Okinawa Kobujutsu Promotion Requirements—Yonkyū (4th Kyū)

Rokkyu (6th Kyu) Purple Belt

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Aragaki-Ryū Okinawa kobujutsu to the rank of yonkyū (4th kyū).  At the Seishin-Kan, yonkyū is signified by a purple 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 Kumibuki (Choreographed Sparring)
n Jiyū Kumibuki (Free Sparring)
n Kata (Self-Defence Examples)
n Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)
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 Hold a minimum rank of nanakyū in karate-dō
  n A minimum of three (3) months additional training in Aragaki-Ryū Okinawa kobujutsu since promotion to gokyū
  n Participate in a minimum of forty (40) additional one-hour Okinawa kobujutsu training classes since promotion to rokkyū
  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).

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) with bō.

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Kihon (Fundamentals)

Correctly perform the following fundamentals: 

  n All previously required kihon
  n Uchi Uke (inward forearm block)
  n Jōdan Uke (upward forearm block)
  n Uchi-otoshi (downward strike)
  n Tsuki-uchi (thrusting strike)


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Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)

Correctly perform the following techniques while stepping forward, backward, or turning:

  n Gedan harai uke (low-sweeping block) in kōkutsu dachi
  n Soto Uke (outward block) in zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, or neko-ashi dachi
  n Kuri Uke (twisting block) in zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, or neko-ashi dachi
  n Tsuki-uchi (thrusting strike) in zenkutsu dachi or han-zenkutsu dachi with yori-ashi
  n Kama no Dōsa Renzoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, and Yon

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Yakusoku Kumibuki (Choreographed Weapons Sparring)

Correctly perform ippon kumibō (one-step-and-strike bō sparring) using the  following techniques:

  n Gedan Harai Uke against  gyaku gedan harai uchi
  n Yoko Kuri-uke against jōdan tsuki-uchi
  n Jōdan Uke against uchi otoshi
  n Soto Uke-Furiage Uchi-Uchi Otoshi against jōdan tsuki-uchi

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Jiyu Kumibuki (Free Weapons Sparring)

Jiyū kumibuki is not a requirement for gokyū.


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Kata (Self-Defence Examples)

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

  n Shūshi no Kon Shō  (no video currently available)

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Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

Explain the underlying reasons or tactical principles for the following techniques from Sunakake no Kon: 

  n What is the purpose of the bō movement during yōi ("preparation")?
  n Why do we keep the rear of the bō between our arm and side during uchi-otoshi, tsuki-uchi, and sage-bō (kamaete)?
  n Why do we shift from han-zenkutsu dachi to shikō dachi to perform the chūdan tsuki-uchi in Ufugushuku no kon?
  n Why do we swing the bō forward when performing yame at the end of the kata?

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Gakka (Scholarship)

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

n What does the word "kobujutsu" mean?
  n What is the name of our style of Okinawa kobujutsu?
  n  Bō no meisho (parts of the bō):   do we use the term "kobujutsu" instead of "kobudō"?
  n Who was the founder of our style of Okinawa kobujutsu?
  n Why are karate and Okinawa kobujutsu considered "companion arts"?
  n Name the major parts of the bō (bō no meisho) in Japanese.

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Registration of Rank

All promotion tests for yūkyūsha (ranks below black belt) are conducted by the Nippon Budō Seishin-Kan at one of its facilities or affiliated dōjō or kenkyūkai.  The rankings in Okinawa kobujutsu awarded as a result of these tests are valid only at the Seishin-Kan unless they are also registered with the governing body of Aragaki-Ryu—the Kokusai Okinawa Kobujutsu Renmei (KOKR).  The KOKR assesses a fee for registering a promotion in rank with them and issuing an official menjō (diploma) attesting to that rank.

Seishin-Kan students are not required to register their rank with a cognizant global governing body.  Instead, we encourage students to consider whether or not KOKR rank registration is consitent with their long-term training objectives.  We therefore recommend that students discuss their training goals with their sensei to help determine if rank registration best suits their needs and future plans. 

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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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