KYOJU YOKU
The original Shito Ryu curriculum as devised by Mabuni Kenwa in the late 1920's is presented below. This curriculum remained unknown to the general public until 1995 when Mabuni Kenzo presented it to his newly acquired students during his month long stay in New York and Massachusetts. With the invaluable assistance of a Japanese student attending the University of New York at Albany, and members of the US Shihan-Kai, the translation of the contents of the curriculum into English, as accurately and meaningful as possible, is contained below.
Hand & Foot Weapons |
Stances |
Thrusting Techniques |
Striking Techniques |
Leg Techniques Upper Level Blocking |
Middle Level Blocking |
Lower Level Blocking |
Special Training Concepts
Hand and Foot Weapons
Seiken Knuckle (fore) fist Dai Ken To Large knuckles of hand Sho Ken To Second knuckles of hand Kentsui Hammerfist Uraken Backfist Nukite Spearhand Shuto Sword (knife) hand Shotei Palm heel Ippon Ken One knuckle, one point fist Shuho Mountain hand (back two knuckles of a peaked hand) Haito Inverted sword hand (ridge hand) Yubi Hasami Thumb and forefinger scissors Hira Basami Full hand scissors Kote Back of hand/forearm Koken or Ko Wrist Hiji Elbow Hiza Knee Kakato Back of heel Haisoku Instep Josokutei Ball of foot Kasokutei Heel Sokuto Outer edge of foot
Stances
Heisoku Dachi Feet together, close-toed stance Musubi Dachi Feet together, open-toed stance Heiko Dachi Parallel stance Hajichi Dachi Outer figure eight stance Naihanchin Dachi Inner figure eight stance Shiko Dachi Sumo (side facing, square) stance Moto Dachi Forward parallel stance Zenkutsu Dachi Forward (long) stance Sanchin Dachi Inward tension stance (Hour glass stance) Kokutsu Dachi Back (bent leg) stance Nekoashi Dachi Cat feet stance Renoji Dachi Tilted 'V' stance (standing cat stance) Kosa Dachi Crossed leg stance Sagiashi Dachi Crane stance
Thrusting Techniques
Seiken Tsuki Forefist thrust Tateken Tsuki Vertical forefist thrust Uraken Tsuki Inverted forefist thrust Hiraken Tsuki Four knuckle thrust (leopard punch) Morote Tsuki Two arm, two level thrust Age Tsuki Rising thrust Furi Tsuki Round house thrust Wa Tsuki Two arm, horizontal circle thrust Ipponken One knuckle thrust Nukite Spear hand Kagi Tsuki Hook punch
Striking Techniques
Shuto Uchi Sword hand (knife edge) strike Kentsui Uchi Bottom fist strike (hammer fist) Uraken Uchi Back knuckle strike Haito Inverted sword hand (ridge hand) Shuho Mountain hand (back knuckles of a peaked hand) Hijiate Elbow smash
Leg Techniques
Heisoku Geri Instep kick Chudan Geri Ball of foot forward, middle area kick Jodan Geri Ball of foot forward, upper area kick Hiza Geri Knee kick Fumioroshi or Fumikomi Geri Toe stomping kick Sokuto Geri Side, knife edge, lower area kick Yoko Geri Side, knife edge, middle area kick Mawashi Geri Roundhouse, instep, middle area kick Kakato Geri Heel back rising kick Hizagaeshi Knee sweeping across kick Josokutei Ball of the foot Kasokutei Heel of the foot
Upper Level Blocking Techniques
Age Uke Rising block Yoko Uchi Forearm inward block Uchiotoshi Inside out circle forearm drop block Yoko Barai Forearm outward side parry Wa Uke Two arm circle block Tsuki Uke Thrust block Kosa Uke Crossed arms block Kote Uke Back of hand block Sashite Inward sweeping palm block Kara Uke Empty or Void block Ko Uke Wrist block Kuri Uke Inside out, circle block with knife edge of hand
Middle Level Blocking Techniques
Yoko Uke Forearm outward side block Harai Uke Middle area downward parry Wa Uke Two arm circular block Kosa Uke Crossed arms block (palms downward) Ninoude Uke Back of forearm inward block Shotei Barai Palm heel block Gassho Uke Praying hands block Ura Uke Inverted block (small circle with wrist) Kensasae Uke Two hand outward block, support at fist Kakete Hooking hand block Hiji Uke Elbow block Nagashi Uke Inward palm sweeping block Sukui Uke Scooping block Shuto Uke Sword hand block Hijisasae Uke Two hand outward block, closed fist at elbow Kakiwake Wedge block Osae Uke Press block Mawashi Uke Circular block
Lower Level Blocking Techniques
Harai Uke Downward block (standing) Gedan Barai Downward parry (deep stances) Shuto Barai Sword hand parry Ryote Sukui Uke Two hand scooping block Katate Sukui Uke One hand scooping block Furisute Scoop and throw block Wa Uke Two arm circular block Sukuidome Scoop and catch block Kosa Uke Crossed arms block Hizagaeshi Knee sweeping across block
Special Training Concepts of Shito Ryu Karate
1. Tenshin Happo (Eight Directions of Response)
2. Hijiate Goho
Five Direction Elbow Strike Exercise
3. Tenpo Gosoku no Ho (Five Methods of Body Shifting)
Deasi Stepping straight in Hikiashi Stepping straight back Yoriashi Shuffling Mawariashi Spinning Tobiashi Jumping/springing
4. Uke no Gogensoku (Five Methods of Defense)
Rakka Pulling or moving the attack downward Ryusui Moving the attack to the side Teni Body shifting away from the attack Kusshin Lowering the center of gravity Hangeki Meeting the attack with a counterattack
5. Kumite (Engaging techniques with a partner)
Kihon Kumite (Basic Kumite)
Ippon Single attack, one step Nihon Two predefined attacks, one step Sanbon Three predefined attacks, one step Hukushiki Walking attacks Kumite Kata Practicing applications of kata
Oyo Kumite (Application)
Hokei Four attackers Mawari Circle of attackers Jiyu Ippon Free style, one step Jiyu Free style
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