" Karate ni sente nashi" - "There is no first attack in Karate"
                                                                           Gichin Funakoshi
"This phrase... embodies the essence of Okinawan Karate. Karate is a martial art, yet it was developed by the Okinawans as a weaponless method of self-defence. The peculiar culture of the Okinawans, a peace-loving people desirous of living without weapons, made them raise the instinct of self-preservation to its highest form - the art of karate-do."
                                                                             Shoshin Nagamine  
Grading Requirements
        Kata Bunkai
Application of Kata movements
        Kihon undo [Basic exercises]

                                        1. defence:  Neko ashi dachi - suri ashi

                                        2. attack:    Neko ashi dachi - tsumasaki geri, suri ashi

                                        3. defence:  Neko ashi dachi - chudan soto shuto uke

                                        4  attack:    Shizentai dachi - chudan zuki

                                        5  defence:  Shizentai dachi - jodan uke

                                        6  attack:    Shizentai dachi - chudan gyaku zuki

                                        7  defence:  Neko ashi dachi - gedan shuto uke

                                        8  attack:    Shizentai dachi - tsumasaki geri, chudan gyaku zuki

                                        9  defence:  Zenkutsu dachi - gedan uke

                                        10 attack:    Jigotai dachi - oi zuki

                                        11 defence:  Shizentai dachi - chudan uke
        Yakusoku Kumite
Seven sets of pre-arranged sparring
        Kihon Kumite
One step sparring
        Kumite
Free sparring
" Karate must be a defensive art from beginning to end"
Shoshin Nagamine
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Dojo Information
        Kobudo
"Karate ni sente nashi" - "Embodies the essence of Okinawan karate."
        Kamaekata [Ready stances]
Soto-hachiji shizentai dachi...........................................Open leg natural stance
Heisoku dachi.....................................................................Closed foot stance
Chokuritsu-fudo dachi...................................................Formal attention stance

        Tachikata [Stances]
Shizentai-dachi........................................................................Natural stances
Soto-hachiji shizentai dachi...........................................Open leg natural stance
Ashi-mae-shizentai dachi.........................................Foot forward natural stance

Jun-shizentai-dachi.........................................................Quasi-natural stances
Chokuritsu-fudo dachi...................................................Formal attention stance
Heisoku dachi.....................................................................Closed foot stance
Nekoashi dachi...............................................................................Cat stance
...........

Jigotai-dachi...................................................................Wide open-leg stance
Naihanchi-dachi..................................................................Straddle-leg stance
Zenkutsu-dachi................................................................Front-leg-bent stance
Naname zenkutsu-dachi........................................Slanted front-leg-bent stance
Kokutsu-dachi.................................................................Back-leg-bent stance
Kosa-dachi............................................................................Cross-leg stance
Ippon-ashi-dachi.......................................................................One-leg stance
Iaigoshi-dachi..........................................................................Kneeling stance
        Semekata [Attacking techniques]
Seiken waza..............................................................................Fist technique
Jodan-zuki...................................................................................Upper punch
Chudan-zuki................................................................................Middle punch
Gedan-zuki..................................................................................Lower punch
Kaku-zuki..................................................................................Square punch
Tomoe-zuki................................................................Circular block and punch
Sayu-zuki............................................................................Double side punch
Kakushi-zuki.........................................................................Hidden fist punch
oi-zuki......................................................................................Chasing punch
Wari-uke-zuki........................................................................Split-block punch
Morote-zuki..................................................................Augmented-side punch

Yubi waza..............................................................................Finger technique
Nukite-zuki...........................................................................Spear-hand thrust
Morote-nuki-zuki.........................................................Double spear-hand thrust
Shi-zuki........................................................................................Beak thrust

Uchi waza............................................................................Striking technique
Uraken-uchi...............................................................................Backfist strike
Kentsui-uchi........................................................................Hammer-fist strike
Shuto-uchi.............................................................................Knife-hand strike
Kyobu shuto-uchi...........................................Chest knife-hand strike
Kyobu morote shuto -uchi....................Chest double knife-hand strike
Kyobu-soete shuto-uchi.................Chest augmented knife-hand strike
Haito-uchi.................................................................Reverse knife-hand strike

Ate waza..........................................................................Smashing technique
Hiji-ate.......................................................................................Elbow smash
   Tate hiji-ate..........................................................Upward elbow smash
    Yoko hiji-ate........................................................Forward elbow smash
    Ushiro hiji-ate...................................................Backward elbow smash
    Sasae hiji-ate..................................................Supported elbow smash
Hiza-ate.......................................................................................Knee smash
Shotei-ate.............................................................................Palm-heel smash
    Jodan shotei-ate...............................................Upper palm-heel smash
    Chudan shotei-ate............................................Middle palm-heel smash
    Gedan shotei-ate...............................................Lower palm-heel smash
    Tomoe shotei-ate............................................Circular palm-heel smash
        Ukekata [Blocking techniques]
Seiken-ude-uke..........................................................................Forearm block
Jodan uke.....................................................................................Upper block
Chudan soto-uke..............................................................Middle outward block
Chudan yoko-uke............................................................Middle sideward block
Chudan uchi-uke..................................................................Middle inner block
Gedan uke....................................................................................Lower block
Gedan yoko-barai-uke......................................................Lower sideward block
Sasae-uke..................................................................Supported forearm block
Sayu-barai-uke.............................................................Double lower side block
Jodan wari-uke.......................................................................Upper split block
Chudan wari-uke....................................................................Middle spilt block
Jodan kosa-uke....................................................................Upper cross block
Gedan kosa-uke...................................................................Lower cross block
Morote soe-uke.........................................................Augmented forearm block
Chudan soto-mawashi-uke......................................Middle sideward round block
Morote-barai-uke...........................................................Augmented lower block
Hazushi-uke............................................................................Removing block
Otoshi-uke................................................................Dropping downward block

Shuto-uke & Haito-uke..........................Knife-hand & Reverse Knife-hand blocks
Chudan soto-shuto-uke.....................................Middle outward knife-hand block
Jodan uchi-shuto-uke.............................................Upper inner knife-hand block
Chudan yoko-shuto-uke...................................Middle sideward knife-hand block
Gedan shuto-uke...........................................................Lower knife-hand block
Gedan shuto yoko-barai-uke................Lower sideward knife-hand slashing block
Chudan hasami-uke..........................................................Middle sissors block
Makite-uke.................................................................Winding knife-hand block
Magetori-barai-uke......................................Rising upward both-hand knife block
Torite-uke.........................................................................Grasping-hand block
Sagurite-uke...................................................................Searching-hand block
Gedan haito-yoko-uke...........................Lower sideward reverse knife-hand block

Shotei-uke..............................................................................Palm-heel block
Chudan shotei-uke.........................................................Middle palm-heel block
Gedan shotei-uke...........................................................Lower palm-heel block

Hiji-uke.........................................................................................Elbow block

Hangetsu-barai-uke...........................................................Half-moon foot block
        Kerikata [Kicking techniques]
Kyobu-geri......................................................................................Chest kick
Fukubu-geri...............................................................................Abdomen kick
Kinteki-geri......................................................................................Groin kick
Sokuto-geri...............................................................................Foot edge kick
Nidan-geri...............................................................................Flying front kick
_________________________

Mawashi-geri.........................................................................Roundhouse kick
Ura-mawashi-geri.............................................Hook or reverse roundhouse kick
Yoko-geri..........................................................................................Side kick
Ushiro-geri.......................................................................................Back kick
Ashi-barai.......................................................................................Leg sweep
Fumikomi......................................................................................Foot stomp
        Basic movements
        Intermediate movements [Fighting postures]
Suirakan no kamae.....................................................Drunkard fighting posture
Ryu-no-shita no kamae.......................................Dragon-tongue fighting posture
Saguraite no kamae..........................................Searching-hand fighting posture
Hotoke-gamae......................................................Buddha-hand fighting posture
Tenshin no kamae................................................Body-shifting fighting posture
Ura-gamae.................................................................Cheating fighting posture
        Shitei Kata Matsubayashi Ryu
Fukyugata ichi           view video
Fukyugata ni             view video
Pinan Shodan            view video
Pinan Nidan
Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yondan
Pinan Godan
Naihanchi Shodan
Naihanchi Nidan
Naihanchi Sandan
Ananku                               view video
Tomari Wankan
Tomari Rohai
Wanshu
Tomari Passai
Gojushiho
Tomari Chinto
Chatan Yara no Kusanku
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Seiken     [Fore-fist]
Clench all four fingers tightly into the palm of the hand. Clamp the thumb down onto  the forefinger and the middle finger and keep the wrist straight.
Striking area: The knuckles of the forefinger and middle finger.
Nukite     [Spear-hand thrust]
The fingers are extended and tightened together.
Striking area: The end of the fingers.
Uraken-uchi     [Back fist]

Formed in the same manner as Seiken. During execution of the back fist the arm and fist are kept tight but the wrist flexes to strike with a snap.
Striking area: The knuckles of the forefinger and middle finger.
Kentsui-uchi     [Hammer-fist strike]
Formed in the same manner as Seiken. Executed by making a snapping motion with the forearm.
Striking area: The thick area at the base of the little finger side of the hand. ( The same striking area as Shuto-uchi.)
Shuto-uchi      [Knife-hand strike]
The fingers are extened and tightened together, fold and tighten the thumb into the palm.
It can be used with the palm up or the palm down.
Striking area: The side of the hand beneath the little finger,  the thicker part of the hand close to the wrist.
Haito-uchi     [Reverse knife-hand strike]
The fingers are extened and tightened together, fold and tighten the thumb into the palm. Inthe same way as Shuto-uchi.
It can be used with the palm up or the palm down.
Striking area: The ridge of the hand just infront of the thumb
Shotei-ate     [Palm-heel smash]
Open the hand and bend the wrist backwards until the palm is tensed and hard.
Striking area: The muscle pad of the palm just below the wrist.
Koken uke    [Wrist block]
The wrist is bent down as fully as possible.
Striking area: Bent wrist area.
Hiji-ate     [Elbow smash]
Striking area: The tip of the elbow and that area
just forward on the upper arm.
Seiken-ude-uke     [Forearm block]
Used in conjunction with Seiken.
Blocking area: Both sides of the forearm.
Josokutei     [Ball of the foot]
The toes are pulled back.
Striking area: Ball of the foot.
Tsumasaki     [Tips of the toes]
The second toe is positioned on top of the big toe.
Striking area: The tips of the toes.
Sokko     [Instep]
The toes are pointed down.
Striking area: The top of the foot (instep) from toes to ankle.
Sokuto     [Foot edge]
The foot is held at 90 degrees to the leg.
Striking area: The outer edge of the foot.
Kakato     [Heel]
Striking area: The bottom of the heel
Teisoku     [Arch of the foot]
Striking area: The bottom of the foot, inside arch, from ball of foot to the begining of the heel.
Shi-zuki    [Beak thrust]
The fingers and thumb are pressed tightly together.
Striking area: The point formed by the fingers.
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Hiza-ate     [Knee smash]
Striking area: The top point of the knee
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  1. Karate training begins and ends with courtesy. We must purify our minds and be mentally and physically prepared.
  2. Respect the dojo and its instructors.
  3. Show humanity and dignity to fellow students.
  4. Cultivate the power of perseverance by strengthening your body and overcoming the difficulties that arise during training.
  5. The dojo is the place  where courage is fostered and superior human nature is bred through the ecstasy of sweating and hard work. It is the sacred place where the human spirit is polished.
  6. Always keep yourself clean. Always keep karate dogi clean. Help keep dojo clean. Be well versed in the "Precepts for mastering karate-do".
  7. Always bow on entering the dojo with the words: konnichi wa (good evening,during daylight) or konbonwa (good evening, after daylight). On leaving, bow with the word sayonara (goodbye).
  • I cannot develop my own potentialities when in the trap of self limitation.
  • If my opponent trains three times I must train six.
  • Do not be dependant on others for your improvement.
  • Earnestly cultivate your mind as well as your body.
  • He is human and so am I.
  • Karatedo may be referred to as:                                                                                                 
        The conflict with yourself.
        It can only be won through self discipline, hard training and your own creative efforts.               
Copyright ©  Okinawa Shorin Ryu New Zealand.                                  Top
Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters.
Author: Shoshin Nagamine
(translated by Patrick McCarthy)
Tuttle Publishing        ISBN 0-8048-2089-9
Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters.
Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters
features accurate historical accounts, as well as popular legends, of many great masters of karate and tegumi (okinawan wrestling), including: Ankichi Arakaki, Gichin Funakoshi, Kanryo Higaonna,
Anko Itsou, Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu.
The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do.
Author: Shoshin Nagamine
Tuttle Publishing        ISBN 0-8048-2110-0
A rich source on the technique and philosophy of traditional Okinawan Karate. This book presents the teachings of legendary karate master Shoshin Nagamine, world famous as the founder of the Matsubayashi ryu school of Shorin Ryu karate. First published in 1976, this timeless work has long been a treasured reference source for martial artists around the world.
Students of
Matsubayashi ryu karatedo
are encouraged to read these books.
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