The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible: Black Belt and Beyond - Softcover

Martin, Ashley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554073960 ISBN 13: 9781554073962

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2008

Synopsis

Easy-to-use guide on advanced levels of the world's most popular martial art.

The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible is an authoritative, illustrated training guide and companion book to The Shotokan Karate Bible: Beginner to Black Belt. It concentrates on the black belt level and rankings beyond it, dispelling common misconceptions about earning a black belt.

More than 400 crisp color photographs plus concise text outline the author's advanced syllabus. Organized progressively by black belt degree, the book features:

• Kata (sequencing) and kumite (sparring) -- shown step-by-step in double-page spreads
• Outlines of the requirements for achieving each new level
• Useful progress and technique summary tables
• Tips on taking grading examinations, training and development
• Etiquette and sparring safety tips.

The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible is a brightly illustrated and clearly written guide that will attract and benefit the millions of students of the sport.

About this title

About the Author

Ashley P. Martin is a Shotokan black belt, instructor and grading examiner. He is a co-founder of Just Karate Ltd., an organization that offers karate instruction in public schools and for private clients.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

This book is intended as a guide for the advanced karate student, from brown belt level and through the first few years as a black belt. It builds on the material presented in The Shotokan Karate Bible (see Bibliography) and contains the knowledge that a first-degree black belt (shodan) needs to possess in order to progress to the second-degree black belt level (nidan). Studying from a book is no substitute for a good teacher, but it can complement training in the dojo.

Beyond Black Belt
Acquiring the black belt is not the end of your karate training. The black belt levels continue beyond the first degree as shown below.

Black Belt Levels

Dan -- Level name
1st -- shodan
2nd -- nidan
3rd -- sandan
4th -- yondan
5th -- godan
6th -- rokudan
7th -- sichidan
8th -- hachidan
9th -- kudan
10th -- judan

In some karate organizations, the highest dan grades wear a different-colored belt, for example a red and black belt. However, in most karate schools, there are no new belt colors for the advanced student and all the dan grades wear the black belt. It is, however, often possible to identify a more advanced student. Most black belts are actually made of white cotton and are simply wrapped in black silk. Each time the belt is put on and taken off, a small amount of silk is worn away. Over the years this can result in the belt losing its black color and becoming increasingly white.

Some karate practitioners put tags on their black belt to indicate their rank, or have their rank written on the belt, either in their native language or in Japanese characters.

The Advanced Karate Syllabus

The syllabus to reach the first-degree black belt level is listed in the Appendices and covered in detail in The Shotokan Karate Bible. The syllabus to progress to second-degree black belt (nidan) is summarized below and explained in detail in this book. The basics (kihon) vary from organization to organization, but are essentially the same as the previous level with the addition of some double-kick combinations. Sparring (kumite) follows the same form as the previous level, but of course you will be expected to perform with greater skill. The primary difference is the kata. You will be expected to know all of the brown belt kata and, in addition, you will need to learn one of the first dan optional kata.

The best kata to choose for your second dan grading will depend on your specific strengths and preferences, but Nijushiho is generally recommended. This offers a good balance of new techniques and dynamic moves while not being overly athletic in its demands.

Black Belt Grading Syllabus, 1st Dan to 2nd Dan

Basics
Triple punch - Kizami-zuki, oi-zuki, gyaku-zuki
Front kick combination - Mae-geri, oi-zuki, gyaku-zuki
Side thrusting kick combination - Yoko kekomi, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Roundhouse kick combination - Mawashi-geri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Back kick combination - Ushiro-geri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Front kick/roundhouse kick combination - Mae-geri, mawashi-geri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Roundhouse kick/side thrusting kick combination - Mawashi-geri, yoko kekomi, urakenuchi, gyaku-zuki
Roundhouse kick/reverse-back roundhouse kick combination - Mawashi-geri, ushiro ura mawashigeri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Front kick/back kick combination - Mae-geri, ushiro-geri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Four-kick combination - Mae-geri, move front foot back, yoko kekomi, mawashi-geri, ushiro-geri, uraken-uchi, gyaku-zuki
Standing kicks - Mae-geri, yoko kekomi, ushiro-geri, mawashi-geri
Shodan combination - Mae-geri, oi-zuki, gyaku-zuki, step back gedan barai, gyaku-zuki, mawashi geri, uraken-uchi, oi-zuki

Kata
Kihon Kata (Taikyoku Shodan)
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Bassai Dai
Kanku Dai
Jion
Empi
Hangetsu
Choose one from:
Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Jitte, Nijushiho, Tekki Nidan

Kumite
One-step free sparring - Jiyu ippon kumite
Head-level stepping punch - Jodan oi-zuki
Stomach-level stepping punch - Chudan oi-zuki
Front kick - Mae-geri
Side thrusting kick - Yoko kekomi
Roundhouse kick - Mawashi-geri
Back kick - Ushiro-geri
Free sparring - Jiyu kumite

The Shotokan Kata List
For all gradings below fifth dan, there is an optional kata list from which the candidate must choose one kata to perform and a compulsory list from which the examiner may select any for the candidate to perform. Those grading to fifth dan or above are expected to know all the Shotokan kata.

Compulsory kata are sometimes called shitei (assigned) kata. This is the name often given to the kata you're asked to perform in the early elimination rounds of kata competitions.

Optional kata are sometimes called tokui (specialty) kata. This should be the kata that you have focused on and practiced the most. As a lower grade, you probably wouldn't have had a specialty kata. If you did, it was probably Bassai Dai -- the kata you needed to pass your brown belt gradings. As an advanced student, you will be expected to choose a specialty kata that particularly interests you or that suits your particular strengths. In kata competitions, the later rounds are often decided on the basis of your tokui kata.

Optional and Compulsory Kata

Compulsory for 1st Dan and Above
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sandan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan

Optional for 1st Dan; Compulsory for 2nd Dan and Above
Bassai Dai
Kanku Dai
Jion
Empi
Hangetsu

Optional for 2nd Dan; Compulsory for 3rd Dan and Above
Bassai Sho
Kanku Sho
Jitte
Nijushiho
Tekki Nidan

Optional for 3rd Dan; Compulsory for 4th Dan and Above
Chinte
Gankanku
Gojushiho Sho
Sochin
Unsu

Optional for 4th Dan; Compulsory for 5th Dan and Above
Gojushiho Dai
Ji'in
Meikyo
Tekki Sandan
Wankan

The Advanced Student
It is sometimes said that Shotokan karate trains the "best white belts" in the world, but this is not meant as a compliment. It is instead intended to imply that Shotokan black belts are no more than very highly trained white belts and are performing their karate in a slightly naive fashion. As a black belt, you should not simply be doing the same karate as white belts, even if it is at a higher intensity and with greater precision.

The Difference Between an Advanced Karate Student and a Beginner

Novice
Does what he or she is told
Follows black and white rules
Mainly works on the next grading kata
Can perform simple combinations with practice
Understanding of kata is based on careful imitation

Advanced Student
Questions dogma
Modifies behavior in response to complex changes in circumstances
Has many kata to maintain, and specializes in one or two
Can quickly learn complex combinations and create effective new combinations
Understanding of kata is enhanced by knowledge of and repetition practical kata applications

LEARN TO BREAK THE RULES
Lower grades are given rules to follow, for example "keep your heels down," "keep your back straight" and "rotate the fist at the end of a punch." Under examination, some of t

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1554073960
• ISBN 13: 9781554073962
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208