Karate-dō Promotion Requirements—Gokyū (5th Kyū)

Green Belt (Rokkyu)

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō to the rank of gokyū (5th kyū).  At the Seishin-Kan, gokyū is signified by a green belt for adults, youth, and children.

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 gokyū, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below:

  n A minimum of ten (10) months training in Shimabukuro-ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō
  n Participate in a minimum of forty (40) one-hour karate training classes since promotion to rokkyū.
  n Consistently exhibit satisfactory attitude and behaviour at home and school (youth and children).
  n Consistently exhibit appropriate attitude and behaviour in the dōjō
  n Submit a written request for promotion testing on the prescribed form

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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).

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Kihon (Fundamentals)

Correctly perform the following fundamentals: 

  n All previously required kihon
  n Demonstrate the correct position and balance in sagi-ashi dachi (crane stance)
  n Sashite Uke (sweeping-hand block)
n Haishu Uke (open-hand block) using the back of the open hand


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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).


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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

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Jiyū Kumite (Free Sparring)

Correctly perform basic  jiyū kumite, including:

  n Jiyū kumite sahō to reihō
  n Respond to basic jiyū kumite commands (hajime, yame, tsuzukete, moto no ichi, etc.)
  n Perform jiyū kumite using chūdan and jōdan techniques
  n Exhibit improved use of seme (pressure) during jiyū kumite
  n Exhibit improved application of maai, mazakai, and uchima during kumite
  n Explain basic jiyū kumite judging signals  (points, penalties, warnings, etc.)

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Juhō ("Soft" [non-striking] Methods)

Correctly perform the following jūhō:

n Ashi-dori to escape ushiro dotai hoyo (rear body grab)
  n Ushiro tai-otoshi to escape ushiro morote dori (grabbing both hands from rear)
n Mawashi ude-osae to escape ushiro eri-dori (rear collar-grab)
  n Other jūhō to be announced in 2019

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Katachi to Kata (Patterns & Examples)

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

  n Heian Yondan or Heian Godan in dantai embu (synchronised group)
  n Jūroku
  n Matsukaze
  n Jiin

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Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

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

  n Jūroku
  n Matsukaze
  n Jiin
  n Include at least two jūhō  ("soft techniques") among the ōyō demonstrated

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Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)

Perform tameshiwari using one of the following hand strikes and one of the listed kicks (student's choice):

  n Oizuki (lunging punch)
  n Shutō Uchi (knife-hand strike)
  n Hiji Ate (elbow strike)
n Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick)
n Sokutō Geri (foot-edge kick)

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Gakka (Scholarship)

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

n Who created the kata Jūroku and Matsukaze?
n What is the meaning of the name "Jūroku"?
n What is the meaning of the name "Matsukaze"?
n What is the meaning of the name "Sanchin"?
n What are the four most popular styles of karate-dō?
  n Identify the major atama no meisho (parts of the head) in Japanese:  kao (face), men (face), kami (hair), hitai (forehead), me (eye/eyes), mimi (ear/ears), hana (nose), kuchi (mouth), ago (chin/jaw), yokomen (side of the head/face), jinchū (philtrum), biryō (betwwen the eyes), komekami (temple), nodo (throat), kubi (neck), and kubisuji (nape of the neck).
  n Who were the two main sensei to Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi?
  n What makes Shimabukuro-Ha unique within Shitō-Ryū?
  n Briefly describe the major differences between  Shuri-te and Naha-te.
  n Explain the Bushidō principles of Gi (righteousness) and Chūgi (duty).
  n Explain the saying, "Karate-dō wa Junshi no Ken desu."
  n Explain the concept of Kōbō no Kikai.

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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.

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Questions?

QuestionMark

If you are preparing to test and you are not sure you know or meet all the requirements described on this page, please be sure to ask your sempai or sensei during a class session.

Promotion Requirements

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