Your Resources

This page contains lessons and information required by those who have achieved their 8th kyu one green stripe and are progressing towards their second green stripe. The material below is much of what you will need to know for your next grading. You are encouraged to keep practicing all your kata and drills regularly.

Gekisai Sho

This kata is required to achieve your 7th kyu or Blue Belt with 2 green stripes. This kata is similiar in form to Gekisai dai but focuses on short stances and blocking techniques well suited to defence at close range. Like Gekisai dai, it was developed by Chogun Miyagi in the 1940’s to offer simplified kata designed to consolidate basic techniques.

GEKISAI DAI

The name of this kata means “Big Break” and this refers to the large nature of the techniques it teaches. It was developed by Chojun Miyagi who felt that more advanced kata were too difficult to learn for beginners.

Tenshin Ho

The basic movements in Tenshin Ho help develop skills in the 4 main blocks in combination with middle punches and shifting forwards, backwards and sideways .

Kihon

Kihon is a Japanese word meaning "basics" or "fundamentals. The practice and mastery of kihon is essential for both beginners and advanced students.

How to Tie Your Belt

Karate Stances

  • Seiza - Formal kneeling position

  • Heisoku dachi - Inside of feet together

  • Musubi dachi - Heels touching toes apart

  • Heiko dachi - Feet side by side and parallel - shoulder width stance

  • Kiba dachi - Feetside by side - toes out slightly shoulder width at heels

  • Shiko dachi - Horse riding stance

  • Sanchin dachi - Hour glass stance

  • Zenkutsu dachi - Lunging stance

  • Han zenkutsu dachi - Half lunging stance

  • Neko ashi dachi - Cat stance

  • Renoji dachi - Comes from the Japanese character Renoji (レ )

  • Sesan dachi - Natural walking stance

  • Kosa dachi - Cross over stance (Nufunchi)

  • Fudo Dachi - Back weighted stance similiar to Kiba dachi , but weight is on the rear leg.