SHODAN WRITTEN EXAM Name: Date: Country: Instructor's Name: Part I -- History 1) Who was Ryu Ryu Ko Sensei? a. Founder of Goju-ryu. b. Teacher of Kanryo Higaonna. c. Teacher of Chojun Miyagi. 2) Who was Kanryo Higaonna Sensei? a. Teacher of Chojun Miyagi Sensei b. Founder of Naha-te. c. Both a & b. 3) Who was Chojun Miyagi Sensei? a. Teacher of Ryu Ryu Ko. b. Founder of Goju-ryu karate. c. Teacher of Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. 4) Who is An'ichi Miyagi Sensei? a. Student of Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. b. Teacher of Chojun Miyagi Sensei. c. Successor of Chojun Miyagi Sensei. 5) When did Kanryo Higaonna Sensei live? a. 1850-1925. b. 1853-1915. c. 1859-1917 6) When did Chojun Miyagi Sensei live? a. 1853-1916. b. 1888-1953. c. 1900-1955 7) How many years did Kanryo Higaonna Sensei spend in China? a. 25 years. b. Between 13 and 14 years. c. Between 5 and 10 years. 8) When did Kanryo Higaonna Sensei start to teach karate at a public high school? a. 1905. b. 1910. c. 1912. 9) Why was Kanryo Higaonna Sensei called "Ashi no Higaonna"? a. He was well known for his exceptionally strong legs. b. He was very tall. d. Both a & b. 10) Who was Kanryo Higaonna Sensei's successor? a. Chojun Miyagi Sensei. b. Ryu Ryu Ko Sensei. d. An'ichi Miyagi Sensei. Page 1 of 12
Shodan Written Exam Page 2 of 12 11) What was the martial art form that Kanryo Higaonna Sensei taught called? a. Okinawan Goju-ryu. b. Naha-te. c. Shuri-te. 12) At what age did Chojun Miyagi start training with Kanryo Higaonna Sensei? a. Fourteen. b. Sixteen. c. Twenty. 13) Who was Chojun Miyagi's first karate instructor? a. Kanryo Higaonna. b. Ryu Ryu Ko. c. Ryuko Aragaki. 14) Who introduced Chojun Miyagi to Kanryo Higaonna Sensei? a. Chojun Miyagi's mother. b. Chojun Miyagi's father. c. Ryuko Aragaki Sensei. 15) Who was Ryuko Aragaki Sensei? a. First teacher of Kanryo Higaonna. b. First teacher of Chojun Miyagi. c. Both a and b 16) When did Chojun Miyagi Sensei first go to China? a. In 1915 after Higaonna Kanryo Sensei passed away. b. In 1914 before Higaonna Kanryo Sensei passed away. c. None of the above. 17) What did Chojun Miyagi Sensei find on his visit to Fuzhou, China? a. The site where Ryu-Ryu Ko Sensei's dojo had once been. b. An old man who was a student of Ryu Ryu Ko. c. Both a & b. 18) Which of the katas were created by Chojun Miyagi Sensei? a. Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni. b. Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Tensho and a modified version of Sanchin. c. None of the above. 19) What forms of training did Chojun Miyagi Sensei create? a. Junbi Undo, a revised Sanchin kata. b. Hojo Undo, Junbi Undo. c. A revised Sanchin kata and Hojo Undo. 20) When was the name Goju-ryu given? a. 1930. b. 1953. c. 1945. 21) What does the name Goju-ryu mean? a. Hard & Soft Style. b. Hard Style. c. Chinese Martial Arts.
Shodan Written Exam Page 3 of 12 22) What was the name Goju-ryu taken from? a. From one of the eight precepts of Chinese kenpo as found in the Chinese classic the Bubushi. b. The name was passed on by Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. c. None of the above. 23) When were the katas Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni created? a. 1940. b. 1950. c. 1925. 24) Who created the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni? a Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. b. Chojun Miyagi Sensei. c. Ryu Ryu Ko Sensei. 25) Which of the Goju-ryu kata did not originate in China? a. Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni b. Sanseru, Sepai, Sesan c. Suparinpei, Saifa, Shisochin 26) The founder of Goju-ryu karate was: a. Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. b. Chojun Miyagi Sensei. c. Ryuko Aragaki Sensei. 27) The name "Bushi" by which people would call Kanryo Higaonna Sensei means: a. A distinguished master of karate. b. A Daimyo. c. None of the above. 28) Kanryo Higaonna Sensei taught and spread the martial art called: a. Naha-te. b. Shuri-te. c. Goju-ryu. 29) Chojun Miyagi Sensei is considered the founder of Goju-ryu because: a. He invented the katas of Goju-ryu. b. He brought Goju-ryu karate to Okinawa from China. c. He systemized the style, named it, and through his efforts it was recognized as a martial art by the Japanese Butokukai. 30) Who was Bodhidharma? a. A Buddhist monk who lived in the 6th century and is regarded as the patriarch of the martial arts. b. Kanryo Higaonna's teacher. 31) What is the lineage of Okinawan Goju-ryu karate? a. Ryu Ryuko Sensei/Kanryo Higaonna Sensei/Chojun Miyagi Sensei/An'ichi Miyagi Sensei/ Morio Higaonna Sensei. b. Kanryo Higaonna Sensei/Ryu Ryuko Sensei/An'ichi Miyagi Sensei/Morio Higaonna Sensei. c. Ryu Ryuko Sensei/Morio Higaonna Sensei/Chojun Miyagi Sensei/An'ichi Miyagi Sensei.
Shodan Written Exam Page 4 of 12 32) What were the names of the original main karate styles in Okinawa. a. Naha-te, Shuri-te, Tomari-te. b. Naha-te, Tomari-te, Uechi-ryu. c. Naha-te, Shuri-te, Shorin-ryu. 33) Which kata did Kanryo Higaonna Sensei bring to Okinawa after studying in China? a. Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai dai Ni b. Only the kata whose names have numbers c. Saifa, Seiyunchin, Shisochin, Sanseru. Sepai, Kururunfa, Sesan, Suparinpei, Sanchin 34) What did Kanryo Higaonna study in China in addition to empty handed fighting arts? a. Weapons. b. Chinese medicine. 35) When was the "Karate Kenkyu Club" (Karate Research Club) founded? a. 1925. b. 1926. c. 1936. 36) Who were the instructors at the "Karate Kenkyu Club" (Karate Research Club)? a. Chojun Miyagi, Choyu Motobu, Kenwa Mabuni, Chomo Hanashiro. b. Chojun Miyagi, Jin'an Shinzato, Seiko Kina, Ryuko Aragaki. d. Chojun Miyagi, Jin'an Shinzato, An'ichi Miyagi, Morio Higaonna. 37) What was Chojun Miyagi Sensei s nickname and why? a. Chikudan Peichin, because he was a nobleman b. Nikutui Magushiku because he could tear raw meat with his bare hands 38) When speaking of Chojun Miyagi Sensei, what term of resepct is added to his name? a. Shihan b. Taika c. Bushi 39) Who was Chojun Mu=iyagi Sensei s top student before World war II? a. Shinzato Jin an b. Miyagi An ichi c. Both a and b 40) Who was Chojun Miyagi s top student after World War II? a. Shinzato Jin an b. Miyagi An ichi c. Both a and b 41) Who was the last person ever to be taught by Chojun Miyagi Sensei? a. Miyagi An ichi b. Kanryo Higaonna c. None of the above 42) Explain why Chojun Miyagi Sensei created the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai dai Ni?
Shodan Written Exam Page 5 of 12 Part II - Technical Questions 1) What are the "Hojo Undo"? a. The kata of Goju-ryu. b. Preliminary warming up exercises. c. The traditional supplemental training apparatus of Goju-ryu. 2) Which kata are referred to as "Kaishugata"? a. All the kata except for Sanchin and Tensho. b. Sanchin and Tensho. c. All the Goju-ryu katas. 3) Which kata are referred to as "Heishugata"? a. Sanchin and Tensho. b. All the Goju-ryu katas. c. All the kata except Sanchin and Tensho. 4) The first stance that you step into in the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi is: a. Sanchin dachi. b. Zenkutsu dachi. c. Han-zenkutsu dachi. 5) When executing shuto uchi in the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi, you assume the stance: a. Heiko dachi. b. Hachiji dachi. c. Musubi dachi. 6) When stepping into the second techniques in the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi, you should: a. Step straight into Han zenkutsu dachi b. Step into Han zenkutsu dachi by sliding your foot in a semi circle c. Neither one is correct 7) When stepping into shiko dachi in the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi, you should: a. Keep your eyes fixed on the same point as they were during the previous technique. b. Look to the front and then look to side again. c. Look straight forward. 8) When executing shuto uchi in Gekisai Dai Ichi, you should: a. Pull the opposite hand back firmly and look straight in the direction of the strike. b. Assume hachiji dachi and swing the striking arm aimed at your eye level, pulling the opposite hand back firmly into the chamber. 9) When executing mae geri in the katas Gekisai, you aim at: a. Jodan level. b. Chudan level. c. Gedan level. 10) In the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi, when you step into musubi dachi at the end of the kata, you must: a. Step forward. b. Step back.
Shodan Written Exam Page 6 of 12 11) In the kata Gekisai Dai Ni, when stepping forward and back while executing hiki uke, you should: a. Step straight forward and straight back. b. Step forward and back while sliding your foot in a semi circle. c. Step 45 o forward and back. 12) When stepping into neko ashi dachi in the kata Gekisai Dai Ni, you should: a. Step back in a 45 o angle for the first one, and then step straight to the side for the second one. b. Step back in a 45 o angle for the first one, and then step back in 45 degree angle again for c. the second one. d. Either way is correct. 13) When executing gyaku zuki in the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi and Dai Ni, you should: a. Turn your hips in, push the back knee so that it is tight, and keep your back straight. b. Pull the opposite hand back with full force, push your ankle down as if into the floor, and focus your concentration on your tanden and on your seiken. 14) When taking the first step and assuming musubi dachi in the kata Saifa, you should be looking: a. Straight ahead (from where you are standing). b. Over your right shoulder. c. Over your left shoulder. 15) After the third shiko dachi in the kata Saifa, as you step to the left to execute the chudan\ gedan open handed blocks, your eyes should: a. Remain looking over your right shoulder. b. Look to front and then look to the left. c. Look to the front and then look to the right. 16) When executing the technique heiko zuki in the kata Saifa, your fists should be: a. Higher than your shoulders. b. At shoulder level. c. Lower than your shoulders. 17) When executing gedan tetsui uchi in the kata Saifa: a. You must lean forward and look down. b. Keep your back straight and keep your eyes looking at eye level. c. Keep your back straight and look down. 18) After executing jodan tetsui uchi in the kata Saifa, as you pull one hand down and strike yoko ura zuki with the other: a. You must turn your hips and shoulders into the technique to achieve maximum power. b. You must keep your hips and shoulders straight and look to the side. c. You must keep your hips and shoulders straight and look straight ahead at eye level. 19) On the last step of the kata Saifa, when executing haito uchi: a. You must pull the left hand in straight and swing the right hand like a whip. b. Pull the left hand in straight and pull the right hand around in a short snappy motion. c. None of the above. 20) When kicking mae geri in the kata Saifa, you must aim at: a. Jodan level. b. Chudan level.
Shodan Written Exam Page 7 of 12 c. Gedan level. 21) When executing mae geri in the kata Saifa, you must: a. Use your hips to execute a strong kick. b. Snap strong and fast while keeping your hips in place. 22) In the kata Seiyunchin, when stepping in shiko dachi you must: a. Slide the back leg forward in a straight line. b. Pull the back leg towards the front leg and then proceed to step forward. 23) In the kata Seiyunchin, when stepping in shiko dachi you must: a. Keep your eyes down so that you will see the position of your feet. b. Keep looking straight ahead at eye level. c. Look down when you step and then look forward. 24) In the kata Seiyunchin, when stepping in to perform the technique hojo oshi, the hands should: a. Move from the solar plexus and be aimed at your solar plexus level. b. Start from the side of the body and be aimed at the vital point ganka. c. None of the above. 25) In the kata Seiyunchin, the reason for stepping in shiko dachi is: a. To develop strong legs. b. To assist in the application of the technique. 26) The most powerful technique in the kata Seiyunchin is: a. Age zuki. b. Sukui uke. c. The gedan barai that is executed while stepping forward and back in shiko dachi, after the hojo uke. 27) When executing the nukite strikes in the kata Seiyunchin, the fingers must be pointed: a. Slightly up. b. Slightly down. c. Straight. 28) When executing the nukite strikes in the kata Seiyunchin, the fingers must be: a. Spread apart. b. Tightly pushed against each other. 29) When executing the technique hari uke in the kata Seiyunchin, the palms of the hands must be: a. Relaxed. b. Tight. 30) When executing the technique kuri uke in the kata Seiyunchin, you must focus your concentration on: a. Your elbows. b. Your finger tips. c. First a then b. 31) When stepping in shiko dachi in the kata Seiyunchin, you must:
Shodan Written Exam Page 8 of 12 a. Keep your hips low and not raise them as you step. b. Keep your hips low but raise them when you step. 32) In the kata Shisochin, the first nukite strikes are aimed at: a. Kinteki. b. Tanden. c. Ganka. 33) In the kata Shisochin, when striking shotei zuki: a. You must keep your hips and shoulders square and facing the front. b. Turn your shoulders into the technique to generate more power. 34) The elbow strikes in the kata Shisochin are aimed at: a. Jodan level. b. Chudan level. c. They can be aimed at either Jodan or Chudan. 35) When kicking mae geri in the kata Shisochin, you aim at: a. Jodan level. b. Chudan level. c. Gedan level. 36) When blocking hiki uke in the kata Shisochin, you block: a. Jodan level. b. Chudan level. 37) When executing the nukite strikes in the kata Shisochin you must: a. Keep your fingers tight together. b. Keep your fingers wide apart. 38) Sanchin kata is a: a. Kaishugata. b. Heishugata. 39) Sanchin kata is considered a heishugata because: a. Tension is maintained throughout your body during the entire kata. b. Tension is used only when you are at the point of impact (kime). c. Your hands are kept closed during the whole kata. 40) When practicing Sanchin kata you must: a. Roll up your lower abdomen and keep your tanden tight the entire time. b. Keep your tanden tight when you stand and relax it when you step. c. Keep your tanden relaxed and only tighten it when your technique is in focus (kime). 41) When practicing Sanchin kata your breathing should be: a. Deep and smooth and independent of the movements of the kata. b. Deep and smooth and in harmony with the kata movements. c. Deep and smooth and slower than the movements of the kata. 42) Practicing Sanchin kata is considered the foundation of Goju-Ryu because: a. It is an exercise kata by which we learn to develop and generate power.
Shodan Written Exam Page 9 of 12 b. It is the oldest kata of Goju-Ryu. 43) While breathing during the execution of Sanchin kata, you should: a. Allow your chest and stomach muscles to move naturally as you breath. b. Pull your stomach in when you exhale and push it out when you inhale. c. Keep your entire body tight and not allow your chest to rise or your stomach muscles to relax. 44) While performing Sanchin kata, your eyes should: a. Look into the distance at eye level and focus on all four directions. b. Focus on a certain object during the whole kata. c. Look straight ahead, not focusing on any one point. 45) While performing Sanchin kata, your arms should: a. Move forward and back without touching your sides. b. Move forward and back deliberately pusing against the sides of your body, c. Your fists should touch your sides, but your elbows should point out, away from your body. 46) When stepping back in Sanchin kata and executing tora guchi, you should: a. Step first and then execute tora guchi. b. Step and execute tora guchi simultaneously. c. Execute tora guchi and then step. 47) When performing Sanchin kata: a. Keep your throat open, concentrating the breathing in your chest. b. Keep your throat constricted, forcing the air through your throat. c. Keep your throat open, concentrating the breathing in your tanden. 48) If you feel dizzy while practicing Sanchin kata, it means you are practicing correctly... 49) When assuming the yoi position at the beginning of a kata, you should be in: a. Musubi dachi. b. Heisoku dachi. c. Heiko dachi. 50) When assuming yoi position at the end of a kata, you should be in: a. Heisoku dachi. b. Musubi dachi. c. Heiko dachi. 51) When assuming yoi position at the beginning of a kata, you should: a. Keep your palms tight. b. Focus on your tanden and keep your eyes looking straight forward. 52) When assuming yoi position at the end of a kata, you should: a. Stand in heiko dachi and relax. b. Keep your palms tight and concentrate on breathing into the tanden, while keeping your eyes straight forward. c. Both a and b may be correct depending on the kata. 53) All Goju-ryu kata end by stepping back.
Shodan Written Exam Page 10 of 12 54) All Goju-ryu kata end by stepping forward. 55) At the end of all Goju-ryu kata, you must always be in the same place that you started. 56) All Goju-ryu kata end by stepping back except one. 57) Gekisai Dai Ichi kata is the only kata in Goju-ryu that ends by stepping forward. 58) By practicing the kata repeatedly, one can come to understand the philospohy of karate. 59) All the applications to the moves in the kata are self defense techniques 60) Describe the nigiri-game, what they are used for, and give two examples of how you would use them. 61) Describe the chi ishi, what it is used for, and give two examples of how you would use it. 62) Describe the makiwara, what it is used for, and give two examples of how you would use it. 63) Describe the stance renoji dachi. 64) Describe the stance hachiji dachi. 65) Describe the stance shiko dachi. 66) Describe the stance neko ashi dachi. 67) Describe the stance zenkutsu dachi.
Shodan Written Exam Page 11 of 12 68) Describe the stance sanchin dachi. 69) Describe the stance musubi dachi. 70) Describe the stance heisoku dachi. Part III -- Vital Points Fill in the names for all the vital points. You may refer to the attached list. Front Vital Points of the Human Body danchu denko fukuto ganka hichu hijitsume inazuma jinchu kakon kasumi kinteki kokotsu komekami kori kyosen mikazuki murasame myosho naira seimo shomon shuko soin soto shakutaku suigetsu tanden uchi shakutaku ude-narashi uto yako
Shodan Written Exam Page 12 of 12