At Great Lakes Seiwa Kai, Goju Ryu Karatedo is taught as a traditional Japanese martial art. Goju Ryu (Hard-Soft Style) is one of several traditional Okinawan/Japanese styles of Karatedo that is practiced around the world. Each student will be participating in all of the following activities:
1. Conditioning (Junbiundo, 準備 運動 )
Every class we will stretch our muscles and tendons, and we will also strengthen ourselves by doing exercises such as sit-ups, pushups, etc. Hojo undō (補助運動) or the use of specialized supplementary equipment should also be practiced regularly.
2. Basic Techniques (Kihon, 基本)
Students will also regularly practice the basic techniques of karatedo – blocks (uke 受け), kicks (keri 蹴り), punches (tsuki 突き), strikes (uchi 打ち), and stances (dachi 立ち). Along with these basic techniques, it is also necessary to practice the movement (ido 移動) which is used in traditional karatedo. Kakie or push-hands is also a part of the kihon which is practiced in Goju Ryu.
3. Art (Kata, 型)
Kata is used in many Japanese arts including the Tea Ceremony, Kabuki (theater), Iado (sword), Judo, and Karatedo. The word Kata means form, and the kata that students will be studying come from Goju Ryu (剛柔流) or Hard-Soft Style which was developed by Chojun Miyagi Sensei. However, it must be noted that whereas kata is an art form, it is not a dance or a theatrical performance. It must be performed with a demonstration of an understanding of the principles of the self-defense techniques it contains.
4. Self-Defense (Bunkai, 分解 )
Karate is a martial art and cannot be separated from its self-defense origins. Bunkai is the analysis and application of the self-defense techniques which are often disguised or hidden within each kata. Students will practice these Bunkai applications in prearranged scenarios (yakusoku kumite).
5. Sport (Jiyu Kumite, 組手)
In order for the student of karatedo to experience the feeling of a self-defense situation in a safe environment, students will engage in free sparring (jiyu kumite).
6. Self-Improvement ( Each person must strive for the perfection of one’s character. 誠の道を守ること )
The goal of all education, including an education in the martial arts, should be to improve the character of the participants. This is the most important element of learning traditional karatedo.
Kata, Bunkai, and Kumite Requirements for Promotions:
Character development has always been considered an essential part of traditional karate-do. The Great Lakes Seiwa Kai instructors feel that in order to receive a promotion students must put forth the effort to improve both their karate-do skills and their character.
All kata must be performed to Great Lakes Seiwa Kai specifications.
All students are required to perform the requirements from all previous promotions.
Peewees are one kata behind and can earn up to 6th kyu before transferring into the intermediate class.
10th kyu: Ju-kyu (White Belt) New student
Show respect
9th ky:ku-kyu (White Belt W/Stripe)
Kihon and kihon ido (basic techniques and movement.), Memory of Gekisai Dai Ichi; 80% attendance
8th kyu: Hachi-kyu (Yellow Belt)
Gekisai Dai Ichi ; 80% attendance
7th kyu: Sichi-kyu (Blue-Belt)
Improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni ; 80% attendance
6th kyu: Roku-kyu (Green Belt)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, (or Sanchin), and kumite; 85% attendance
5th kyu: Go-kyu (Green Belt W/1 Stripes)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, (or Sanchin), and kumite; 85% attendance
4th kyu: Yon-kyu (Green Belt w/2 stripes)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 85% attendance
3rd kyu: San-kyu (Brown Belt)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 85% attendance
2nd kyu: Ni-kyu (Brown Belt W/Stripe)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 90% attendance
JKF Goju Kai Saifa and Bunkai Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPbm-6mY1U Bunkai is at 9:10 on the video
JKF Goju Kai Seipai and Bunkai Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUoQkyJBLM Bunkai is at 12:48 on the video
(Seiwa Kai International Membership Is Required of All First Kyu and Dan Level Students.)
1st kyu: Ichi Kyu (Brown Belt W/2 Stripes)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite,and memory of one other Goju Ryu kata ; 90% attendance
1st dan: Shodan / Shodan-Ho / Junior Black Belt (under 16 years of age)
Entire session is spent getting ready for Shodan. The student must show significant improvement in all areas. (Three years of active membership and practice are required to go up for promotion. Additionally, 95% attendance during the final session is required)
The following kumite strategies must be demonstrated for promotion to the following levels:
6th-kyu: Roku-kyu (Green Belt)
“Open The Door” In this strategy, seize the initiative; launch an aggressive attack, and take the fight to your opponent using multiple attacks at different body levels.
Go-No-Sen 後の先 : In this strategy, do not immediately take the initiative. Wait for your opponent’s attack to develop and then take the initiative with a strong block and counter attack.
3rd-kyu: San-kyu (Brown Belt)
Unbalancing: In this variation of “open the door” strategy, you break your opponent’s balance (with a technique such as ashi-barrai) and immediately attack while he is defenseless.
1st dan – Shodan / Shodan-Ho / Junior Black Belt (under 16 years of age)
Sen-No-Sen 先の先 : This is a very difficult strategy to learn. At the precise moment that your opponent intends to initiates an attack, you initiate your attack (between the opponent's decision to attack and his movement). Look into your opponents eyes; watch your opponent’s breathing, and trust your intuition. In this manner you will be able to discern your opponent’s intent.
DOJO KUN
一 Be humble and polite
一 Train Considering your physical strength
一 Practice earnestly with creativity
一 Be calm and swift
一 Take care of your health
一 Live a plain life
一 Do not be too proud or modest
一 Continue your training with patience
Each is marked number one with the idea that all are of equal importance.
1. Conditioning (Junbiundo, 準備 運動 )
Every class we will stretch our muscles and tendons, and we will also strengthen ourselves by doing exercises such as sit-ups, pushups, etc. Hojo undō (補助運動) or the use of specialized supplementary equipment should also be practiced regularly.
2. Basic Techniques (Kihon, 基本)
Students will also regularly practice the basic techniques of karatedo – blocks (uke 受け), kicks (keri 蹴り), punches (tsuki 突き), strikes (uchi 打ち), and stances (dachi 立ち). Along with these basic techniques, it is also necessary to practice the movement (ido 移動) which is used in traditional karatedo. Kakie or push-hands is also a part of the kihon which is practiced in Goju Ryu.
3. Art (Kata, 型)
Kata is used in many Japanese arts including the Tea Ceremony, Kabuki (theater), Iado (sword), Judo, and Karatedo. The word Kata means form, and the kata that students will be studying come from Goju Ryu (剛柔流) or Hard-Soft Style which was developed by Chojun Miyagi Sensei. However, it must be noted that whereas kata is an art form, it is not a dance or a theatrical performance. It must be performed with a demonstration of an understanding of the principles of the self-defense techniques it contains.
4. Self-Defense (Bunkai, 分解 )
Karate is a martial art and cannot be separated from its self-defense origins. Bunkai is the analysis and application of the self-defense techniques which are often disguised or hidden within each kata. Students will practice these Bunkai applications in prearranged scenarios (yakusoku kumite).
5. Sport (Jiyu Kumite, 組手)
In order for the student of karatedo to experience the feeling of a self-defense situation in a safe environment, students will engage in free sparring (jiyu kumite).
6. Self-Improvement ( Each person must strive for the perfection of one’s character. 誠の道を守ること )
The goal of all education, including an education in the martial arts, should be to improve the character of the participants. This is the most important element of learning traditional karatedo.
Kata, Bunkai, and Kumite Requirements for Promotions:
Character development has always been considered an essential part of traditional karate-do. The Great Lakes Seiwa Kai instructors feel that in order to receive a promotion students must put forth the effort to improve both their karate-do skills and their character.
All kata must be performed to Great Lakes Seiwa Kai specifications.
All students are required to perform the requirements from all previous promotions.
Peewees are one kata behind and can earn up to 6th kyu before transferring into the intermediate class.
10th kyu: Ju-kyu (White Belt) New student
Show respect
9th ky:ku-kyu (White Belt W/Stripe)
Kihon and kihon ido (basic techniques and movement.), Memory of Gekisai Dai Ichi; 80% attendance
8th kyu: Hachi-kyu (Yellow Belt)
Gekisai Dai Ichi ; 80% attendance
7th kyu: Sichi-kyu (Blue-Belt)
Improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni ; 80% attendance
6th kyu: Roku-kyu (Green Belt)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, (or Sanchin), and kumite; 85% attendance
5th kyu: Go-kyu (Green Belt W/1 Stripes)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, (or Sanchin), and kumite; 85% attendance
4th kyu: Yon-kyu (Green Belt w/2 stripes)
Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 85% attendance
3rd kyu: San-kyu (Brown Belt)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 85% attendance
2nd kyu: Ni-kyu (Brown Belt W/Stripe)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite; 90% attendance
JKF Goju Kai Saifa and Bunkai Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPbm-6mY1U Bunkai is at 9:10 on the video
JKF Goju Kai Seipai and Bunkai Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUoQkyJBLM Bunkai is at 12:48 on the video
(Seiwa Kai International Membership Is Required of All First Kyu and Dan Level Students.)
1st kyu: Ichi Kyu (Brown Belt W/2 Stripes)
Continued improvement in Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin, and kumite,and memory of one other Goju Ryu kata ; 90% attendance
1st dan: Shodan / Shodan-Ho / Junior Black Belt (under 16 years of age)
Entire session is spent getting ready for Shodan. The student must show significant improvement in all areas. (Three years of active membership and practice are required to go up for promotion. Additionally, 95% attendance during the final session is required)
The following kumite strategies must be demonstrated for promotion to the following levels:
6th-kyu: Roku-kyu (Green Belt)
“Open The Door” In this strategy, seize the initiative; launch an aggressive attack, and take the fight to your opponent using multiple attacks at different body levels.
Go-No-Sen 後の先 : In this strategy, do not immediately take the initiative. Wait for your opponent’s attack to develop and then take the initiative with a strong block and counter attack.
3rd-kyu: San-kyu (Brown Belt)
Unbalancing: In this variation of “open the door” strategy, you break your opponent’s balance (with a technique such as ashi-barrai) and immediately attack while he is defenseless.
1st dan – Shodan / Shodan-Ho / Junior Black Belt (under 16 years of age)
Sen-No-Sen 先の先 : This is a very difficult strategy to learn. At the precise moment that your opponent intends to initiates an attack, you initiate your attack (between the opponent's decision to attack and his movement). Look into your opponents eyes; watch your opponent’s breathing, and trust your intuition. In this manner you will be able to discern your opponent’s intent.
DOJO KUN
一 Be humble and polite
一 Train Considering your physical strength
一 Practice earnestly with creativity
一 Be calm and swift
一 Take care of your health
一 Live a plain life
一 Do not be too proud or modest
一 Continue your training with patience
Each is marked number one with the idea that all are of equal importance.