Staten Island Jundokan Syllabus
The Staten Island Jundokan syllabus covers a range of techniques encompassing all aspects of punching, kicking, blocking, throwing, grappling, joint-locking and Okinawan Kobudo. Students are also required to demonstrate knowledge of Japanese martial arts terminology, as well as knowledge of the human anatomy.
Kata forms the core teaching syllabus of the Staten Island Jundokan /Kouketsu Dojo and are listed below.
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Sanchin kata 三戦 |
is the foundation to all other Gojū kata, it is also the foundation of body conditioning. First variation of Sanchin-kata (sanchingata dai-ichi) serves as Kihongata. |
| Gekisai 撃砕 |
means "to destroy" or "attack and destroy". This Kata was created by Miyagi Chojun after 1936. The Gekisai kata (Gekisai Ichi and Gekisai Ni) are usually first taught at hachikyū or rokukyū levels (yellow to green belt). Gekisai kata integrates kicking with blocks, strikes, and punches. It introduces the use of tensho technique, how to move in eight directions, side-stepping, back-stepping, and the use of the cat stance |
| Saifa 砕破 |
means "to destroy and defeat." This kata is the first traditional Gojū-Ryū's open hand kata. It is usually first taught at gokyu to sankyu levels (green to brown belt). |
| Seiunchin 制引戦 |
means "Attack, Conquer, suppress (also referred to as "to control and pull into battle")". This kata is typically taught at sankyu to ikkyu levels (brown belt). |
| Shisochin 四向戦 |
means "to destroy in four directions" or "fight in four directions" and emphasizes the power of Goju-ryu, the hard and the soft, and integrates it into one. |
| Sanseiru 三十六手 |
means "36 Hands" and is taught at higher black belt levels. The kata teaches complex punching combinations, employs many entry, joint attacks and defenses against kicking attacks. |
| Sepai 十八手 |
means "18 Hands". Sepai kata incorporates both the four directional movements and 45° angular attacks and, as in Shisochin, implements techniques for both long distance and close quarter combat. |
| Kururumfa 久留頓破 |
means "holding on long and striking suddenly" and its techniques are based on Chinese Praying Mantis style. |
| Seisan 十三手 |
means "13 Hands." This kata contains many unusual techniques and demonstrates the difference between Go (Hard) and Ju (Soft). Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata quite spread among other Nahate schools. |
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Suparimpei 壱百零八 |
means "108 Hands" The most advanced and intricate kata of the Goju Ryu system now. While initially it was known as Pitchurrin and had three levels to master (Go, |
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Kata
An elaborate code of movements of the arms and hands, and a flowing posturing of the body, "kata", meaning form, model or structure, uses ritualistic movements to illustrate and record techniques of self-defense.
Although we know that the legacy of old style karate kata can be traced back to China and is an offspring of quanfa traditions, its birth and evolution evades modern researchers. We can speculate that kata took its form from cultural dances, dances which told stories of tribal history, current events, ancestors, heroes, harvests, hunting, war, victory, and religion -hence, an absolute expression of society, governed by historical and cultural considerations.
However, unlike dance, kata, in their relatively static positions and movements are of a utilitarian nature and have become regularized for efficiency and effectiveness, each possessing beauty in their brutal proficiency.
Kata are a cultural phenomenon of human movement acting as a catalog of individual "waza" (self-defense techniques), linked together into one seemingly simple pattern forming a specific reference work that preserves the art and bears the imprint of those who passed down the art to succeeding generations.
Old style karate traditions use kata as mnemonic aids, providing an explicatory outline for applying a set of logical "genron" (principles) and "heiho" (strategies) that can be tested and used in different situations. These principles are to be found in the waza or individual techniques positioned within the larger paradigm. Read more.....
More About Us
Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate
The Hard-Soft School: The name Goju is quoted from a line in the Chinese Eight Poems written in the Bubishi, “Ho go ju donto”, the way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.
Goju-Ryu refers to the dual nature of the style; the “hard” (Go) aspect of Goju is the power and speed of the techniques. The “soft” (Ju) aspect refers to the relaxation of the body and the smooth flow of movement. The philosophy of Goju Karate is having a balance of the two. The Goju-Ryu style believes that the opposites are complementary. If one is attacked fiercely (Go), then one defends with Ju and vice versa.
Words of Wisdom
The reason for the remarkable development and spread of the ancient Japanese Martial Arts may be attributed to the respect in which ones peers and more importantly, ones teacher are held, and maintaining of ones own modesty.Rei (politeness or manners) is at the very soul of Budo. So much so that it is said, Budo begins with Rei and ends with Rei” The true value for those who study Budo is in the spirit of the training. The body and the spirit work in harmony with each other, and, as the saying goes, without training the spirit, training the body and technique is impossible.
Busaganashi meaning “martial art guardian.” Is believed to be the Chinese deity, Zhong Kui, who protected Tang-era Emperor Xuanzong from demons. According to this legend, Zhong Kui appeared to the sick emperor in a dream and subdued the demons causing his sickness. In gratitude, the emperor awarded Zhong Kui the title of "Doctor of Zhongnanshan".
Zhong Kui’s image is often painted on Chinese household gates, as a guardian spirit in police departments and for protection in places of business where high-value goods are involved.
A painting of Zhong Kui was reportedly brought back from China, by Kanryo Higaonna when he returned to Okinawa from his martial art training in the late 1890s. Upon his death in 1916, he left the picture to his successor, Miyagi Chojun, signifying a passing of the lineage from Fuzhou.
During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Miyagi sensei’s home and dojo were destroyed, with it the picture of Busaganashi. Later, when his students rebuilt the dojo, one of them went to the Philippines and had an artist carve a statue of Busaganashi for Miyagi. This statue was later passed on to Miyazato sensei after Miyagi’s passing in 1954.
About Us
We teach Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-Jutsu. This Dojo is a Shibu (Branch) of the So-Honbu Jundokan in Okinawa, Japan
Our mission and teaching philosophy »
Goju-ryu history »
Debaise Sensei »
Staten Island Jundokan Chief Instructor »
Syllabus »
Student Manual
This Student Handbook will serve as your guide to our Dojo and spell out guidelines for what you can expect from SIJundokan, and what is expected of you.
Etiquette, Conduct, & Bowing »
Titles, Courtesy & Safety in the Dojo »
Uniforms, Attendance & Other »
Karate Terminology »
Martial Arts Philosophy »
Blog
Welcome to the Staten Island Jundokan blog, we'll provide thoughtful commentary on Goju Karate and other martial arts related topics.
