Kihon (Basic Techniques)
Kihon, are the basics techniques of Karate, the fundamental building blocks of Shin Karate. They can be done both stationary and moving in stance to best train the body how to develop good technique, power, and endurance.
Kihon training includes a range of punches, blocks, elbow strikes, knife hand strikes, kicks, and knees and much more
A Pictorial manual of the basic syllabus techniques of Shin Karate from 10th Kyu to 2nd Dan.
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Kata (Patterns)
Kata is a Japanese term for a set pattern of prearranged movements, including stances, basics techquices and breathing. Kata is designed to not only demonstrate and cultivate good memory and reaction time, it also helps develops a good understanding of application of the techniques.
Kata has many benefits in your Karate training, it allows students to practice their focus, breathing, and flow from stance to stance. It is both a training tool, a traditional art-form sometimes dating back centuries, and shoes that you have an understanding of Shin Karate as a martial art.
Shin Karate Katas
- Taikyoku Ichi, Ni & San
- Sokugi Taikyoku Ichi, Ni & San
- Pinan Ichi
- Pinan Ni
- Pinan San
- Pinan Yon
- Pinan Go
- Gekisai Dai
- Gekisai Sho
- Yantsu
- Sanchin
- Tsuki No Kata
- Tensho
- Saifa
- Kanku
- Seienchin
- Sushiho
Kumite (Sparring)
Kumite is the Japanese term for ‘fighting’ and is regarded as the core of the style. Shin Karate is known for its full contact sparring, but not all sparring in the dojo is at that level. Shin Karate offers different forms of sparring from potential and current tournament fighters, to assist developing techniques for fitness and conditioning, as well as to enjoy basic fighting training for practitioners more focused on their journey through martial arts.
At Shin Karate we always practice safe sparring and follow strict guidelines. All our Instructors and senior grades are First Aid qualified, and no sparring is permitted without the presence of a fully qualified senior Instructor. Children, beginners and older members can enjoy sparring with reduced contact an will be required to wear the appropriate protective gear until they reach an appropriate age or level of expertise.
Other aspects of Shin Karate
Alongside the three main aspects of the Shin Karate Syllabus (Kihon, Kata and Kumite), we also offer a comprehensive fitness and Self Defence program. We offer a true form of Karate with Traditional concepts + modern techniques which equals a very realistic self defence for you and your family. Our programs are developed on REAL WORLD experience, NOT on theory.
Shin Karate Belt System (Symbolism)
Kohai – Purity: White, the colour of innocence. The carrier has a blank spirit with relation to Karate techniques and the spiritual aspects of Karate. White is the symbol of purity, at least in the English and Japanese based cultures. The new white belt student might be described as pure, being completely ignorant of the requirements of the art. The purity is lost as soon as the first exercise is performed in the dojo. The pristine colour is gone forever through sweat and dust, and the journey through the colour spectrum begins. There is no shame in being a white belt and the instructor, more than the others, is aware of this because he or she too was one once.
In the Honbu dojo in Japan, while under Mas Oyama, the tradition was that uchi-deshi (live-in or full-time students) white belts would shave their heads as a sign of their dedication. The third year uchi-deshi, newly graduated black-belts, also did this to indicate humility, symbolising the return to the spirit of a beginner.
10th / 9th kyu – Stability: Orange or Red, the colour of the Japanese sun as pictured on its flag, as it sets at the end of the first day. It shows that someone has sustained the first days and whose capabilities and understanding is growing to further boundaries. In some countries or dojo, the red belt is not used. For a while, in Japan the white belt gains first one black stripe, then a second one. Currently (1997) the system for the IKO(1) is an orange belt. The reason for the change is that in some karate systems, the red belt actually denotes a very high rank e.g. 5th Dan or higher, and to have junior kohai wearing such a belt would belittle those red-belted Yudansha.
In the run-up to and throughout the red belt training, you develop the very basics of karate. You unlearn any ideas you had about how to fight, and you learn about your body. (Anyone who has been through this stage will tell you that this is where they learnt their body had muscles where they didnt even know they had places!) It is here too that you begin to develop a sense of balance and coordination between the various body parts, with an emphasis on stance. You should also be familiar with dojo etiquette at this stage.
8th / 7th kyu – Fluidity and Adaptability: Blue, Colour of the sky and the ocean, the carrier has aspirations to the horizon of Karate the spirit is as the depths of the ocean not yet explored. While the red belt aspects of training must be continued, now the Karate-ka begins to work on the upper body, strength, flexibility, and coordination. It is here that you learn to overcome the urge to “Take it easy”, and if successful, training becomes a pleasure. The student begins to feel the benefits of training with an increased sense of well-being, a bigger bounce in ones step, and overall better fitness.
Here the Karate-ka must start taking control of mind and body. This might take the form of not showing the pain of being hit during sparring, not showing exhaustion during training, not wiping the drop of sweat off ones nose because one hasnt yet been told to, not yawning despite extreme tiredness etc.
6th / 5th kyu – Assertion: Yellow, the colour of the sun, light and new founded richness and knowledge. The colour shows that the carrier has seen a new day and that the bearer is beginning to develop and understand the principles of Karate the spirit is beginning to develop, understanding and technique is dawning. Here you learn to focus your power, by concentrating it on the hara (the general area of the lower abdomen) or even the tanden (the single point in the lower abdomen that more or less is located at the centre of gravity of the body). Fortunately for most of us, this point is just behind where we tie the knot of our belts.
This is the first level where training begins to concentrate the psychological aspects of training, with an emphasis on mind-body coordination. It is here that the Karate-ka must begin to develop both power and speed when performing techniques. The yellow belt is the last of the “raw beginners” belts and the Karate-ka begins to take control of his or her life. body, and environment.
4th / 3rd kyu – Emotion and Sensitivity: Green, colour of growth the grass and the trees. The carrier of this Obi is understanding and exploring the deeper meanings of Karate, whose spirit and techniques are growing and bearing fruit.
2nd / 1st kyu – Practical and Creative: Brown, colour of dirt and the earth. This colour shows that the skills of the carrier are executed professionally. He also has a rich and steady mind.
Yudansha – Understanding and New Beginnings: Black, it is a fusion of all the colours. The carrier has learned most of the techniques and has overcome all the possibilities of the first days. Its not the colour of victory but the colour of the night. This means that they have not found the road yet. As you have moved through the colours, after the day, the setting of the day, the growth and the creation, there will be a new day. A day where the carrier realizes that they are at a new beginning of a new vision of the road. The carrier is stepping out of the student period and now exploring the way to further grow and explores the way to maturity in Karate and possibility the way to become a teacher, or Sensei, which literally means, born before.
Significance of the belt (obi)
The colour of the belt isnt the only meaning. Another aspect is the way its worn. the obi encircles its carrier and in Buddhism this signifies a circle in the centre and totality of the universe. A correctly worn obi encircles the Hara, the centre of gravity of the carrier (just under the bellybutton) in martial arts this is where our inner power or Ki is generated. The meaning of the obi is therefore not only symbolic for the technical abilities of the carrier but also the spiritual maturity.
Thus, the belt is never washed. Every class you take, every drop of sweat is part of what goes into each students unique experience. It must be remembered although not clung to. The belt must tell its own story. Therefore, no experience is washed away.
