Karate-dō Promotion Requirements—Rokkyū (6th Kyū)

Green Belt (Rokkyu)

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō to the rank of rokkyū (6th kyū).  At the Jikishin-Kai, rokkyū is signified by a green belt for adults, youth, and children.  The requirements stated below are intended for use by sensei and dōjō-chō to ensure that their students meet minimum JKI promotion standards, but each local dōjō may have additional requirements for promotion.

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

  n A minimum of nine (9) months training in Shimabukuro-ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō
  n Participate in a minimum of forty (40) one-hour karate training classes (or equivalent)since promotion to nanakyū.
  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 and explain the correct position, proportions, and weight distribution of zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, shikō dachi, and neko-ashi dachi
  n Kōsa Uke (crossed-wrist block)
n Gasshō Uke (Gasshō block) with hands positioned like a Gasshō roof
  n Ashi-sukui Uke (leg-scooping block)
  n Hira-basami Tsuki (scissors-hand strike)
  n Shotei Uchi (palm-heel strike)
n Gyaku-mawashi Sokutō Geri (reverse spinning crescent kick)
n Gyaku-mawashi Kakato Geri (reverse spinning heel kick)
  n Tobi Nihon-geri (jumping double-kick)


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

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Juhō ("Soft" [non-striking] Methods)

Correctly perform the following jūhō:

n Ude osae to tekubi mageri or kote mawari to escape katate mune-dori
  n Ude osae to tekubi mageri or kote mawari  (whichever was not used against katate mune-dori) to escape katate kata-dori
n Morote soto oyayubi giri to escape morote mune-dori
  n At least two different jūhō against any kote-dori (wrist grab), applying a nagewaza (throw), katame waza (control technique), or kansetsu waza (joint-lock technique).
  n Ōgoshi or uki-goshi throw
  n Deashi barai foot sweep
  n Ukemi in response to ō-soto gari or uki-goshi or ō-goshi 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):

    REQUIRED KATA**   ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED KATA**
  n Heian Sandan in dantai embu n (Or Naifanchi Shodan in dantai embu )
  n Heian Yondan n Sanchin
  n Heian Godan    
    **These kata must be performed for promotion to rokkyū   **These kata are recommended, but not required for promotion to rokkyū

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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 Heian Yondan
  n Heian Godan
  n Include at least two jūhō  ("soft techniques") among the ōyō demonstrated

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Tameshiwari (Test Breaking)

Perform tameshiwari using any two of the following techniques (student's choice):

  n Oizuki (lunging punch)
  n Shōtei Uchi (palm-heel strike)
n Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick)
  n Yoko Hiji Ate (sideways elbow strike)

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Gakka (Scholarship)

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

    TYPICAL QUESTIONS: ACCEPTABLE ANSWERS & SOURCES:
n Who created the five Heian kata? Itosu Ankō
n What is the meaning of the name "Naifanchi"? "Inner Planting Ground"
n What is the meaning of the name "Sanchin"? "Three Battles"
n Name at least two Shuri-te kata and two Naha-te kata. SOURCE:  JKI website kata descriptions
  n Who was Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi, and who were his Shitō-Ryū sensei? Founder of the JKI.  Hayashi Teruō and Mabuni Kenzō
  n Who is the current sōke of Seitō Shitō-Ryū karate-dō? Mabuni Miwako (aka Mabuni Tsukasa)
  n What makes Shitō-Ryū unique among modern karate styles? It is a fusion of Shuri-te, Tomari-te, and Naha-te, supplemented with elements of White Crane chuan fa (kung fu) and Ryūei-Ryū.
  n Name the major types of gōhō.  Ukekata (blocking techniques), tsuki-kata (punching techniques), uchi-kata (striking techniques), and keri-kata (kicking techniques).
  n Name the major types of jūhō.  Ukemi (breakfalls), kaihō waza (escaping techniques), katame waza (controlling/pinning techniques), kansetsu waza (joint-lock techniques), osaekomi waza (grappling techniques), shime waza (strangulation techniques), and nage waza (throwing techniques). 
  n Briefly describe the history of karate-dō. SOURCES:  JKI website, Katsujinken:  Living Karate & The Way to Self Mastery, Karate As The Art of Killing.
  n Explain the Bushidō principles of Jin (benevolence) and Yū (courage). SOURCES:  JKI website, Karate As The Art of Killing.
  n Explain the saying, "Kisshū Busshin." Literally "Hands of a demon, heart of a saint."
  n Explain Shu-Ha-Ri. SOURCES:  Flashing Steel, Karate As The Art of Killing.

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Registration of Rank

NOTE:  all promotion tests in the art of karate-dō are conducted under the auspices of the Jikishin-Kai 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 Jikishin-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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