BELT STUDY GUIDES

What to learn · What it means

What you will learn

StretchPart 1Our normal class stretch
MaraMara 1 to 4Practice pulling back and also mae geri to change sides
Kihonjun-zukiBasic front punch
gyaku-zukiBasic reverse punch
uchi-ukePractice using front hand and back hand
mae-geriBasic front kick off rear leg (ayumi ashi)
uchi-uke >> gyaku-zukiBasic inside parry, reverse punch
Kihon KumiteKumite 1 (OS)jun-zuki >>> uchi-uke >> gyaku-zuki
SanchinOpening & closingADULTS 16+Gassho - dantian, as above, so below, split into a duality, return to one
Hansha Kumitejun-zuki > reflex uchi-ukeADULTS 16+Trap hand, punch to cause a reflex parry from the non-trapped hand
KakieWalking - linearADULTS 16+Connect, bed in, rotating palms. Willow leaf palm

Key terms at this stage

Karate — Empty hand
Dojo — Training hall
Sensei — Teacher — 'one who has gone before'
Kihon — Foundation / basic
Kumite — Meeting of hands
Kihon Kumite — Basic partner work
Jun-zuki — Front punch
Gyaku-zuki — Reverse punch
Uchi-uke — Inside parry
Gedan-uke — Lower parry
Mae-geri — Front kick
Yori ashi — Front foot slides first
Tsugi ashi — Back foot slides first

Mind

Welcome to the first step. In Shizenryu, karate is not fundamentally about fighting — it is a discipline of self-mastery. The ability to deal with conflict is a by-product of a deeper process: learning control, awareness, and appropriate response.
“Full mastery of one technique is better than the incomplete mastery of two.”
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