ORANGE TO RED and RED TO YELLOW BELT

Orange to Red Belt

Grading for your Shotokan Karate Red Belt is similar to orange but there are some more applications to perform.The basics are the same exept you will have to do a side thrusting kick(Yoko-Kekomi)and a side rising kick(Yoko-Keage).The kata you will have to do will be Heian Shodan,and your kumite will still be five step sparring but a little more advanced.

BASIC FORM

In the basic form you start off in the side stance(Kiba-Dachi)sometimes called the horse stance.You stand with your feet parallel two shoulder width apart and facing forward.You must be evenly balanced and bend the knees and maintain an outward tension,keep your arms out straight above your knees.This is a good stance for developing strength and flexibility to your legs.Next you will be asked to do a back stance(Kokutsu-Dachi),stand with your left leg forward knee slightly bent foot facing forward and left arm out straight above the knee,right leg behind you knee slightly bent with your right foot facing the side,right arm down by your side and 70%of your weight on the back foot.You then bring the knees together keeping the hips together push the right foot forwards keeping all the weight on the left foot,step forwards into back stance by abruptly rotating the hips and pushing the right foot forwards.

KNIFE HAND BLOCK

This technique uses the outside fleshy part of the hand to block.It can also be used as an attacking knife blow to the neck.To start you are in a ready stance and prepare to block with the left arm by bringing it up to the shoulder with the palm facing towards the ear,forwards with the other hand palm down execute (Shuto-Uke) to the stomach and step into back stance.Tips for this technique,pull the elbow of the blocking hand to your centre line,time your blocking action to coincide with the twisting of your hips as you settle into back stance,keep your hands tense with your fingers together.

HAMMER HAND STRIKE

This strike is done with the fleshy underside of the fist and can be used to strike collar bone or the nose.You start in the front stance,pull backthe leading hand using the whole of your body.swing the fist up over your head and strike the base of the fist at the collar bone heaight as you step forward.Tips for hammer hand strike(Tetsui-Uchi),make the arm and foot movement big,but don't pull your body weight back to far as it will slow down the forward motion,and finish with the elbow at 90 degrees.

SIDE RISING KICK

This kick(Yoko-Keage)is also called a snap kick because you pull the kick back in a whipping action.The kick is directed upwards and directed at the chin or armpit.You strike with the edge of the foot.Start in kiba-dachi stance,step forward with the right foot,lift the left leg so that it is pointing to the side,kick to the side useing your hips to throw the kick,rotate the supporting foot on the ball of the foot,snap the foot back then step down into the side stance.

SIDE THRUSTING KICK

Start in the side stance step forward with the right foot,lift the knee as high as possible pointing to the front,kick to the side and hold the kick briefly.Make sure the supporting leg is bent and make it feel as though you are pushing all of your body weight into the target,pull the kicking leg back and then step down into the side stance.That show you do a side thrusting stance(Yoko-Kekomi).

KATA

HEIAN SHODAN

The kata you will be doing for your red shotokan karate belt is called heian shodan,You start witha bow and in a firm voice announce your kata heian shodan and step into ready stance yoi-dachi,step to the left into gedan barai then forward punching with the right hand,move the right foot and turn 180 degrees with a downward block then execute a right hand hammer strike,step punch with the left hand,step to the left and execute a downward block to the left,step forwards and execute a right rising block,step forward wiyh a left rising block,step forward with a right rising block,move to the left 270 gegrees and execute a left sided downward block,step forwards with a right hand punch,move the right leg and turn 180 degrees and execute a downward block,step forward and punch with the left hand,step to the left and execute a downward block to the left,step forwards and punch with the right hand,step forwards and punch with the left hand,step forwards and punch with the right hand and KIAI,move the left foot and turn 270 degrees and execute a left sided knife hand block,step forwards at 45 degrees and execute a right sided knife hand block,pivot on tour left foot for 135 degrees and execute a right sided knife hand block,step forwards at 45 degrees with a left sided knife hand block and KIAI,finish by moving the left foot back into a ready stance and bow.

You finish your shotokan red belt karate grading with a five step sparring the same as you did with your orange belt grading,just try and make it more precise and stronger.

Best of luck

RED TO YELLOW BELT

BASIC FORM

Going from red to yellow belt is using what you have already been taught,defending with combinations and techniques where one follows the another.This can be very challenging with some students as they may find it hard to decide which hand to use next,but with repetition this can be overcome.

As usual you will start with basic grading syllabus as follows.A triple punch(sanbon tsuski)rising block with a reverse punch(age-uki,gyaku-zuki)then an outside block with a reverse punch(soto-uke,gyaku-zuki)inside block and reverse punch(uchi-uke,gyaku-zuki)then a knife hand block(shuto-uki)a front kick(mae-geri)a side thrusting kick(yoko-kekomi)lastly a side rising kick(yoko-keage).

KATA

HEIAN-NIDAN

The kata for this grading is called HEIAN-NIDAN and the sequences are as follows.

Bow call out Heian-Nidan and step into ready stance,step with the left foot into back stance.Block the upper level to the side with the left arm and block with the right arm above the forehead,block with the left arm and strick with the right arm, strike out sideways with the left arm,pivot to move and face the other way and block upper level to the side with the right arm and above the forehead with the left arm,block with the right arm and strike with the left arm,hammer strike with the right arm sideways,move the left foot to the centre and lift the right foot to the left knee and place both fists on the left hip,strike with a side rising kick with the right leg and at the same time use a bach fist strike with the right hand,step down with the right foot and into back stance with a knife hand block with the left hand,step forward witha right hand knife hand block,step forward with a left hand knife hand block,block down with the left hand palm down strike with a spear hand9nukite)over the top with the right hand and kiai.

With the left foot move into back stance with a left hand knife block,step forward with the right foot at 45 degrees into back stance and a right hand knife hand block,move the right foot forward into back stance with a right hand knife hand block,step forward with the left foot at 45 degrees into back stance with a left hand knife hand block,move the left foot across and block with right hand inside block do not change arm positions and front kick with the right leg,step into front stance and punch with the left hand execute an inside block with the left hand without stepping,do not change arm positions and front kick with the left leg,step into front stance and punch with the right hand,step forwards into front stance and block with the right side(morote-uke)turn a whole 270 degrees by moving the left foot and execute a left downward block,step with the right foot at a 45 degree angle and execute a right rising block,turn 135 degrees by moving the right foot and execute a right downward block and then step forwards with the left leg at a 45 degree angle and execute a left hand rising block and kiai,finish by moving the left foot back into ready stance and bow.

And lastly you will have to do a five step sparring as in the other two gradings.

Best of luck