya-ku— reverse  

    WAZA - Techniques
      U-ke— block, literally to deflect  
      Zu-Ki— punch, literally to penetrate  
      U-Chi— strike  
      Ge-Ri— kick  

    COMPONENTS OF TRAINING
      Ki-hon— basics  
      Ka-Ta— catalog of movements against imaginary opponents  
      Ku-Mi-Te— sparring  
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  • Requirements for 8th kyu
    Yellow Belt with Black Stripe
    To achieve 8th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Kihon, Heian ShoDan, and Sanbon Kumite and know the meanings of the following terms.

    DOJO KUN
      Seek perfection of character.  
      Be faithful.  
      Endeavor.  
      Respect others.  
      Refrain from violent behavior.  

    COMMANDS
      Hajime— begin  
      Yame— stop  
      Yasume— relax  
      Naotte— rest  
      Kamae— basic fighting position  
      Yoi— ready position  
      Kamata— begin  
      Rei— bow  
      Makuso— meditate (close your eyes)  
      Shoman Ni Rei — bow to the front of the dojo  
      Shinzen Ni Rei — bow to the shrine (in front of the dojo  
      Seiza— kneel down  
      Mokuso Yame — stop meditating (open your eyes)  
      Sensei Ni Rei— bow to Sensei  
      Otaga Ni Rei— bow to each other  

    DIRECTIONS
      Ma-e— front  
      U-shi-ro— back  
      Na-na-me— diagonal  
      Mi-gi— right  
      Yo-ko— side  
      Hi-dar-ri— left  

    AREAS OF THE BODY
      Ha-ra — Spiritual center of the body (stomach area)  
      Tanden — Physical center of the body (one inch below your navel)  

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  • Requirements for 7th kyu
    Orange Belt
    To achieve 7th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Kihon, Heian NiDan, and Sanbon Kumite and be able to demonstrate the following techniques.

    STANCES
      Dachi— Stance  
      Shizen Tai— natural position  
      Hachiji Dachi— shoulder width stance  
      Heisoko Dachi— feet together stance  
      Misubi Dachi— bowing stance
        (standing heels together, toes out at 45 degree angle, literally "to bring forth life")
     
      Zenkutsu Dachi— front stance  
      Kokotsu Dachi— back stance  
      Kiba Dachi— horse riding stance  
      Kosa Dachi— crossed feet stance  
      Neko Ashi Dachi— cat stance  
      Hamni Dachi— 45 degree side stance  

    PUNCHES
      Choku Zuki— straight punch  
      Oi Zuki— stepping punch (same hand and foot forward)  
      Gyaku Zuki— counter punch (opposite hand and foot)  
      Kizami Zuki— jabbing punch  
      Age zuki— rising punch  
      Ura Zuki— close punch  
      Kage Zuki— hook punch  
      Morote Zuki— 2 fist punch  

    BLOCKS
      Age Uke— rising block  
      Ude Uke— forearm block (there are 2 types)  
      Uchi Ude Uke— Inside to Outside forearm block  
      Soto Ude Uke— Outside to Inside forearm block  
      Shuto Uke— sword hand block  
      Gedan Berai— downward sweeping block  
      Juji Uke— "X" double block  
      Morote Uke— 2 hand block  
      Tate Shuto Uke— vertical sword hand block  
      Haisho Uke— back Hand Block (like 2nd move in Tekki ShoDan)  
     
    SHU HA RI— the cyclical nature of karate training  
    SHU— tradition  
    HA— breaking bonds of tradition  
    RI— transcendence  

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  • Requirements for 6th kyu
    Green Belt
    To achieve 6th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Kihon, Heian Sandan, and Sanbon Kumite and be able to know the following terminology.

    VOCABULARY
      Nihon (Nippon)— Japan  
      Okinawa— set of islands south of Japan where karate first originated  
      Karate— the way of the empty hand  
      Kobudo— the practice of weapons  
      Iaido— the art of sword drawing (for a cut with the katana, a sword)  
      Kung Fu— typical generic term for Chinese style martial arts  
      Tai Kwon Do— a Korean martial art with emphasis on kicks  
      Tan Soo Do— the way of the Chinese Hand, a Korean martial art resembling shotokan  
      Kyu— student level or ranking  
      Dan— master level grade or degree  
      Kaicho— head of an organization  
      Soke— founder  
      Shihan— master/teacher of at least Roku (6th) Dan  
      Karate-ka— one who practices karate  
      Sei— tranquility  
      Satori— enlightenment  
      Ki— energy flow, inner force  
      Tokui waza— your favorite technique  
      Budo— the martial way (literally, "to stop conflict")  
      Bushido— military "way of the warrior"  
      Ryu— style of martial arts training (shotokan is a ryu of karate)  

    FOUR MAJOR JAPANESE STYLES OF KARATE
      Goju-ryu
      Shito-ryu
      Shotokan
      Wado-ryu

    FIVE MAJOR OKINAWAN STYLES OF KARATE
      Goju-ryu
      Shito-ryu
      Ishhin-ryu
      RyuEi-ryu
      Shorin-ryu

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  • Requirements for 5th kyu
    Blue Belt To achieve 5th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Ki-hon, Heian Yondan, and SanBon & Ippon Kumite and be able to demonstrate the following techniques and concepts.

    TYPES OF KUMITE DRILLS
      Kumite— (in general) sparring  
      Gohon Kumite— 5-step sparring  
      Sanbon Kumite— 3-step sparring  
      Ippon Kumite— 1-step sparring  
      Jiyu Ippon Kumite — semi-free sparring  
      Jiyu Kumite— free sparring  
     
      Mawae— distance (from opponent)  
      Kamae— guard, fighting stance  
      Tai Sabaki— shifting position, creating a counter attack  
      Kime— "focus", complete simultaneous body tension to create quick and powerful release of energy.  It's when the BODY, MIND, and WEAPON come together simultaneously.  

    DIRECTIONS
      Mae— front  
      Ushiro— back  
      Yoko— side  
      Migi Yoko— right side  
      Hidari Yoko— left side  
      Migi Naname Mae— Diagonally right front  
      Migi Naname Ushiro — Diagonally right back  
      Hidari Naname Mae — diagonally left front  
      Hidari Naname Ushiro — diagonally left back  

    SPARRING STRATEGIES
      1) Tai no Sen — Eliminate the problem before it occurs (CONFLICT AVOIDANCE)  
      2) Sen— Seizing the initiative (ATTACKING)  
      3) Sen No sen — Countering opponent's initiative before it physically occurs (READING THE OPPONENT'S MIND)  
      4) Go No sen— Waiting for the opponent's initiative, then responding (BLOCKING, COUNTER ATTACK  

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  • Requirements for 4th kyu
    Purple Belt To achieve 4th kyu, a student must perform appropriate Ki-hon, Heian Godan, and SanBon & Ippon Kumite and be able to demonstrate the following techniques and concepts.

    STRIKES
      Uchi— strike  
      Empi Uchi— elbow strike  
      Shuto Uchi— sword hand strike  
      Uraken Uchi— backfist strike  

    KICKS
      Geri— kick  
      Mae Geri— front kick  
      Yoko Geri— side kick  
      Ke-A-Ge— to snap  
      Kekomi— To thrust  
      Ushiro Geri— back kick  
      Mawashi Geri— round house kick  
      Fumikomi— stomping kick  
      Fumikiri— cutting kick  
      Mae Geri Kekomi— front thrust kick  
      Mae Geri Keage— front snap kick  
      Ushiro Geri Kekomi— back thrust kick  
      Ushiro Geri Keage— back snap kick  
      Mika Zuki Geri— crescent kick  

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  • Requirements for 3rd kyu
    Brown Belt To achieve 3rd kyu, a student must perform appropriate Ki-hon, Tekki ShoDan, and Ippon Kumite and be able to demonstrate the following techniques and concepts.

    FIST & HAND
      Ken— fist  
      Sho— hand  
      Seiken— front fist  
      Uraken— back fist  
      Nukite— spear hand  
      Ippon Nukite— one finger spear hand  
      Gohan Nukite— five finger spear hand (like in Heian Nidan)  
      Tiesho— palm hand  
      Kentsui— hammer fist  
      Shuto— sword hand  
      Ryo Ken— 2 fists  

    FOREARM
      Ude— forearm  
      Gaiwan— outside forearm  
      Haiwan— back forearm  
      Naiwan— inside forearm  
      Empi— elbow  

    FOOT & LEG
      Hishohu— instep  
      Kakato— bottom of heel  
      Ushiro Kakato— back of heel  
      Sokuto— side of foot  
      Koshi— ball of foot  
      Shitsui— knee  
      Tsisoku— sole of foot  
      Mae Ashi— front leg  
      Ashi barai— sweep  
      Do Kyaku— moving leg  
      Jiyu Ashi— pivot leg  

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  • Requirements for 2nd kyu
    Brown Belt To achieve 2nd kyu, a student must perform appropriate Ki-hon, Bassai Dai, and Jiyu Ippon Kumite and know the names and meanings of the 28 shotokan kata.

    KATA CHART
    Required Kata — Group A
    10th kyu to 4th kyu
        1. Taikyoku Shodan — Basic Kara 1  
        2. Heian Shodan — Peaceful Mind Kata 1  
        3. Heian Nidan — Peaceful Mind Kata 2  
        4. Heian Sandan — Peaceful Mind Kata 3  
        5. Heian Yondan — Peaceful Mind Kata 4  
        6. Heian Godan — Peaceful Mind Kata 5  
        7. Tekki Shodan — Iron Horse 1  
     
    Required Kata — Group B
    3rd kyu to 1st Kyu
        8. Bassai Dai — Penetrate a Fortress  
        9. Kanku Dai — Viewing the Sky  
      10. Empi— Flying Swallow  
      11. Hangetsu— Crescent Moon  
      12. Tekki Nidan— Iron Horse 2  
     
    Required Kata — Group C
    Shodan Level
      13. Jion— Temple Sound  
      14. Jutte— Ten Hands  
      15. Gankaku— Crane on a Rock  
      16. Tekki Sandan— Iron Horse 3  
     
    Optional Kata — Group D
    Nidan and above
      17. Bassai Sho — The Lesser Bassai  
      18. Kanku Sho— The Lesser Kanku  
      19. Gojushiho Dai — The Greater 54 Directions  
      20. Gojushiho Sho — The Lesser 54 Directions  
      21. Nijushiho— 24 Directions  
      22. Sochin— Grand Prize  
      23. Unsu— Clouds Hands  
      24. Chinte — Unusual (Rare) Hands  
      25. Jiin— Temple Grounds  
      26. Wankan— King's Crown  
      27. Meikyo— Polished Mirror  
      28. Hyakuhaichi Ho — 108 Directions  

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  • Requirements for 1st kyu
    Brown Belt To achieve 1st kyu, a student must perform appropriate Kihon, one of the Brown Belt level katas (see below), and Jiyu Ippon Kumite and know the names and meanings of the 12 advanced shotokan kata.

    BROWN BELT LEVEL KATAS
      Bassai Dai— Penetrate the Fortress (large)  
      Kanku Dai— To view the sky (large)  
      Jion— Temple Sound  
      Empi— Flying Swallow
      Tekki Nidan— Iron Horse (two)

    (Brown belts will be practicing all four kata listed above but should select one to specialize in for performance in brown and black belt tests.  Selection is usually done with Sensei's guidance with consideration of your body type, your skills, and your training needs.)

    TRANSLATION OF ADVANCED KATA NAMES
    1.Bassai Sho — penetrate the fortress (small) 
    2.Kanku Sho — to view the sky (small) 
    3.Nijushiho — 24 directions 
    4.Jiin — temple 
    5.Chinte — extraordinary hand 
    6.Sochin — grand prize 
    7.Gojushiho Dai — 54 direction (big) 
    8.Gojushiho Sho — 54 directions (small) 
    9.Meikyo — polished mirror 
    10.Wankan — king's crown 
    11.Unsu — cloud hands 
    12.Hyakuhachi Ho — 108 directions 

    There are a total of 27 kata in the shotokan curriculum.  The basic 15 are listed on the sheet for 2nd kyu.

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