THE JOURNEY TO BLACK BELT
We at Ageless Martial Arts believe that everyday our member walk in we want them to be treated like it was their first day of class. From White to Black Belt, our goal is to show you what your child or yourself will be learning throughout the years.
We believe that being transparent in the journey that lies ahead so you have a general idea what to expect while you’re with us. This is a general guide, and not an in detail move by move comparison, but it is to show you what we offer as a program in full and what you can expect every year.
We realize that every program is different in other martial arts schools around the Las Vegas Valley, our goal is not to compete with others, but our goal is to give you the most comprehensive curriculum in the martial arts so by the time they are a Black Belt they become not only great martial artist, but good people of society.
Ageless Martial Arts updates the curriculum constantly, our staff is always training to give you the best most updated martial arts and we are always striving to better our curriculum to serve our members so we can give you an experience unmatched by others, so you or your child become outstanding.
Rise Together. Achieve as One.
Our Goal is the following
- Teach a fun and exciting class
- Add a life skills value into the class such as,
- Teach you or your child simple yet effective martial arts
- Break a Board
- Try our 4 week Trial
- Receive a Best Job badge
Now that you are a trial or a member
They learn 6 stripes that cover the following concepts.
Every 2 weeks they will learn a new movement or exercise to give them a basic understanding of Shotokan Karate a Japanese martial art. You can see our curriculum in detail on Youtube.
The purpose is to teach them focus on discipline through hard work.
Life Skills that are taught in this period:
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- Focus
- Teamwork
- Respect
- Discipline
- Basic Blocking and countering.
- Basic punching and teaching them only to fight or defend themselves when it is necessary.
- Stances and leg development.
- Learning customs and courtesies
- Family first, focus on obligations first
Here is a basic understanding of Year 1 or we call it Level 1.
There 18 stripes now they must learn, each of these stripes that either exercises or self-defense or fighting movements they will learn throughout the year. Here are the concepts that are taught in this level. They must earn 3 belts yellow, yellow/orange, orange. Belts are earned every 4months. We do not charge for them for every test, it would be part of your tuition as being a member here.
- Introduction into basic sparring students are required to purchase safety gear in order to learn this course properly.
- Hip rotation and countering the opponent
- Blocks and countering with a reverse punch.
- The reverse punch is a effective tool for Karate and is used a lot in this level.
- Basic Foot work defensive and offensive
- Baic Parying and blocking
- Mastering directionsal movements
- Creating distance and timing
- Basic Kicking
- Front Kick
- Side Kick
- Round House Kick
- Introduction into “Kata” or “art”
- Kata is a series of movements that teach them how to fight multiple directions of self-defense. It helps with exercise and techniques that help sharpen and apply the movements ini real time.
- Here are what we call these Katas in Japanese.
- Taikyoku Shodan (The beginning of a peaceful journey)
- Heian Shodan ( Peacegul mind first cause)
- Heian Nidan (Peaceful mind second cause)
- Sparring is not required, but is strongly recommended in all levels.
In Level 2 or year 2 we start to focus on more concepts of self defense.
They learn a particular set of life skills that are taught here. They learn how to get away from grabs as well as learning team work. Here are the concepts they learn in Level 2.
- Kicking and set up of kicking from the hands is taught.
- Learning particular strikes to vulnerable areas of the body like throat and parts of the body that can stop the opponent.
- More emphasis in hip rotation and leg placement for paticualr strikes to be stronger.
- Taitsubaki (Japanese for side movement)
- How to do hand trapping during fighting
- Hand parrying during fighting
- Learning extensions of techniques from a long range with footwork and extension.
- Complex direction movement to help with coordination.
- Kicking will be taught
- Hook kick
- Side Kick
- Round house double
- Spinning Side Kick
- Sparring focuses on movement and countering with reverse and Jab with a set up kick throughout the sparring curriculum.
- Katas that are taught,
- Heian Sandan (Peaceful mind 3rd cause)
- Heian Yondan (Peaceful mind 4th cause)
- Heian Godan (Peaceful mind 5ht cause)
Level is a unique year.
At this point the student has stuck by with his friends and fellow teammates and usually end up in the same class. They have learned how to put together basic strikes and now they will learn how to use them in flow and how to use them in more complicated situations. They Will learn weaponry as well. Students will learn,
-Basic Weapons Defense and Offense tactics
- Nun-chucks (Nunchucku)
- Sensei Lorenzo Nunchuk Kata
- Bo Staff (Japanese Long Staff stick)
- Beliso Staff Kata
-Boxing basic hand techniques
– Complex foot work and angular movements for defensive and offensive techniques.
– Leg Sweeping from the front and back leg.
-Use of blocking with the shoulder and other more odd areas of the body.
– Usage of elbow strikes
– Some basic Judo as well as Jiu jitsu and as well as basic grabs
– Parrying and countering skills
-Open hand techniques for striking certain areas of the head.
– Kicking techniques
Spinning Hook
Spinning Back
Tornado Kick
-Sparring focuses on setting up the counter and moving and creating distance and timing. A very important part of Karate fighting.
Katas Taught: Japanese Forms, these self-defense movements are unique in their own element. Each form to give a broad understanding teaching stability, speed, accuracy, and agility. Shotokan Karate as a martial art focuses on explosive power and unique timing abilities that help students use these skills in fighting.
- Tekki Shodan (Iron Horse)
- Basai Dai (Penetrating the fortress)
- Enpi (Flight of the Swallow)
In level 4 we really start focusing on complex combinations,
The students will be learning mostly Japanese terminology at this point as well as more athletic movements such as jump kicking and other forms of fighting that require a lot of athletic development. The will be learning more elements of throwing, jiu jitsu, boxing and close range techniques that are important in fighting. They will also learn leadership qualities as a skill to help them along the way. Level 4 will include:
- Intermediate advanced forms of parrying from close angles
- Foot work that focuses on side stepping and covering distanced
- Blocking with various parts of the body such as shoulders and elbows
- The Backfist
- Seiji Nishimura take downs sets 1,2,3. (Wado Ryu Karate)
- Manipulating the guard
- Opening the counters
- How to break an arm
- Hitting Vulnerable parts of the body
- Basic Knife Self Defense
- Chokes (Basic Jiu Jitsu)
- Triangle Choke
- Kimura
- Arm Bar
- Poison Hand sets 1,2,3 (Shorin Ryu Karate)
- Reviewing the fundamentals
- Kicking
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- All Kicks reviewed
- Dragon Sweep
- Front Leg Check sweep (timed)
- Duck and under body kick
- Scropion Kick
- Continous Sparring (Kickboxing and Karate)
- -Vs 1
- -Vs 2
This is the last phase of the training process to Black Belt. It is an essential part of training because we have students review every aspect of the curriculum. We make sure during this time they are able to retain, recognize and be proficient in Shotokan Karate. Some students who are younger tend to stay longer because of age and maturity, others such as teens an adult are able to get through this process more quickly. This is a huge step in making sure they can do every aspect of the martial arts before we recognize them as a 1st Dan Black Belt so we know that they are able to have these skills before the graduate.
Here is a list of The Shotokan Karate Black belt Katas
The movements can very complicated, but you can at least read what they mean for further study. There are some cool names associated with the material.
Bassai Sho (to penetrate a fortress – small)
This kata was derived from Bassai-Dai. It has a similar performance line.
Kanku Dai (to view the sky – big)
Most of the elements of the Heian Kata were derived from this kata. The first movement in this kata views the sky, which symbolizes the universe and shows your opponent that you are unarmed. It was Master Funakoshi’s preferred kata.
Kanku Sho (to view the sky – small)
Kanku Sho was created from Kanku Dai. The movements and performance line are similar.
Hangetsu (half moon)
This kata received its name from its principal stance, hangetsu dachi (half moon stance).
Goju Shi Ho Dai (fifty four steps – big)
This kata is one of the most advance kata of Shotokan. Master Funakoshi called it hotaku (knocking of a woodpecker) because some of the techniques resemble a woodpecker tapping its beak against a tree.
Goju Shi Ho Sho (fifty four steps – small)
This is a smaller version of Goju Shi Ho Dai. It is also one of the most advanced kata of Shotokan.
Enpi (flying swallow)
The quick up and down movements of this kata are reminiscent of a fling swallow. Enpi is one of the oldest kata in Shotokan. Its former name was Wanshu.
Jion (love and goodness)
Jion is a term in Buddhism. It is also the name of a temple in China. It uses basic stances and techniques. It is one of the most traditional kata in Shotokan.
Jiin (love and shadow)
Jiin is another term in Buddhism. It has similar techniques and performance line as Jion.
Jitte (ten hands)
The goal of this kata is to teach a student to fight against ten opponents. This is a strong kata, similar to jion and Jiin.
Meikyo (bright mirror)
The first movements of this kata suggest the smoothing of water to make it as calm and even as a mirror. The triangle jump at the end of this kata is said to have a secret meaning portending to a miracle.
Niju Shi Ho (twenty-four steps)
The movements in this kata resemble waves breaking on a cliff. The former name of this kata was ni sei shi.
Wankan (king and crown)
Wankan is the shortest kata in Shotokan.
Gankaku (crane on a rock)
The main stance in this kata (tsuruashi dachi) resembles a crane ready to strike at its prey. The movements are supposed to simulate a fight in the narrow alleyways of Okinawa. The former name of this kata was Chinto.
Sochin (strength and calm)
The name of this kata comes from its stance (sochin dachi), a strong, rooted stance. The purpose of this kata is to teach defense against a stick. Its former name was Hakko.
Chinte (rare hand)
Chinte has a lot of circular and roundhouse techniques. These are rare and are not typical of the shortest distance between two points concept of Shotokan.
Unsu (cloud hands)
Unsu has several techniques that symbolize parting the clouds with open hands. It is also one of the most advanced kata of Shotokan.
