Student Handbook. Sensei Norm Robitza, 4 th Dan (902) (902)

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1 Student Handbook Sensei Norm Robitza, 4 th Dan (902) (902) norm.robitza@bellaliant.net

2 Leading the way in the 21st Century! Calling Mt. A home since 2002 Keeping the tradition alive!

3 You're probably wondering just what you got your child into. This booklet should explain a few things and give you some idea what is required of you and your child. It will also answer some commonly asked questions even before you ask. To begin with, this is a traditional shotokan karate school. Shotokan karate was developed in Okinawa, a group of islands to the south of Japan. Gichin Funakoshi introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in He's one of the men whose picture will be at the front of the training hall. It is important that we maintain the cultural aspects of karate both in the way we train and in the way we behave when at the dojo. Here are some of the things that your child will be asked to do. o Always bow when entering and leaving the dojo. o Always address the instructor as Sensei. o Never chew gum or wear jewellery when training. Long hair should be tied back and away from the face. o Ensure that your gi or karate uniform is clean and wrinkle free at the start of each class. o Keep your voice down while talking outside of the dojo area. PARENTS INFORMATION Page 1 Karate is definitely not a crash course in self defence technique. Karate is a life long training program. This is a life style that will help your child become a confident, strong person. For the first couple of years they will be learning mostly kihon or basics. These are the basic moves which form the foundation of karate so it is important that they are mastered early on. Having good basics generally leads to doing great karate. In addition to the basics techniques used in kumite or sparring, your training will include kata which involves performing a prescribed series of karate moves designed to fend off imaginary opponents. There are twenty-six different kata to learn but only the first five or so in the first couple years training. A good deal of karate training will involve working with partners in class. The object of working with a partner is to learn and practice the application of the basic karate techniques. Since both partners stand to learn something from each and every exercise, it is important to work WITH the partner rather than against him/her. Different body types lend themselves to different degrees of flexibility and it is important that we both recognize and challenge our limitations. The first few minutes of every class is committed to warm up and stretching exercises. o Avoid yawning, leaning against the walls, or standing with your arms crossed or hands on your hips while inside the dojo area. o Try hard when training. o Try to train regularly. There is a minimum class requirement to test for your next belt. We are fortunate to have Black belts training in our organization. Part of their responsibility as a black belt is to set an example of good karate spirit and attitude. If you have any questions concerning training or even just general questions about dojo protocol, do not be shy to ask any of them for assistance outside of class time. Here's hoping that your will enjoy training karate at the dojo and that they will train hard and benefit as a member of our club.

4 Page 2 WHAT IS KARATE Karate (pronounced Ka Ra Tae) was created a very long time ago on a small island off the coast of Japan called Okinawa. In the early 1900 s, an elementary school teacher named Gichin Funakoshi was invited to go to Tokyo, Japan and demonstrate karate techniques to the Japanese Emperor. Master Funakoshi never went back to Okinawa. Instead, he stayed in Japan and taught karate. He is known as the Father of Modern Karate. It is form his nickname that we get the name of our style of karate. Shotokan means Pine Wave s School and was originally the name given to his first dojo in Japan. Shoto was the name that Master Funakoshi used to write poems. Table of Contents Parents Information 1 What is Karate 2 Karate Rules 3 Karate Gi & Shotokan Tiger 4 Grading System 5 IKD Kyu & Dan Kata Overview 7 Shotokan Katas 8 Opening & Closing Ceremonies 9 Dojo Kun & Niju Kun 10 Suggested Reading & Viewing 13 Profiles & Lineage 14 Terminology 16

5 Page 3 KARATE RULES Sensei: Always refer to your instructor as Sensei. Sempai: Senior belts are referred to as sempai. Conduct Within Dojo: A. Training: Everyone must train both the body and mind. Always give 100%. Pay attention to instruction. B. Entering and Exiting the Dojo: When entering or exiting the Dojo one must always bow. C. Waiting off to the Side During Class: If you are waiting off to the side, do not talk among yourselves or lean against the wall. Listen to what is being taught. When sitting, drop to a kneeling position for a few seconds first; then relax and cross your legs. If you are standing off to the side and are called upon; bow and move to a ready position. Never wander aimlessly about. D. Working with a Partner: Everyone must treat his/her partner with respect. Always challenge your partner to work harder. E. Questioning: Do not question the Sensei/ sempai during class unless asked. Save any questions for the right time. When approaching a senior belt, sempai, or Sensei; bow and call them Sensei or Sempai. When finished bow and thank them for their time. F. Talking: When waiting for class to begin, talking must be quiet and kept to a minimum. When a class is saying the Dojo Kun there is to be no talking. Once in class and training, there is to be no talking unless called upon by the Sensei/ sempai. G. Bowing: When bowing, bring your heels together and point your toes in a "V" position. Place the palms of your hands at the sides of your thighs. Bow only a little and keeping your back straight. As you bow, your eyes must follow you bow. Never stare into your partners eyes as you bow. This shows disrespect and distrust. H. Line up: When lining up, each person is to stand shoulder to shoulder with the person to their left. The line is to be as straight as possible. I. Coming Late: Being on time is part of the self-discipline, arriving late for class should be avoided if possible. If you are late, kneel at the entrance of the dojo and bow. This demonstrates respect. Wait until the instructor gives you permission before entering. When you enter walk behind the class and position yourself at the far end to not disturb the rest of the class. J. Glasses: Any student that wears glasses are asked to remove them for sparring. This is to ensure they are not broken if an accident occurs. It is recommended that you obtain contacts. Purchase KARATE THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE for PC on DVD. Shotokan Karate history, Kata videos, karate books and feature films. Ask your instructor for information. $2

6 Page 4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE KARATE GI When you first come to class, you will notice that the students are all dressed in the same white gi. You will notice that there are no names plastered on the back or arms. There uniform is plain white with only the organization s crest sewn on the front. The gi is loose to allow you to move and it is made in a way to make it very strong. The belt, or obi, is tied around the waist is a way to help you with your training. It is a guide and a tool for many things. You will learn more as we train. The white gi is a symbol of purity of spirit, modesty and cleanliness. Modesty and humility, that is what is taught and that is what is practised. Ask Sensei about tying your belt and how to look after your gi. SHOTOKAN TIGER Gichin Funakoshi's pen name "Shoto" literally means 'pine waves'. Shoto is also connected to the tiger. When Gichin Funakoshi was a young man, he liked to walking in the forest near his home. After a hard day of teaching in the local school and several more hours of karate, he would walk up Mount Torao and rest among the pine trees. Mount Torao is a very narrow, heavily wooded mountain which, when viewed from a distance, looks like a tiger's tail. The name "Torao" means "tiger's tail". Funakoshi said that the wind blowing through the pines made the trees whisper like waves crashing on the beach. He would write his poems there and chose the pen name of Shoto, "pine waves". The tiger which is used as the symbol for Shotokan karate is a Chinese symbol that means "the tiger never sleeps".

7 Page 5 The first things you will notice when watching a class is that there are many different colored belts. The color of each belt shows to the level of the student wearing it. Everyone begins wearing a white belt. THE GRADING SYSTEM From white they progress through the levels. We use the term kyu to refer to the colored belts and dan to refer to black belts. Examinations are held 3 times a year and may require some travelling. The examiners have to complete a course and maintain their license to be able to award ranks. At each grading there will also be a special training clinic prior to the grading. Everyone that plans on grading must attend this clinic. Belt Color Rank Training Time* Black Belt Ranks Training Years White 10th Kyu 1st Dan 1 year after 1st Kyu Yellow Stripe 9th Kyu 3-4 months (Youth) 2nd Dan 1-2 years after Shodan Yellow 8th Kyu 3-4 months 3rd Dan 2-3 years after Nidan Orange 7th Kyu 6 months or more 4th Dan 3 years after Sandan Green 6th Kyu 9 months or more 5th Dan 4 years after Yondan Blue 5th Kyu 12 months or more 6th Dan 5 years after Godan Purple 4th Kyu 15 months or more 7th Dan** 6 years after Rokudan Brown (1st) 3rd Kyu 18 months or more 8th Dan 7 years after Shichidan Brown (2nd) 2nd Kyu 21 months or more 9th Dan*** 9 years after Hachidan Browm (3rd) 1st Kyu 24 months or more 10th Dan**** 10 years after Kyudan * - Min. of 24 classes (30 for brown belts) ** - Comes with the title of Shihan (Master) *** - IKD Vice Chief Instructors only. **** - IKD Chief Instructor only. NOTE: In kyu exams there are a and b grades. Both represent a passing mark but a b grade signifies that a little more preparation was required.

8 Page 6 GRADING RESULTS It seems that there is some confusion surrounding the issue of grading results. The question often arises "why did I get a B grade?" or "why did I not pass my shodan exam?". Passing a karate exam is not all about getting the movements right. There is a much bigger part that an examiner is looking for. ATTITUDE!!! Attitude can be shown in how you act in the classes and at the grading. You show respect and work hard and you will progress. We all make mistakes and these will be looked at during your grading but if you work past your mistakes, you will grow into a great karate student. When Sensei Norm was preparing for his Nidan (2nd Black Belt) test, he felt that it would be an easy test and didn t focus as hard as he did for his 1st Black Belt test. There was something different in his attitude. The first time he tested, he was a little disappointed in his performance during the test. He got nervous before the exam and hoped he could do his best. He did not pass because he did not show the right spirit. The second time, he knew he could perform well. He was calm and confident in doing the best I could at that time. After the exam, before the results were given, He really didn't care whether he passed or failed. He had prepared to the best of his ability. Fortunately He passed. The point is that unless you are pushed and sometimes fail you will not have the chance to experience real improvement. So if you receive a 'B' grade or are asked to re-examine for a dan test, take it as an opportunity to prepare better and turn it into a positive experience. You will become a better person and a better karate-ka because of it. By the way, examinations are getting more difficult. More 'B' grades, especially at 6 kyu to 1 kyu levels, are being given. It seems that a full pass is more the exception than the rule. Many people do not pass dan exams the first time. My advice is to train harder and train smarter. Attend as many classes and seminars as you can from senior instructors. Remember it is not enough to be fast and strong. Subtleties in technique and precision in movement are just as important to be successful in examinations.

9 Page 7 IKD GRADING REQUIREMENTS The IKD has released a manual containing information on grading requirements. Each official IKD instructor has a copy of this manual. If you wish to view the manual, there is a digital copy available in the Information section on the IKD website at or you may ask your instructor to view the hard copy of the manual. IKD KYU AND DAN KATA OVERVIEW Kyu Ranks Shodan Nidan Sandan Yondan Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan (Bassai-Dai) Tekki Nidan Bassai-Dai Kanku-Dai Enpi Jion Tekki Sandan Jutte Gankaku Kanku-sho Nijushiho Hangetsu Bassai-Sho Chinte Sochin Unsu Gojushiho-Sho Gojushiho-Dai Meikyo Wankan Jiin 9th to 1st Kyu: One kata from Group 1 as determined by rank. Shodan: One kata from Group 2, plus one kata from group 1. Nidan: One kata from Group 3, plus one kata from group 2. Sandan: One kata from Group 4, plus one kata from group 3. Yondan: One kata from Group 5, plus one kata from group 4. Godan: Two kata: One major kata from Group 2 to 5, and one minor kata from Group 1 to 5. Not necessary shorin and shorei. However, bunkai must be applied to one kata in 'real time' with only slight deviation from the actual kata technique. Examination point: Ability to use kata techniques effectively with a high level of distance, power, speed and sharpness. This syllabus allows learning and development of all kata, not just one kata. It may encourage shodan(s) and above to continue their training by provide additional kata learning between exams.

10 Page 8 SHOTOKAN KATAS Kata Meaning School* Moves Time Heian Shodan Peaceful Mind Shorin 21 0:30 Heian Nidan Peaceful Mind Shorin 28 0:30 Heian Sandan Peaceful Mind Shorin 24 0:30 Heian Yondan Peaceful Mind Shorin 26 0:45 Heian Godan Peaceful Mind Shorin 27 0:40 Tekki Shodan Iron Horse/Sideways Fighting Shorei 25 0:35 Tekki Nidan Iron Horse/Sideways Fighting Shorei 24 0:40 Tekki Sandan Iron Horse/Sideways Fighting Shorei 33 0:30 Jion Temple Sound Shorei 46 1:15 Empi Flying Swallow Shorin 39 1:15 Kanku-Dai To View the Sky (Major) Shorin 65 1:35 Bassai-Dai To Penetrate a Fortress (Major) Shorin 42 1:10 Jitte 10 Hands/Temple Hands Shorei 27 0:50 Hangetsu Half Moon Shorei 32 1:35 Gankaku Crane on a Rock Shorin 37 1:10 Kanku-Sho To View the Sky (Minor) Shorin 39 1:15 Bassai-Sho To Penetrate a Fortress (Minor) Shorin 28 1:00 Ji'in Temple Ground Shorei 36 0:55 Wankan Crown of a King Shorin 16 0:35 Meiyko Polished Mirror/Mirror of the Soul Shorei 34 1:10 Nijushiho The 24 Steps Shorin 24 1:00 Sochin Immovable/To Preserve Peace Shorei 36 1:05 Chinte Winning Hand/Strange Hand Shorin 34 1:25 Unsu Parting Clouds Shorin 37 1:15 Gojushiho-Dai The 54 Steps (Major) Shorin 54 1:55 Gojushiho-Sho The 54 Steps (Minor) Shorin 54 1:55 * Shotokan katas come from either the Shorin-ryu (Shorin School) or the Shorei-ryu (Shorei School). The Shorin School emphasizes very light, quick movements, with rapid motions to the front and the back. The Shorei School emphasizes development of physical strength and muscular power. It is vital to know which school a kata comes from; otherwise the kata cannot be performed properly.

11 Page 9 OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES Bow In Bow Out 1. Shugo - line up. 2. Sensei kneels. 3. Seiza - called by sempai - everyone kneels. 4. Mokuso - meditate, clear one's mind and prepare for the karate class. 5. Yame - called after a brief period of meditation. 6. Shomen Ni-Rei - Bow to front of class. 7. Sensei turns around and faces class. 8. Sensei Ni-Rei* - Bow to Sensei. 9. Sensei will signal student to rise and class will begin. 1. Shugo - line up. 2. Sensei kneels. 3. Seiza - called by sempai - everyone kneels. 4. Mokuso - meditate, clear one's mind and prepare for the karate class. 5. Yame - called after a brief period of meditation. 6. Dojo Kun - called by sempai and repeated by all students. 7. Shomen Ni-Rei - Bow to front of class. 8. Sensei turns around and faces class. 9. Sensei Ni-Rei* - Bow to Sensei. 10. Thank you, Sensei - class thanks together. 11. Sensei will signal student to rise, everyone bows, and announcements, if any, will be made. 12. After announcements, everyone bows to the front and stands still until higher belts levels walk away from the line up. Belt levels leave in order of rank. (* The use of the term Sensei in Sensei Ni-Rei may change depending on who is teaching the class. If an assistant is teaching the class, Sempai Ni-Rei will be used or if a Master is teaching the class, Shihan Ni-Rei will be used. When Master Frank Woon-A-Tai is teaching, Shuseki Shihan Ni-Rei is required.)

12 Page 10 DOJO KUN At the end of each class we say the Dojo Kun or Dojo Oath. It is said to have originated with an Okinawan Karate Master known as Karate Sakugawa ( ). They state the following Maxims: (1) Seek perfection of character, (2) Be faithful, (3) Endeavour, (4) Respect others, and (5) Refrain from violent behaviour. According to karate tradition these are the rules by which a karate-ka is supposed to live. The first, Seek perfection of character, means that you will train your mind and body to become a better person. You will work hard to gain confidence and believe in yourself. To Be faithful, means that you will show respect and faith in your seniors ranks, parents, teachers and friends. Karate was created by a group of men that were loyal to a King. They were know as Samurai or the Japanese version of a Knight. They were faith to their Master. Endeavour means to work hard. No matter if you don t think you can do it or not. The harder you work, the better you will become in both karate and everyday life. Respect for others is very important in karate. You must respect your instructors, seniors and fellow students. But you must also respect your parents, teachers and friends. All people crave respect and you will not receive it unless you are able to give it. In Japan, a sign of respect is the bow. Bowing is a very important part of training. We bow when we enter the training hall. At the beginning of class, students and instructors line up, kneel and meditate. They bow to the memory of past Masters and then to one another from the kneeling position. This continues throughout the training session. Whenever an exercise, drill or kata that uses two people or more is performed, it always begins and ends with a bow. Additionally, the bowing ceremony is repeated at the end of training after a closing period of meditation. It is the responsibility of all karate students to Refrain from violent behaviour since a trained fighter can cause serious harm upon others. The goal of Karate training is selfdiscipline. We are teaching you techniques that can cause a lot of harm to others but we do not want you fighting. Karate it designed to never be used. Master Funakoshi used is karate techniques twice in his entire life and felt horrible about doing so. In the present day, refraining from violence is hard to explain to Westerners. Many people take up the art of Karate with the purpose in mind of hurting others and they wish to learn how to do so as quickly as possible. It is therefore necessary for instructors to remember the Dojo Kun and to impress it upon their students. The Japan Karate Association has shortened the Dojo Kun and labelled it as their Five Guiding Maxims. In abbreviated form they are Character, Sincerity, Effort, Etiquette, and Self Control.

13 Page 11 Calligraphy by T. Okazaki Japanese HITOTSU! JINKAKU KANSEI NI TSUTOMURU KOTO! HITOTSU! MAKOTO NO MICHI O MAMORU KOTO! HITOTSU! DORYOKU NO SEICHIN O YASHINAU KOTO! HITOTSU! REIGI O OMONZURU KOTO! HITOTSU! KEKKI NO YU O IMASHIMURU KOTO! English SEEK PERFECTION OF CHARACTER! BE FAITHFUL! ENDEAVOUR! RESPECT OTHERS! REFRAIN FROM VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR! Perfection of Character by Teruyuki Okazaki Perfection of Character is an in depth look at Master Funakoshi s Dojo and Niju Kun. Teruyuki Okazaki is the Chief Instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation and trained directly with Gichin Funakoshi. This is a great book!

14 Page 12 NIJU KUN 1. Do not forget that Karate begins with a bow and finishes with a bow Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto o wasureruna 2. In karate, never attack first Karate ni sente nashi 3. One who practices karate must follow the way of justice Karate wa gi no tasuke 4. Know yourself first, then you can know others Mazu jiko o shire, shikoshite ta o shire 5. Spirit and mind are more important than technique Gijutsu yori shinjutsu 6. Be ready to release your mind Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu 7. Misfortune comes out of idleness Waza wai ketai ni seizu 8. Don't think that what you learn in karate can't be used outside the dojo Dojo nomino karate to omouna 9. It will take all of your life to learn karate Karate no shugyo wa issho 10. Put karate into your everyday living; that is how to see its true beauty Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; soko ni myomi ari 11. Karate is just like hot water; if you do not give it continuous heat, it will become cold Karate wa yu no gotoshi taezu netsu o ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru 12. Do not cling to the idea of winning; it is the idea of not losing that is necessary Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo 13. Move according to your opponent Teki ni yotte tenka seyo 14. In conflict, you must discern the vulnerable from the invulnerable points Tatakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari 15. Consider your opponent's legs and arms as you would lethal swords Hito no te-ashi o ken to omoe 16. Be aware at all times that you have milliions of potential opponents Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari 17. Postured stance is for beginners; later comes naturalness - Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizen-tai 18. Kata is about correct and proper form; engaging in a real fight is something else Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono 19. Do not forget: 1) strength and weakness of power; 2) contraction and expansion of body; and 3) rhythm of techniques Chikara no kyojaku, tai no shinshuku, waza no kankyu o wasureruna 20. Always create and devise Tsune ni shinen kufu seyo Visit Senshin: The Enlightened Mind. This martial arts blog is written by Sensei Robitza. Sensei talks about everything from health, history, philosophy and training. He also does martial arts book and film reviews.

15 Page 13 SUGGESTED READING & VIEWING Suggested Reading List Karate-Do Kyohan - Gichin Funakoshi Karate-Do Nyumon - Gichin Funakoshi Karate-Do: My Way of Life - Gichin Funakoshi The Essence of Karate - Gichin Funakoshi Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate - Gichin Funakoshi Dynamic Karate - Masatoshi Nakayama Best Karate series - Masatoshi Nakayama Practical Karate series - Masatoshi Nakayama Textbook of Modern Karate - Teruyuki Okazaki Perfection of Character - Teruyuki Okazaki Mind and Body Like Bullet - Yaguchi Karate: The Art of Empty Hand Fighting - Hidetaka Nishiyama Moving Zen: Karate as a Way to Gentleness - CW Nicol Shotokan Myths - Kousaku Yokota Living the Martial Way - Forrest Morgan Complete Shotokan Karate - Robin Reilly Shotokan Secrets - Bruce Clayton Against All Odds: My Story - Chuck Norris Suggested Video List Nakayama s Legacy series - Masatoshi Nakayama The Eclipse of Life - Frank Woon-A-Tai The Soul of Kata - Frank Woon-A-Tai MasterClass Shotokan: The Legacy of a Master - Teruyuki Okazaki Budo No Mushin (Empty Mind) - Multiple styles and Masters Empty Hand: The Real Karate Kids - follows teens preparing for the USA Nationals Featured Film List Original Karate Kid series - Not Shotokan Karate but the very inspirational. High Kick Girl - Shotokan Karate experts star in film Karate Girl - Shotokan Karate experts star in film Kuro Obi (Black Belt) - Shotokan Karate experts star in film Mind and Body Like Bullet by Yutaka Yaguchi Mind and Body Like Bullet is look at a great karate master s life. Read about the difficulties a Japanese Master went through when they came to North America. Ask your instructor about purchasing a copy.

16 Page 14 PROFILES & LINEAGE Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi founder of modern karate-do, was born in 1868 in Okinawa. In 1922 he introduced karate to Japan where he remained until his death in Master Funakoshi chose the character Kara (empty) and Te (hand) for its meaning in Zen philosophy, rendering oneself empty of selfish or negative thought; for only with a clear mind, free from the emotions of fear or anxiety can the karate student achieve what he desires. To Master Funakoshi karate-do was not just a fighting art. It was a way of building character. Indeed, it was a way of life. Grand Master M. Nakayama was born in Japan in 1913 and began training under Master Funakoshi in In 1955 he was appointed Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association. In addition to serving as both Professor and Director of Physical Education at Tokushoku University, Master Nakayama authored over twenty karate books and has also directed several karate training videos. As the world's highest authority on Shotokan Karate, Master Nakayama pioneered the introduction of karate all over the world and fostered its development as a sport along scientific lines. Master Nakayama passed away in Shuseki Shihan F. Woon-A-Tai, 9 th Dan, was born in Guyana in He began training when he was 14 years old. Master Woon-A-Tai has trained under some of the greatest instructors in Shotokan karate. He listed Nakayama, Nishiyama, Okazaki, and Yaguchi among his instructors. Master Woon-A-Tai has served as the Chairman of the ISKF Canada and as the Co-Vice Chair of the ISKF Technical Committee. Master Woon-A-Tai left the International Shotokan Karate Federation in 2011 to start the International Karate Daigaku. Shihan David Pyke, 7 th Dan, started training in 1980 at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. He along with his wife, Janice 6 th Dan, operate the Amherst Shotokan Karate Academy in Amherst, NS. Shihan Pyke has competed at several events around the World and is a very accomplished martial artist. Shihan Pyke is the Chief Instructor of the Maritime IKD and a member of the Shihan-Kai of the IKD. Sensei Norman Robitza, 4 th Dan, was born in Halifax, NS in Sensei Robitza brought Shotokan back to Mount A after a ten year absence in Much like Shihan Pyke and Shuseki Shihan Woon-A-Tai, Sensei Robitza's family is involved in the Shotokan Karate. His wife, Jolene is a Nidan and daughter, Katilyn is a Shodan. Sensei Robitza is on the Maritime IKD Board of Directors and is the Webmaster for the IKD, the Maritime IKD, the Mount A IKD and writes a martial arts blog, Senshin: The Enlightened Mind. In 2013, Sensei Robitza received his 4 th Dan at the Canada Cup held in Dieppe, NB. He also earned a National Referee License and won a Bronze Medal in Team Kumite. Sensei Robitza is a former Maritime IKD Champion in kata and kumite and holds and IKD Instructor License.

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18 Page 15 JAPANESE TERMINALOGY This section outlines some of the Japanese terms heard during class and when discussing topics related to Shotokan Karate and other martial arts. Stances: Shizen-tai - Natural Stance Heisoku-dachi - Closed Stance Zenkutsu-dachi - Forward Stance Kokutsu-dachi - Back Stance Kiba-dachi - Horse Riding Stance Fudo-dachi - Ready Stance Neko-ashi-dachi - Cat Stance Strikes: Maete-zusuki - Jab Gyaku-zuki - Reverse Punch Oizuki - Stepping Punch Uraken - Back Fist Nukite - Piercing Hand Blocks: Gedan-barai - Down Block Uchi-uke - Inside Block Soto-uke- Outside Block Age-uke- Rising Block Shuto-uke - Knife Hand Block Kicks: Mae-geri - Front Kick Yoko-geri - Side Kick Mawashi-geri - Round House Kick - bunkai - The application of the technique, a description of the realworld scenario around which the kata is formed. - Dan - Black Belts from 1 to 10 - hajime - start increasing the speed through the strike, then letting the intensity slow again. - keiko-gi - the jacket (top half) of the uniform - Ki - spirit or presence - Kumite - sparring - Kyu - student grade, from 10 up to 1 where 1 is the highest - ma-ai - the distance between combatants - metsuke - one's gaze or look. - mo ichido - one more time - mokuso - meditate - Otagai ni rei - bow to each other - rei - bow - reigi - etiquette - reiho - etiquette, method of bowing - ritsu rei - standing bow - seiza - kneeling - shomen - the front of the dojo, also the front of the head, as in shomen uchi - shomen ni rei - bow to front of the dojo - jo-ha-kyu - the concept of rhythm within the kata. Jo-ha-kyu is expressed as slow-to-fast-to-slow movement. Strikes should exhibit a build up of intensity and speed, slowly starting the technique and We accept youth ages 8 years and up.

19 Page 16 CLOTHING LINE We have two different clothing accounts. One is for the Old Style logo, the one on the left. The other is for more recent logos and other designs. Here are samples of the designs. Some of the newer designs may not yet be available. Visit for more details. We will have a Shotokan Kids clothing account soon. T-Shirts, Hats, hoodies and much more.

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