UECHI-RYU KARATE TRAINING TERMINOLOGY

Warm-up Exercises     (Junbi Undo)

Heel pivot  -               Ashi saki O ageru undo
Heel lift -                    Kakato O ageru undo
Knee circles -             Hiza O mawasu undo
Leg circles -                Ashi Kubi O mawasu undo
Leg lift and turn -       Ashi O mae yoko ni nobasu undo
Straight leg kick -       Ashi O mae uchi naname ni ageru undo
Waist scoop -             Tai O mae ni taosu undo
Trunk twisting -          Koshi no nenten
Double thrusts -         Ude O mae yoko shita ni nobasu undo
Neck exercise -           Kubi O mawasu undo

Supplemental Exercises                                  Hojo Undo

(R/L) Side Snap Kick -                                 Sokuto geri
(R/L) Front Kick -                                         Shomen geri
(R/L) Hook Punch -                                      Mawashi Tsuki
(R/L) Reverse Punch -                                 Shomen Tsuki or Seiken Tsuki
(R/L) Chop/Backfist/1 knuckle punch -        Shuto Uchi, Ura Uchi, Shoken Tsuki
(R/L) Elbow Strikes -                                    Hiji Tsuki
(R/L) Tiger Paw Strikes -                              Hajiki Uke, Hiraken Tsuki
(R) Turn, Block, Kick front Leg -                   Tenshin Zensoku Geri
(L) Turn, Block, Kick back Leg -                   Tenshin Kosoku Geri
(R) Turn, Block, 1 Knuckle Punch -               Tenshin Shoken Tsuki
(L)  Finger Tip Strikes -                                Shomen Hajiki
(R/L) Wrist Strikes -                                     Koi No Shippo Uchi - (R) Tate Uchi
(L) Yoko Uchi

Kata                                        Other Material
Sanchin                                   Kote Kitae (Arm Rubbing and Pounding)
Kanshiwa                                Kyu Kumite (Pre-arranged Fighting)
Kanshu                                    Kanshiwa Bunkai (Kata Analysis)
Seichin

Ranking System

Promotional consideration is based on the student’s comprehension and execution of core knowledge, class attendance and attitude as assessed by Sensei, with input from instructors.  Students are encouraged not to focus on their rank, but rather their learning.

Beginners in Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do do not formally hold any rank, but for the purposes of ‘ranking’ are called “Jukyu” (10th level) and wear a white belt to signify their beginning status.  There are then nine actual ranks before reaching the black belt level.

Jukyu               10th level        White belt
Kyukyu           9th level          1 green stripe
Hachikyu         8th level          2 green stripes
Shichikyu        7th level          3 green stripes
Rokkyu           6th level          Green belt      
Gokyu             5th level          1 brown stripe
Yonkyu           4th level          2 brown stripes
Sankyu            3rd level          Brown belt
Nikyu              2nd level         1 black stripe  
Ikkyu               1st level           2 black stripes

These ten “Kyu” ranks are followed by ten “Dan” ranks (degrees of black belt), the first of which is Shodan (1st degree black belt).  The minimum age for promotion to Shodan, with recognition and Certification from Okinawa, is sixteen.  However, at Neil Dunnigan’s School of Karate, students may be promoted to the rank of Junior Black Belt.  To be tested for Junior Black Belt, a student must be a minimum of 11 years of age and must have been practicing for a minimum of four years.

Kyu (pre-black belt) testing is by invitation from an Instructor and, as a general rule, is conducted at the Edmonton dojo on the 1st Tuesday evening of each month. Check the “Test Board” for the “Next Test Date”.

All  Dan (Black Belt levels) promotional tests are by invitation only.  Sensei will inform the student when he feels that the student is ready.  He will base his decision upon such factors as technical skill, attitude and character, class attendance, length of study, age, and participation in dojo activities.  Dan (black belt) testing is held at the Edmonton dojo twice a year.