Karate-dō Promotion Requirements—Sandan (3rd Dan)

Brown Belt (Sankyu)

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō to the rank of sandan (3rd dan).  At the Seishin-Kan, sandan is signified by a black belt bearing the student's name and granting organsation.

n Shikaku (Eligibility Requirements)
n Sahō to Reihō (Preparation & Etiquette)
n Kihon (Fundamentals)
n Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)
n Yakusoku Kumite (Choreographed Sparring)
n Jiyū Kumite (Free Sparring)
n Jūhō Waza ("Soft" Techniques)
n Katachi to Kata (Patterns & Examples)
n Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)
n Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)
n Gakka (Scholarship)

Shikaku (Eligibility Requirements)

To be eligible to test for sandan, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below:

  n A minimum of twenty-four (24) months training in Shimabukuro-ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō since promotion to nidan
  n A minimum age of 21 years**
  n Participate in a minimum of two hundred (200) one-hour karate training classes since promotion to nidan.
  n Consistently exhibit satisfactory attitude and behaviour outside the dōjō
  n Consistently exhibit appropriate attitude and behaviour in the dōjō
  n Submit a written request for promotion testing on the prescribed form
     
  ** Students holding ranks of sandan (3rd degree black belt) and higher are eligible to be awarded teaching licenses (menkyō), and are expected to lead and instruct yūkyūsha and yūdansha independently.  Instruction in classical budō involves not just the physical skills and knowledge of budō , but the application of budō principles to daily life.  A sandan must therefore possess the requisite personal maturity and experience to credibly teach and advise other adults in such matters as career and family life.

>back to top

Sahō to Reihō (Preparation & Etiquette)

Sahō (Preparation):   Consistently assist with class set-up and remain afterward to assist with sōji (clean up), and correctly perform mokusō to mentally prepare for training.

Reihō (Etiquette):   Consistently perform correct etiquette upon entering and leaving the dōjō,  greeting sensei and sempai and fellow participants, correctly perform hairei (venerating bow), tachi-rei (standing bow), and zarei (kneeling bow), and use proper aisatsu (formal greetings), as well as exhibiting respectful informal etiquette toward sensei, sempai, and visitors (o-kyaku-sama).

>back to top

Kihon (Fundamentals)

Correctly perform the following fundamentals: 

  n All previously required kihon


>back to top

Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)

Improved performance (speed, power, balance, footwork, posture, focus, timing, etc.) of all previously required idō kihon, including the use of tenshin (body shifting), ayumi-ashi (alternating step footwork), yori-ashi (shuffle-step footwork), and tsugi-ashi (driving-step footwork).


>back to top

Yakusoku Kumite (Choreographed Sparring)

Correctly perform ippon kumite (one-step-and-strike sparring) and sambon kumite (three-step-and-strike sparring), defending against chūdan oizuki and/or jōdan oizuki applying sundome (stopping an inch away from the body) by using the  following techniques in han-zenkutsu dachi and neko-ashi dachi:

  n Incorporate tenshin appropriately into all facets of ippon kumite and sambon kumite
  n Apply variations in stance appropriately in all facets of ippon kumite and sambon kumite
n Apply a variety of blocking, deflecting, and evading techniques in ippon kumite and sambon kumite, including kakete uke
n Apply striking and kicking combinations in ippon kumite and sambon kumite
n Apply jūhō in ippon kumite and sambon kumite
  n Apply techniques and sequences from kata in ippon kumite (only)
n Improved speed, power, timing, and accuracy in ippon kumite and sambon kumite

>back to top

Jiyū Kumite (Free Sparring)

Correctly perform basic  jiyū kumite, including:

  n Jiyū kumite sahō to reihō
  n Respond to all standard jiyū kumite commands (hajime, yame, tsuzukete, moto no ichi, etc.)
  n Perform jiyū kumite using chūdan and jōdan techniques
  n Employ effective ashi-barai (foot-sweeps) during kumite
  n Consistently employ maai, mazakai, and uchima during kumite
  n Explain basic jiyū kumite judging signals  (points, penalties, warnings, etc.)

>back to top

Juhō ("Soft" [non-striking] Methods)

Correctly perform at least one each of the following jūhō in response to an unrehearsed attack:

n Kaihō Waza—escaping techniques
  n Katame Waza—grapplig techniques
  n Shime Waza—strangulation techniques
  n Nage Waza—throwing techniques

>back to top

Katachi to Kata (Patterns & Examples)

Correctly perform the following kata, either tandoku embu (solo performance) or dantai embu (synchronised group performance):

  n Sanseirū
n Myōjō or Aoyagi
  n one Tokui kata* from the list below
     
  n *Recommended Tokui kata for sandan include: any of the tokui kata recommended for nidan not performed when testing for nidan, Tomari-Chintō, Heiku, Paiku, Rōhai-Ge, Rōhai-Chū, Rōhai-Jō, Matsumura-Bassai, Anan, and Tomari-Kushanku

>back to top

Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

Demonstrate at least two practical applications (ōyō) of techniques or combinations from the following kata: 

  n Sanseiru
  n Myōjō or Aoyagi
  n The Tokui kata selected
  n Include at least three jūhō  ("soft techniques") among the ōyō demonstrated
  n Instruct and demonstrate Tenshō, including details of ashi-sabaki, kamae, muscle tension, and kokyū

>back to top

Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)

Perform tameshiwari on one or more boards in quick succession using each one of the following:

  n A tsuki (punch), followed by
n A keri (kick), followed by
  n A hand-strike other than a tsuki (punch), followed by
n A different keri (kick) than the one performed previously

>back to top

Gakka (Scholarship)

Be prepared to answer any or all of the following questions:

n Explain your role in the future of traditional budō.
n What is the meaning of the name "Sanseirū"?
n What is the meaning of the name "Myōjō"?
n What is the meaning of the name "Aoyagi" (aka Aoyanagi)?
n Other gakka questions to be announced ...

>back to top

Registration of Rank

NOTE:  all promotion tests in the art of karate-dō are conducted under the auspices of the Nippon Budō Seishin-Kan at one of its member dōjō or kenkyūkai.  The rankings awarded as a result of these tests are valid only among member dōjō of the Seishin-Kan, and should not be assumed to be transferable to any other dōjō or governing organisation.

>back to top