RODNEY HOBSON KARATE ACADEMY - GRADING REQUIREMENTS WHITE BELT (6th kyu) TO YELLOW BELT (5th kyu) A minimum of 4 months of regular twice-a-week training is recommended to test for yellow belt. General Principles (Tsuruoka Federation “mandate”) • The student should have a clear understanding of the techniques on the test (e.g. elbow moves first on blocks, knees bent on set moves etc.). • No speed and no power (e.g. no hip rotation on blocks) is required. • Complete upper/lower body separation is acceptable (e.g. can step, pause, and then block). • A basic understanding of dojo etiquette, attitude, and formalities must be demonstrated. Kihon (basics) Stances: attention kiotsuke (musubi dachi) kneeling seiza natural stance shizen-tai horse stance kiba dachi front stance zenkutsu dachi Blocks: high block jodan age uke middle outside block chudan soto uke middle inside block chudan uchi uke low block gedan barai Punches: front punch tsuki (zuki) front lunge punch oi-tsuki reverse punch gyaku tsuki Kicks: front kick mae geri Movements: • Bow (rei) when standing and kneeling. • Walking forward and backward in front stance. • Turning (mawate) 90o and 180o in front stance • Be able to do all four blocks and high, middle, low punches from natural and horse-riding stance. • Be able to demonstrate lunge punch (high, middle, low) and high and low blocks while moving forward and backward in front stance. • Front kicking from natural and front stances. Kumite (sparring) The requirement at this level is that students must perform 3-point sparring (sanbon kumite) using high punch, middle punch, and low punch for attacks and reverse punch for a counter-attack. Students must demonstrate the proper steps of preparation: attention, formal bow, setting into stance, announcing technique. Techniques must be delivered with good control and with a strong kiai. Kata (forms) For the test a white belt will be expected to correctly demonstrate each of the movements, in the correct order, with a degree of proper timing, for the following katas: 1. Tae Waza [27 movements] 2. Taikyoku shodan 3. Heian shodan YELLOW BELT (5th kyu) TO ORANGE BELT (4th kyu) A minimum of 8 months of regular twice-a-week training is required to test for orange belt. General Principles (Tsuruoka Federation “mandate”) · Speed is not necessary. · Power is required. Two power sources should be used: rotational (e.g. hips rotate on blocks) and linear (e.g. stepping forward with a punch). · Upper/lower body separation is acceptable. · A basic understanding of dojo etiquette, attitude, and formalities must be demonstrated at all times Kihon Students will be expected to execute the basics at white belt level with greater proficiency Stances: back stance kokutsu dachi crossed-leg stance kosa dachi Blocks: knife-hand shuto uke reverse middle inside gyaku uchi uke Punches/Strikes jab kizami tsuki back fist uraken uchi spear hand nukite Kicks: front thrust kick mae (geri) kekomi front snap kick mae (geri) keage side thrust kick yoko geri kekomi Movements: · Be able to demonstrate middle inside and middle outside blocks while moving forward and backward in front stance. · Be able to demonstrate knife-hand block while moving forward and backward in back stance. · Be able to demonstrate 2-movement combinations of basic techniques - e.g. block/punch and punch/kick combinations. · All movements must be known in Japanese. · 10 Step, Control Kicking, demonstration of 2 or 3-movement combinations of basic techniques while moving forward, backward, or sideways. Foot and hand techniques must be aimed at specific targets. Kumite Correctly demonstrate basic attacks, blocks, and counter attacks making use of 3-step prearranged sparring (sanbon kumite). The attacks will consist of high and middle punches and middle kick. Attacks must be delivered on target with good control and with good posture. Students must correctly demonstrate basic attacks, blocks and counter attacks making use of one- point prearranged sparring (ippon kumite). Kata For the test a yellow belt will be expected to demonstrate each of the movements, in the correct order, with proper timing, good posture and stances, proper stepping, turning, and foot placement, for the following katas: 1. Heian nidan 2. Heian Sandan ORANGE BELT (4th kyu) TO GREEN BELT (3rd kyu) A minimum of 8 months of regular twice-a-week training is required to test for green belt. General Principles (Tsuruoka Federation “mandate”) • Speed and power are required. • Reduction of upper/lower body separation in single techniques and in combinations (e.g. less pause between step and block or low block and reverse punch). • A good understanding of dojo etiquette, attitude, and formalities must be demonstrated at all times. Kihon Particular emphasis is placed on students being able to bring together many abilities that demonstrate excellent spirit, drive, and motivation. Stances: cat stance nekoashi dachi hourglass stance sanchin dachi Blocks: augmented middle inside morote uke Punches/ Strikes ridgehand heito uchi hammer fist tettsui uchi knife-hand strike shuto uchi elbow strike (to rear) empi ushiro uchi Kicks side snap kick yoko (geri) keage roundhouse kick mawashi geri Movements: • Students will be required to demonstrate 3 to 4 movement combinations of basic techniques while moving forward, backward, or sideways. Foot and hand techniques must be aimed at specific targets. • Drills include: 10 Step, 8 Step, Control Kicking, and “The Pen”. Kumite Students must correctly demonstrate basic attacks, blocks and counter attacks making use of one- point prearranged sparring (ippon kumite). Counter attacks other than just reverse punch should be considered and side-stepping (tai sabaki) must be used. A strong understanding of “go-no-sen” (attack-block-counter) must be shown. Techniques must be delivered on target and with good control. Distance from target should be no more than 3 inches (contact is not permitted). Must be able to perform basic sparring techniques up to and including free 1-step sparring (jyu ippon kumite) Kata For the test an orange belt will be expected to demonstrate each of the movements, in the correct order, with speed and power (where required), with proper rhythm and suitable timing, strong execution of technique, energetic kiai, and zanshin, for the katas: 1. Heian Sandan 2. Heian Yondan Students will be expected to demonstrate with a partner their interpretation of the meaning(bunkai) of selected moves or sequences in the kata. GREEN BELT (3rd kyu) TO BLUE BELT (2nd kyu) A minimum of 8 months of regular twice-a-week training is required to test for blue belt. General Principles (Tsuruoka Federation “mandate”) • Maximum speed and maximum power are required. • Knowledge of the five power sources is required (rotation, vibration, linear, upward, downward). • Knowledge of the five types of linear movement is required (stepping, sliding, double stepping, slide stepping, turning). • Proper timing, balance, and focus (kime) is required. • A good understanding of dojo etiquette, attitude, and formalities must be demonstrated at all times. Blocks: reverse high block gyaku jodan age uke reverse low block gyaku gedan barai Strikes: palm heel taisho uchi ellbow strike (to front) empi mae uchi Kicks: back thrust kick ushiro geri front kick from front leg kizami geri Movements: • Students will be required to execute with speed, power, focus, and efficiency combinations of basic and advanced techniques learned to this point. • Students will be required to demonstrate 4 to 5 movement combinations of basic techniques while moving forward, backward, or sideways. Foot and hand techniques must be aimed at specific targets. Kumite Students at this level should be prepared to demonstrate a superior proficiency at the basic prearranged kumite techniques (gohon, sanbon, ippon kumite). The theory of “sen-no-sen” (simultaneous attack/counter) must be demonstrated but proficiency is not required. Tai sabaki must be used while showing strong counters using kicks, punches, and strikes delivered on target and with good control. Distance of counter attacks from target should be no more than 1 inch. Visual/physical awareness and good posture (zanshin) must be present at all times. Kata For the blue belt grading a green belt will be expected to correctly demonstrate an understanding of each of the movements, in the correct order, with proper rhythm, suitable timing, good posture and balance, and maximum power, for the katas: 1. Heian Yondan 2. Heian Godan Students will be expected to demonstrate with a partner their interpretation of the meaning (bunkai) of selected moves or sequences in the kata. BLUE BELT (2nd kyu) TO BROWN BELT (1st kyu) A minimum of 12 months of regular twice-a-week training is required to test for brown belt. General Principles (Tsuruoka Federation “mandate”) • Complete focus should be evident in every technique for which it is required • Proper breathing is required (e.g. breathing in as you start a punch and out at the focus point). • A basic understanding of the “tight-release” and “extension” principles should be demonstrated. • Dojo etiquette must be strictly followed at all times and a strong basic understanding of Japanese terminology is required. Kihon Stances: seisan dachi Blocks: backhand block haishu uke (as in heian godan) grasping block tsukami uke (as in heian sandan) sweeping low block nagashi uke (as in seisan) knife-hand (straight arm) tate shuto uke Punches: hook punch kage tsuki (as in 27 kihon waza) Kicks: foot or leg sweep ashi barai crescent kick mikazuki geri (as in heian godan) Movements: • Students will be expected to demonstrate a very high level of skill in basic techniques as well as exemplary abilities in a wide variety of advanced shifting, stepping and take-down combinations. Students must show their abiltiy to pick an exact target with any strike, with full speed and power. Kumite Students at this level should be prepared to demonstrate a superior proficiency at the basic prearranged sparring techniques up to and including free sparring (jyu kumite) with emphasis on timing, distance, form, attitude, and zanshin.