Karate-dō Promotion Requirements—Hachikyū (8th Kyū)

Purple Belt (Hachikyu)

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō to the rank of hachikyū (8th kyū).  At the Seishin-Kan, hachikyū is signified by a white belt for adults, and a purple belt for 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 hachikyū, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below:

  n A minimum of five (5) months training in Shimabukuro-ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō
  n Participate in a minimum of twenty-five (25) one-hour karate training classes since promotion to kyūkyū.
  n Own and wear a karate-gi that conforms to Seishin-Kan standards
  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):   Correctly wear karate-gi and keep it clean and neat, correctly tie obi (belt), consistently arrive in time to 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).

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Kihon (Fundamentals)

Correctly perform the following fundamentals: 

  n All previously required kihon
  n Sanchin Dachi ("Sanchin" stance)
  n Gyaku Yoko Uke (reverse outward forearm block)
n Nagashi Uke (flowing deflection)
n Mawashi Uke (circular block)
  n Soete Uke (reinforced block)
  n Agezuki (uppercut punch)
  n Uraken Uchi (backfist strike)
  n Kagi-zuki (cross-body punch)
n Ura-shutō Uchi (inverted knife-hand strike)
  n Gyaku Mikazuki-geri (outward crescent kick)
  n Kakato geri (heel kick)


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Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)

Correctly perform the following techniques while stepping forward, backward, or turning in zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, or neko-ashi dachi:

  n Improved performance of all previously required idō kihon
  n Use of tenshin (body shifting) during idō kihon
  n Change stances during idō kihon
  n Block-strike-kick combinations (yoko uke-gyakuzuki-mawashi geri, etc.)
n Kicking combinations (choku-geri, yoko geri, then mawashi-geri, etc.)
n Naha-te mawari kata (Naha-style turning methods)

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Yakusoku Kumite (Choreographed Sparring)

Correctly perform both ippon kumite (one-step-and-strike sparring), defending against chūdan 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
  n Apply variations in stance appropriately in all facets of ippon kumite
  n Apply a variety of blocking, deflecting, and evading techniques in ippon kumite
n Apply striking and kicking combinations in ippon kumite
  n Apply techniques and sequences from kata in ippon kumite
  n Improved speed, power, and accuracy in ippon kumite

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Jiyū Kumite (Free Sparring)

Correctly perform preliminaries of  jiyū kumite, including:

  n Jiyū kumite sahō to reihō
  n Respond to basic jiyū kumite commands (hajime, yame, tsuzukete, moto no ichi, etc.)
  n Play "shoulder tag" in accordance with jiyū kumite rules
  n Perform jiyū kumite drills with a partner under jiyū kumite conditions
  n Explain jiyū kumite scoring requirements

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Juhō ("Soft" [non-striking] Methods)

Correctly perform the following kaihō waza (escape techniques):

n Soto oyayubi giri to escape age jun-dori
  n Uchi oyayubi giri to escape age gyaku-dori
n Morote soto oyayubi giri to escape age morote-dori
  n Tsubame gaeshi giri to escape from ryōte de age katate-dori
  n Kuruma daoshi throw
  n Ukemi in response to tai-otoshi or soto kuchiki daoshi throw

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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 Nidan or Kenshū in dantai embu (synchronised group)
  n Heian Shodan
  n Shinsei

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Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

Demonstrate at least one practical application of the following techniques from Heian Shodan and Shinsei: 

  n First sequence (hiki-hanashi uke,  gedan orikaeshi uchi, yoko kentsui uchi) from Heian Shodan
  n Two or more applications of shutō uke from Heian Shodan
  n Explain and demonstrate the correct posture and structure of neko-ashi dachi, shikō dachi, and sanchin dachi.
  n Describe how at least one technique each from Heian Shodan and Shinsei can be used as jūhō.

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Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)

Perform tameshiwari using at least one of the following techniques:

  n Kentsui Uchi (hammer-fist strike)
n Choku Geri (straight kick)
  n Hiji Ate (elbow strike)
  n Gyaku Zuki (reverse punch)

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Gakka (Scholarship)

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

n What is the meaning of yōi, kamaete, yame, and naotte?
  n Who were the primary sensei of Mabuni Kenwa for whom Shitō-Ryū is named?
  n Who is considered the Father of Karate-dō?
  n Identify the major parts of the human body in Japanese:  atama (head), men (face), shōmen (front of face), yokomen (side of face/head), kubi (neck), kata (shoulder), ude (arm), kote (forearm), tekubi (wrist), te (hand), yubi (finger), oyayubi (thumb), mune (chest), dō (torso), koshi (hip), oshiri (rump), ashi (leg),  momo or daitai (thigh), sune (shin), ashikubi (ankle), ashi (foot), ashi no yubi (toe), ashi no oyayubi.
  n Explain "karate ni sente nashi."
  n Explain "karate-dō wa  mamoru no tame no budō desu."
  n Explain the concept of exemplify righteousness from the Dōjō Kun.
  n Explain the concept of persevere through all adversities from the Dōjō Kun.

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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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