BELT RANKS

6th. Rokkyu, White Belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Develop basics

Stances: Horse (front and side), half moon, crane, and forward stance

Hand strikes: Front two knuckle, thrust, back two knuckle, cross elbow, tiger claw and rake, knife hand (shuto), spear, palm heel, reverse knife

Leg strikes: Front ball and snap, back kick, side thrust, knee.

Blocks: Eight point blocking and follow up strikes

Combinations: no.s 6 and 7

Animals: Tiger Takes The Center

Forms: Rising sun (breathing exercise #1), blocking set

Drills: Single strikes, high-low

Falls: Forward, side, back

Jujitsu: Strangle, single lapel grab, arm lock, wrist grabs

Club: N/A

Knife: Slashing

Knowledge: Style, tying belt, the five animals, rules of the dojo

Material for 5th Rokkyu test:

1. Coordination
2. Combinations #6, #7
3. 2 jujitsu’s: lapel grab, wrist grabs, and arm lock
4. 1 animal: tiger
5. 1 knife: slashing
6. 8 point blocking
7. Blocking set
8. Rising Sun
9. Break falls

5th. Rokkyu, Yellow Belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Improve basics

Stances: Fighting stance, twist stance.

Hand strikes: Crane, back fist, outward elbow, and downward elbow, reverse hammer

Leg strikes: Shuffling side thrust, hopping side thrust, blade kick, crescent and reverse crescent kick, and front heel.

Blocks: 8 point blocking with natural strikes, and cross block.

Combinations: #3

Animals: Sweeping Leopard

Forms: 1 pinan

Drills: Two of the same strikes to the same target or different targets. Step forward with single strike, low-high, and form combinations.

Falls: Falls from standing position

Jujitsu: Single and double wrist grab, bear hug, back grabs.

Club: N/A

Knife: Overhead

Knowledge: 5 principles of master a form(P-P-P-B-S /R/T) and elements of a Jujitsu (S-C-C).

Takedowns: Sweep.

Material for 4th. Rokkyu test:

1. Balance
2. 3 combinations: #6, #7, #3
3. Blocks with natural strikes
4. 6 jujitsu’s: lapel grab, strangle, arm lock, single and double wrist grab, back grabs, bear hug
5. 2 animals: tiger, leopard
6. 2 knives: Slashing, overhead
7. 1 pinan, Rising Sun, Blocking set

4th. Rokkyu, Orange Belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Strength in the strikes

Stances: Cat stance and T-stance

Hand strikes: Back fist to the rear, driving knife, two-finger poke, leopard’s paw and rising elbow.

Leg strikes: Shuffling front ball, rear cross over side thrust

Blocks: Sword arm

Combinations: #2, #5

Animals: Leopard Limbs and Crane Flaps Its Wings

Forms: 2 pinan

Drills: Focus, reflex, lateral-diagonal, and gauntlet

Falls: Falls with a step, forward roll

Jujitsu: Two-handed wrist grab, double lapel (wing trap), front grabs, and rear strangle.

Club: Overhead

Knife: Slash and miss, Overhead (shoulder)

Knowledge: Characteristics of the five animals

Takedowns: Hip throw, front sweep, hock down

Material for 3rd. Rokkyu test:

1. 5 combinations: #2, #3, #5, #6, #7
2. 1 &2 pinan, Blocking set, Rising Sun
3. 4 knives: 2 overhead, slashing, slash and miss
4. 1 club: overhead
5. Hip throw
6. Gauntlet
7. Characteristics of the 5 animals
8. 4 Shaolin technique’s: Tiger, leopard, leopard and crane
9. 9 jujitsu’s: Lapel, strangle front and rear, arm lock, wrist grab single and double, bear hug, 2 handed wrist grab, front grabs, double lapel

3rd. Rokkyu, Purple Belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Good kicks and power in the punches

Stances: Back stance, Dragon stance and rotation with the dragon stance

Hand strikes: Driving hammer, inverted/reverse hammer with pivot, backhand, immortal man, trigger finger, ridge hand, inverted ridge hand, tiger’s mouth, uppercut

Leg strikes: Roundhouse traditional and kempo, spinning back kick, stepping stool, axe kick

Blocks: Eight point blocking with open hands and natural strikes, parry block, windmill, dropping palm

Combinations: #4, #18

Animals: Snake Takes A Pillar, Dancing Crane, Tiger Downs A Prey, SSDC Spinning Dragon

Forms: Heian Nidan, Blocking Set 2

Drills: Sparring, reaction drills, spin techniques, ducking, push-pull & freestyle, and kata combinations, kick counters

Falls: Revision and combinations, over an obstacle, forward roll standing, and rising to meet a punch with a technique

Jujitsu: Push-pull and sidelocks

Club: N/A

Knife: N/A

Knowledge: Read Ginshin Funakoshi’s “Karate-Do”

Takedowns: Ippon throw, scissor

Material for 2nd. Rokkyu test:

1. Good kicks and power and rhythm in the punches
2. 7 combinations: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18
3. 4 knives: 2x overhead, slashing, slash and miss
4. 1 club: overhead
5. 2 throws: hip and ippon
6. 8 shaolin/animals: 2 leopards, 2 tigers, 2 cranes, snake, dragon
7. 10 jujitsu’s: lapel, strangle front and rear, arm lock, wrist single and double, 2 handed wrist, bear hug, double lapel
8. 6 forms: 1 and 2 pinan, Heian Nidan, Blocking set 1 and 2, Rising Sun

N.B. We do not teach set counters against grabs and weapons (our “jujitsu’s) after Orange belt. We teach principle based kempo for these situations. The techniques included here are for historical reference to what I was taught as an under-belt and because they have great value if studied and not merely mimicked.

2nd. Rokkyu, Blue belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Precision and power in kicks

Hand strikes: Dropping ridge hand, bridge poke

Leg strikes: Hook kick, butterfly kick.

Blocks: Snake blocks, iron fortress

Combinations: 8 and 9

Animals: Constrictor, Crane Flips A Tiger, Tiger Raker, Kneeling Leopard

Forms: 1 kata, Pushing Palm

Drills: Stance transition, shadow boxing, dragon circle, ground fighting reversals and escapes, kata combinations

Jujitsu: headlocks

Knowledge: Read “Shaolin Five Animals”

Takedowns: Tai otoshi, combined techniques (2)

Material for 1st.Rokkyu test:

1. Precision and power in the kicks
2. 9 combinations: 2-7, 18, 8 and 9
3. Knives: 2 overhead,slashing, slash and miss
4. Clubs: Overhead
5. 4 throws: Hip, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage throw
6. Drills: gauntlet, shadow boxing, dragon circle
7. 12 animals: 3 leopards, 3 tigers, 3 cranes, 2 snakes, 1 dragon
8. Jujitsu’s: 1 lapel, strangle front and rear, arm lock, 2 double lapel, wrist single and double, bear hug, kick counters,headlocks
9. 8 forms: Rising sun, 1 and 2 pinan, Heian Nidan, Pushing palm, 1 kata, Blocking set 1 and 2

1st. Rokkyu, Blue w/ Green Stripe

The Curriculum:

Objective: Balance with flow and increased control, Proper attitude

Hand strikes: Dropping palm, inverted ridge

Leg strikes: Spinning hook kick

Blocks: Downward double block, kick blocks, rolling elbow

Combinations: #12

Animals: Raking tiger, Dragon drops the ball

Forms: 2 kata

Drills: Kata combinations and applications, spinning & jumping kicks

Falls: Combinations

Jujitsu: shoulder grabs, from the stomach

Club: Poking

Knife: Downward

Knowledge: Three other martial art styles and their differences from each other and kempo.

Takedowns: Combinations and controls

Material for Gokyu test:

1. Attitude
2. 10 combinations: 2-9, 12, 18
3. Knives: 2 overhead, 2 slashing, slash and miss, downward
4. Clubs: Overhead, slashing front and back, poking
5. 5 Takedown: front sweep, hip, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage throw
6. 15 animals: 4 leopards, 4 tigers, 3 cranes, 2 dragon, 2 snakes
7. Drills: Shadow boxing, gauntlet, dragon circle, spinning and jumping kicks
8. Jujitsu’s: 2 lapel, front strangle, 2 rear strangles, arm lock, 4 double lapel, wrist single and double, bear hug, headlocks, sidelocks, kick counters, shoulder grabs
9. 9 forms: Rising sun, 1 and 2 pinan, Heian Nidan, Pushing palm, 1 kata, 2 kata, Blocking set 1 and 2

Gokyu, Green Belt

The Curriculum:

Objective: Endurance and attitude

Stances: Crane from a jump, snake, closed kneel

Hand strikes: Willow palm, Buddha palm, beak strike, thumb strike, rising palm, eagle claw

Leg strikes: Jumping side thrust kick, Scissor kick, Dragon stomp

Blocks: 10 point blocking, dragon trap, and palm trap

Combinations: #14, #15, and #16

Animals: Dragon Cloud, White Leopard, and Twin Tiger

Kempos: SSDC Tigers: Tiger Kicks the Sand, Black Tiger, Smashing Tiger

Forms: 3 pinan, Statute of the Crane, Jo form

Drills: Dragon twisting and moving around a person, front grabs with motion, upper body takedowns, 10 kicks

Jujitsu: Ground work: Sweeping, freestyle from standing, blocking, defence, getting up, striking and control

Club: While being held with one hand

Knife: Slashing

Knowledge: “The Bible of Karate: Bubishi”

Takedowns: Hip block

Material for Yonkyu test:

1. Endurance and flow
2. 13 combinations: 2-9, 12, 14-16, and 18
3. Knives: 2 overhead, Slashing, slash and miss, downward
4. Clubs: Overhead, slashing front and back, held with one hand
5. Gun: Close range
6. 5 Takedowns: o’goshi (hip), ippon, tai otoshi, leverage throw, hip block
7. 15 animals: 4 leopards, 4 tigers, 3 cranes, 2 dragons, 2 snakes
8. 3 SSDC: 3 Tigers
9. Drills: upper body takedowns
10. Jujitsu’s: freestyle from standing
11. 12 forms: Statute of the Crane, 3 pinan, jo form, rising sun, 1 and 2 pinan, Heian nidan, Pushing palm, 1 kata, 2 kata, Blocking set 1 and 2

Yonkyu, Geen belt brown stripe

The Curriculum:

Objective: Precision, flow in the forms

Stances: Reverse bow

Hand strikes: Rising punch, bear paw, snake bite, scissor knife, eagle claw

Leg strikes: Leopard kick

Blocks: Trapping blocks

Combinations: 10,11,17,19

Kempo’s: SSDC: Leopard rolls in High Grass, Leopard Tackles its Prey, Leopard Climbs Down the Tree

Animals: Biting Viper, Dragon Turns Away, and Leaping Leopard

Forms: 4 pinan, 5 pinan

Drills: Back grabs with motion, lower body takedowns

Falls: Revision and combination

Jujitsu: Lock ups

Gun: Role playing, Long range

Knowledge: Martial arts technique written exam, Tao Te Ching

Takedowns: Arm bar takedown, ankle manipulation, and leopard tackle, tiger roll

Material for Sankyu:

1. Precision, flow in the forms
2. 17 combinations: 2-9, 10, 11, 12, 14-16, 17, 18, 19
3. Guns: Role play, close and long range
4. 13 takedowns: Tiger roll, leopard tackle, circular arms, front and back sweep, o’goshi, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage arm and leg, hip block, hock down, kneel down
5. 18 Animals: 5 leopards, 4 tigers, 3 cranes, 3 dragons, 3 snakes
6. 6 SSDC: 3 Leopards, 3 Tigers
7. Drills: Back grabs with motion, blocking multiple attackers, defending from the ground
8. Jujitsu’s: Lock ups
9. 13 forms: 4 and 5 pinan, Statute of the Crane, 1-3 pinan, Heian nidan, 1 and 2 kata, rising sun, Pushing palm, jo form, blocking set 1 and 2

Sankyu, Brown belt 3rd degree

The Curriculum:

Objective: Control

Hand strikes: Snake tooth, spinning strikes, bear paw

Leg strikes: Scoop kick

Blocks: 4 point, Bo blocking set

Combinations: 1, 13, and 20

Kempo: SSDC Cranes: Crane’s Wing, Crane Takes Flight, Hopping Crane

Animals: Serpent’s Tooth, Crane jumps to Wind and Stars

Forms: 3 kata, 4 kata, Shushi No Kon Sho

Drills: Techniques against kicks and multiple kicks, unusual attacks, sticky legs, kempo sparring

Falls: Over two persons for length

Jujitsu: Ankle and knee grabs, groundwork

Knife: Front grab with knife

Knowledge: Read “Chi Kung” by Yang Jwing Ming

Takedowns: Sweeping and pulling with the legs

Material for Nikyu:

1. Control of self and uke
2. 20 Combinations: 1 – 13, 14 – 20
3. Knife technique: Front grab with knife
4. 12 Takedowns: Tiger roll, leopard tackle, front sweep, sweep, o’goshi, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage arm and leg, hip block, hock down, kneel down
5. 20 Animals: 5 leopards, 4 tigers, 4 cranes, 3 dragons, 4 snakes
6. 9 SSDC: 3 tigers, 3 leopards, 3 cranes
7. Drills: sticky legs, kempo sparring to the ground
8. Jujitsu’s: Ankle and knee grabs, groundwork
9. 17 Forms: 1-5 pinan, 1-2 kata, 3 and 4 kata, Statute of the Crane, Heian Nidan, jo form, Shushi No Kon Sho, rising sun, Pushing palm, blocking set 1 and 2

Nikkyu, Brown Belt, 2nd degree

The Curriculum:

Objective: Speed

Hand strikes: Poison thumb and iron thumb

Leg strikes: Flying side thrust; jumping spinning reverse crescent, snake kick

Blocks: Bo blocking 2 person set

Combinations: 21, 25, 26

Kempo’s: SSDC: 3 snakes: Snake Coils Around Tree Branch, Snake Darts Out Tongue, Snake Shoots Venom

Animals: Iron Dragon, Tiger Breaks The Bone

Forms: 5 kata, Bo form

Drills: Blindfolded kumite, 4 strikes with one spinning and a kick, bo set

Falls: Review and practice including different heights

Jujitsu: Blindfolded kumite, escapes (strategic and technical grabs)

Club: Double clubs (mushin)

Knife: Back grabs with knives

Knowledge: Self defence concepts, the effects of strikes, the 5 Tibetans, written exam of 20 questions

Takedowns: Removing the pillar w/sweeping leg motion, judo lift

Material For Ikkyu:

1. Speed
2. 22 Combinations: 1-20, 21, 25, 26
3. Knife techniques: Back grabs
4. Clubs: Double clubs
5. Guns: Distant
6. 14 takedowns: judo lift, sweep and pull with the legs, leopard tackle, front and back sweep, o’goshi, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage arm and leg (circular), hip block, hock down, kneel down, tiger roll
7. 22 Animals: 5 leopards, 5 tigers, 4 cranes, 4 dragons, 4 snakes
8. 12 SSDC: 3 Snakes, 3 cranes, 3 leopards, 3 tigers
9. Drills: Blindfolded kumite, bo set, 4 strikes with one spinning and a kick
10. Jujitsu’s: Blindfolded kumite, escapes from grabs
11. 19 forms: 1-5 pinan, 1-5 kata, Statute of the Crane, Heian Nidan, jo form, bo form 1, Shushi No Kon Sho, rising sun, Pushing palm, blocking set 1 and 2

Ikkyu, Brown Belt, 1st degree

The Curriculum:

Objective: Review; Refine; Prepare to become a black belt

Hand strikes: Dragon hand, Buddha hand

Leg strikes: Spinning wheel kick, angular kick, smash kick

Blocks: Dropping elbow, Buddha Swallow

Combinations: 22, 23, 24

Kempo’s: SSDC: 3 Dragons: Dragons Rides the Wind, Dragon Whips Tail, Twin Dragons

Animals: Dragon Finds Vessels, Fluttering Crane, Snakes Crushes Root

Forms: 2 man fist set, Bo form 2

Drills: Sparring multiple attackers

Jujitsu: sparring multiple attackers

Knives: attacker with 2 knives

Knowledge: Teaching, must create a snake, and crane and one kempo from the forms

Takedowns: Knocking both pillars—sweeping techniques

Material For Shodan:

1. Teaching ability, knowledge and understanding and skill with the basics and all previous curriculum material
2. 23 Combinations: 1-21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
3. Guns: close range and distant, role playing
4. 15 takedowns: Concept of taking both pillars and related techniques, judo lift, sweep and pull with the legs, leopard tackle, front and back sweep, o’goshi, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage arm and leg (circular), hip block, hock down, kneel down, tiger roll
5. 25 Animals: 5 leopards, 5 tigers, 5 cranes, 5 dragons, 5 snakes
6. 15 SSDC: 3 Dragons, 3 snakes, 3 tigers, 3 leopards, 3 cranes
7. Drills: Sparring multiple opponents, blindfolded kumite, sticky legs, kempo sparring to the ground, bo set, back grabs with motion, blocking multiple attackers, shadow boxing, gauntlet, dragon circle, techniques against multiple hand strikes and kicks
8. 27 Jujitsu’s: Arm lock to the ground, grabs, arm locks, head locks, kick counters, hair grabs
9. 21 forms: 1-5 pinan, 1-5 kata, Statute of the Crane, Heian Nidan, 2 Man Fist Set, jo form, bo form 1&2, Shushi No Kon Sho, rising sun, Pushng palm, blocking set 1 and 2

Shodan, Black Belt 1st degree

The Curriculum:

Objective: In depth study of beginner material

Stances: Open Kneel Stance

Hand strikes: Hansuki Fist, Torque punch, Shaolin Long Fist & complete exploration of spinning techniques

Leg strikes: Double jumping front ball, Angular kick,Tiger smash & complete exploration of spinning techniques

Blocks: Falling leaf, First half of plum tree blocking

Combinations: 27, 28, 29, 30, 40

Kempo’s: Loose Hands and Waving Hands in Clouds

Animals: Snake Poke, Crane Lands with Strikes, Revolving Tiger

Forms: #6 Kata, Hansuki, 1st Sai, Iaido

Drills: 6 strikes in one second with spin and kick

Situational: No mind club and guns with role playing; against 2 knives

Knowledge: Read Tao Of Jeet Kun Do, Shaolin Chin na, Book of Five Rings; Microcosmic orbit

Material for Nidan test:

1. Teaching ability;In depth knowledge and understanding of beginner material; 6 strikes in one second with spin and kick; break three boards with each limb; complete exploration of spinning techniques; microcosmic orbit.
2. 27 Combinations: 1-21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, #27-#30, #40
3. 8 Kempo Techinques:6 SSDC beginner kempo, Waving Hands in Clouds, Loose Hands
4. Knife techniques: All
5. Clubs: All
6. Guns: close range and distant, role playing
7. 15 takedowns: Concept of taking both pillars and related techniques, judo lift, sweep and pull with the legs, leopard tackle, front and back sweep, o’goshi, ippon, tai otoshi, leverage arm and leg (circular), hip block, hock down, kneel down, tiger roll
8. 26 Animals: 5 leopards, 5 tigers, 6 cranes, 5 dragons, 5 snakes
9. 17 SSDC: 3 Dragons, 4 snakes, 4 tigers, 3 leopards, 3 cranes
10. Drills: Sparring multiple opponents, blindfolded kumite, sticky legs, kempo sparring to the ground, bo set, back grabs with motion, blocking multiple attackers, shadow boxing, gauntlet, dragon circle, techniques against multiple hand strikes and kicks
11. 27 Jujitsu’s: Arm lock to the ground, grabs, arm locks, head locks, kick counters, hair grabs
12. 25 forms: 1-5 pinan, 1-6 kata, Statute of the Crane, Heian Nidan, 2 Man Fist Set, Hansuki, jo form, bo form 1&2, Shushi No Kon Sho, Sai form, rising sun, Pushing Plam, Tensho, blocking set 1 and 2