Brown to Black Belt

BROWN TO BLACK BELT

BROWN TO BLACK BELT GRADING

THIS IS THE BELT THAT ALL SEROUS MARTIAL ART STUDENTS WANT

When i was shotokan karate training to get to black belt there was two more belts to get,and that was brown and white belt and brown and white belt twice.As in today's training you go from brown to black belt so i will only write suggestions on how to do this.As for the two missing belts i will just say that they are not very different from going straight to Blake belt.The difference i find is that instead of having to train twelve months to get your black belt you can do it in six.The two brown and white belt gradings were very similar,the only difference i can remember was that the kata's were different and a couple of movements,plus you had much more time to learn free style.Personally i prefer having the extra two belts before black belt,although today to get your black belt you have to do a brown belt syllabus and a black belt one.But times do change.I would still advise to wait twelve months and learn at least two more kata's before going for your black belt.Remember this is a big step in your martial art training and you really do want to get it right and pass first time.

BROWN BELT SYLLABUS

Triple punch9Kizami-zuki,oi-zuki,gyaku-zuki).Front kick combination(Mae-geri,ol-zuki,gyaku-zuki).Side thrusting combination(Yoko-kekomi,uraken-uchi,gyaku-zuki)Rounhouse kick combination(Mawashi-geri,uraken-uchi,gyaku-zuki)Back kick combination(Ushiro-geri,uraken-uchi,gyaku-zuki).KATA is normaly Bassai Dai,but sometimes you can choose which brown or black belt kata that you want to do.KUMITE,one step sparring(Jiyu ippon-kumite)Headlevel stepping punch(Jodan oi-zuki)Stomach level stepping punch(Chudan oi-zuki)Front kick(Mae-geri)Side thrusting kick(Yoko-kekomi)Rounghouse kick(Mawawashi-geri)Back kick(Ushiro-geri).

BLACK BELT BELT SYLLABUS

Four kick combination(Mae-geri,yoko kekomi,mawashi-geri,ushiro-geri,uraken-uchi,gyaku-zuki)Standing kicks(Mae-geri,yoko-kekomi,ushiro-geri)You will be asked to do a series of black belt combinations,which can vary from student to student.Now you will be asked to do a Kata of your choice,you will probably given four or five choices and they are usually,Bassai Dai,Kanku Dai,Jion,Empi and Hangetsu.

FREE SPARRING

Now is the time to fight.I no karate is about self defence but in a fight you can not get out of you must win.You will not no who your opponent will be except the student will want to win the same as you.If you lose you first fight easily you will probably fail,but if you put up a good fight and lose you may be allowed to fight again against the same or different opponent,if you win you will probably pass.You may have up to three fights if you lose all three it is likely that you will fail,if you win all three you should pass,but what ever you do give it your all.But remember every move you make must be strong precise and above all controlled.If you put someone out of action you will be disqualified and fail.If you draw blood you will be disqualified and fail.

You will start to free style facing your opponent and bow,next go into a fighting stance(Kamae)Point the front foot in the direction that you are going,put your weight over the front foot and on thee ball of your foot,have your body turned to the side but head turned to the front,hold your hands up in a guard with the fists pointing at your target,and the rest is up to you,this is just an example,everyone has their own method of martial art fighting.

Everything that you will be asked to do you already will have been taught,and i hope i have covered most of them in my karate posts.The last help i am going to write on this post is the shotokan karate kata BASSAI DAI.

KATA

BASSAI DAI

Start in ready stance and bow then put you feet together and clasp the right fist in the left hand,swing the arms back to the left side and shift the weight forwards ready to move,strike forwards with the back of the fist.The left hand is placed on the right forearm,at the same time step forwards with the right foot and tuck the left foo behind the right,turning using the left foot into front stance,execute a inside block with the left hand,without stepping block right hand inside block,turn and block left hand outside block.Without stepping,block right hand side inside block,bring the right foot back alongside the left and do a right hand low level sweeping block,continue the sweeping movement so that the hand moves all the way up to head height.Step into front stance with the right foot,execute an outside block with the right hand,without stepping,block left hand inside block,move the left foot into a shoulder width stance and bring both fists to the right hip.Using slow controlled movement,make a vertical knife hand block with the left hand,without stepping punch using the right hand,put the right hand to the shoulder.Inside block,pivoting on the spot,straighten the hips and punch with the left hand pull the left hand to the shoulder and execute a inside block.Pivoting on the spot step forward with the right leg into back stance with a knife hand block,step forward with the left leg into back stance with a left knife hand block,step forwards with the right leg into back stance with a right knife hand block,immediately step back with the right foot leg into back stance with left knife hand block.Move into front stance while the right hand reaches up and catches.Pull the right hand back using grasping block(Tsukami-uki).Next execute a low level thrusting kick with the right foot while the fist pulls up to the rib cage and KIAI.

Step into back stance with a knife hand block,step forwards with the right leg into back stance with knife hand block,slowly move the right foot back to meet the left foot and raise both arms into a double rising block,abruptly pull the arms apart and shift the weight forwards,immediately step forwards with the right foot into front stance and strike to the stomach levelwith a double hammer fist strike,immediately slide forwards and punch with the right fist.Turn and strike right hand(Shuto-uchi)while blocking open handed across the face with the left hand,slowly draw the left foot back to the right while pulling the right fist up behind the head and blocking down slowly with the left(Gedan-barai).Lift the right knee and stamp down into side stance and simultaneously downward block with the left hand,slowly cross and uncross the arms blocking open handed to the left with the back of the hand,execute a crescent kick with the right foot into the left hand,elbow strike the right elbow into the left hand,punch down with the right hand,bringing the left fist up to the inside of the right elbow,punch downwith the left hand,bringing the right fist up to the inside of the left elbow,punch down with the right hand brining the left fist up to the inside of the right elbow,brining both fist to the left hip and look to the right,step out with the right foot into a narrow front stance and attack with both fists to the stomach,left fist over the head.This is a mountain punch(Yama-zuki),slowly draw the right foot back to meet the left and bring both fists to the right hip,lift the left knee and step forwards with a mountain punch,left fist to the stomach right fist over the head.Slowly draw the left foot back to meet the right and bring both fists to the left hip,lift the right knee and step forwards with a mountain punch right fist to the stomach and left fist over the head.Extend the right arm up and look over the left shoulder pulling the left hand to the hip.Turn by moving the left foot anti-clockwise and swing the right arm across the body in a scooping block,extend the left arm,pivot and swing the left arm across the body in a scooping block.Finnish with a clossed fist,palm side up.Move the left foot to your centre point,then step forwards with the right foot through 45 degress into back stance with knife-hand block,look over the left shoulder and then slowly move the right foot so that you rotate 90 degress clockwise,,step with the right foot to your centre point,then step forwards with the left foot into back stance with knife-hand block,finnish by slowly drawing the left foot back to the right and clasping the right fist in the left hand and jump back three times feet together and bow.You have now finnished your black belt shotokan karate grading.Hope you pass.