"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." -- Gichin Funakoshi

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Time to Review

Hanshi told me after class last night that he wanted me to take my written test for shodan sometime next week. So it's time to make sure I can remember what I need to know.

What I Know:

Karate started in India.

Shotokan karate is from Japan.

Gichin Funakoshi is considered the father of Shotokan karate.

Funakoshi was from Okinawa.

"Shotokan" means "whispering pines", and was Funakoshi's pen name for his poetry.

Shotokan karate came to the United States after World War II via the Air Force.

A kata is a series of offensive and defensive maneuvers performed in opposing directions.

Japanese Terminology:

obi = belt
uke = block
zuki = punch
geri = kick
jodan = head-level
chudan = chest level
gedan = lower level
shuto = knife-hand block
bunkai = application of techniques from kata
zenkutsu dachi = front stance
kokutstu dachi = back stance
kiba dachi = horseback stance
kosa dachi = cross-legged stance

Counting:

1 = ichi
2 = ni
3 = san
4 = shi
5 = go
6 = roku
7 = shichi
8 = hachi
9 = ku
10 = ju

Besides white, the four belt colors at the Yamagawa dojo are yellow, green, brown, and black.

Belt Ranks and Corresponding Kata (Yamagawa Dojo):

8th kyu = Taikyoku Shodan (First Cause)
7th kyu = Heian Shodan (Peaceful 1)
6th kyu = Heian Nidan (Peaceful 2)
5th kyu = Heian Sandan (Peaceful 3)
4th kyu = Heian Yondan (Peaceful 4)
3rd kyu = Heian Godan (Peaceful 5)
2nd kyu = Tekki Sho(dan) (Iron Knight)
1st kyu = Bassai Dai (Fortress)
1st dan = Kanku Dai (Looking to the Sky)

Dojo Precepts (Yamagawa Dojo):

1. Always strive to achieve my best.
2. Never lose self control or act in a violent manner.
3. Learn to respect myself and others.
4. Always train with an open mind.
5. Remember: the true purpose of karate is to conquer oneself, not others.

3 comments:

Silverstar said...

Interesting. Karate started in India? Never knew that.:)

Mir said...

Wow.. down to the wire now. I wish you the best.

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