Karate-dō Promotion Requirements—Rokudan (6th Dan)

Black Belt

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō to the rank of rokudan (6th dan).  At the Seishin-Kan, rokudan is signified by a black belt bearing the student's name and granting organsation. For ceremonial purposes and special occasions, a kohaku (red-and-white paneled) belt may be worn by those ranked rokudan (6th dan) through hachidan (8th dan), but kohaku belts are not customarily worn during regular classes.

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

  n A minimum of sixty (60) months training in Shimabukuro-ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō since promotion to godan
  n A minimum age of 40 years**
  n Participate in a minimum of five hundred (500) one-hour karate training classes since promotion to godan.
  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
     
  ** tudents holding ranks of rokudan (6th degree black belt) and higher are expected to have held teaching licenses (menkyō) and positions of substantial responsibility for a decade or more.  They are also eligible to be awarded the title of Renshi or Kyōshi.  A rokudan must therefore possess the requisite personal maturity and experience to have served as a leader in the dōjō, workplace, and/or community.

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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


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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 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.)

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Juhō ("Soft" [non-striking] Methods)

Correctly and spontaneous perform any of the following jūhō in response to an unrehearsed randori attacks:

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

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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 A kōdansha level Shurite kata
  n A kōdansha level Nahate kata
n A kōdansha level Tomarite kata
  n A kōdansha level Mabuni-kei kata
  n Any one of the following not previously performed for shinsa: Hakkaku, Heiku, Paiku, Anan, or Anan Ni

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Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

Demonstrate at least two practical applications (ōyō) of techniques or combinations from each of the kata performed, including: 

  n at least one gōhō  ("hard techniques") from each kata
  n at least one jūhō  ("soft techniques") from each kata
  n at least one lethal technique from each kata

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Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)

No tameshiwari performance is required for ranks of godan and above.


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Gakka (Scholarship)

Explain the results of your personal research conducted since promotion to godan, including the following:

n Ways you now better understand the physical aspects of karate-dō.
n Ways you now better understand the mental aspects of karate-dō.
n Ways you now better understand the spiritual aspects of karate-dō.
n Ways you now better understand the lethal applications of karate-dō.

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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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