Techniques Chart Japanese-English

UKE	BLOCKS
Soto Uchi Uke	Forward Block
Soto Uke	Forward Inward Block (outside to inside)
Harai Uke	Downward Sweeping Block
Shomen Uke	Front Block (inside to outside)
Age Uke	Upper Block
Joge Uke	Double Block (Upward and Downward Block)
TSUKI	PUNCHES
Shomen Tsuki	Forefist Straight Punch Chest Height
Jodan Tsuki	Forefist Straight Punch Face Height
Chudan Tsuki	Forefist Straight Punch Stomach Height
Gyaku Tsuki	Reverse Punch
Naka Daka Ippon Ken	Middle Finger Knuckle Fist
Shita Tsuki	Middle Knuckle Fist Palm Up
Ippon Ken	Single Knuckle Fist
Tataka Tsuki	Side Square Knuckle Fist (mouth)
UCHI	STRIKES
Ura Uchi Ken	Front (mae), side (yoko), Fukubu (stomach)
Furi Uchi Ken	Swinging Arm Strike with Knuckle
Shuto Uchi	Knife hand strike
Haito Uchi	Ridge hand strike
HIJI ATE	ELBOW STRIKE
Hiji Ate	Front (mae), side (yoko), ushiro (back), swinging (furi), downward (otoshi)
GERI	KICKS
Kin Geri (Kogan Geri)	Groin kick with instep
Mae Geri	Front ball of foot kick
Yoko Geri	Side ball of foot kick
Kansetsu Geri	Knee joint kick with edge of foot
Ushiro Geri	Back kick with heel
Fumi Geri	Stomping kick to floor (edge of foot)
Sokuto Geri	Side blade of foot kick
MAWATE	TURN
Mae Mawate	Front Turn
Ushiro Mawate	Back Turn
DACHI	STANCES
Zenkutsu Dachi	Front leaning stance (long)
Han Zenkutsu Dachi	Half front leaning stance or natural stance
Yoko Zenkutsu Dachi	Side front leaning stance or natural stance
Sanchin Dachi	Pigeon-toed stance
Heisoku Dachi	Attention stance feet togethe
Musubi Dachi	Attention stance heels together, feet in V position
Heiko Dachi	Ready stance (yoi), parallel feet, shoulder width apart
Soto Hachi Dachi	Ready stance, both feet toes pointing out, shoulder width apart
Uchi Hachi Dachi	Ready stance, both feet heels pointing out, shoulder width apart. The stances resembles the Kanji character for "8", hence the name.
Kiba Dachi	Horse riding stance, feet parallel
Shiko Dachi	Horse riding stance, feet turned out
Neko Ashi Dachi	Cat stance, crouched with forward foot off the floor
Tei Ji Dachi	"T"-shaped stance
Kokutsu Dachi	Back-leaning stance
Sagi-ashi Dachi	Heron or crane stance, with foot off floor and knee up
Re-no-ji Dachi	"L" shaped stance, like cat stance with both feet flat on floor

Stances and Positions

In Shiko-Dachi, weight is balanced evenly.

In this illustration of the transition from Musubi-Dachi to Zenkutsu-Dachi, the right foot forward pivots on the big toe before stepping forward. In Goju-Ryu, the Zenkutsu-Dachi stance is relatively narrow, and the body leans forward slightly.

The Yoko-Zenkutsu-Dachi is a side-stepping position seen in both Kihon Tsuki-No and Uke-No Katas.

The transition from Sanchin-Dachi to Heiko-Dachi pivots the right foot from angled to parallel before stepping backward.

Re-No-Ji Dachi and Neko-Ashi-Dachi differ only the forward foot position. Neko-Ashi Dachi has the heel of the front foot off the ground and the weight distributed 80 percent on the back foot and 20 percent on front foot. Re-No-Ji Dachi has both feet flat on the floor and weight balanced more evenly.

The transition from Musubi-Dachi to Heiko Dachi.

Basic target areas jo-dan, chu-dan, and ge-dan, along with basic fist position at "base." Tops of fists are aligned at nipple-height.

Hand position for mawashi uke have the thumb knuckle aligned with the nipple. Target points for mawashi are below the breast and the crease of the groin and hip.

How to Choose a Martial Arts School

After more than 30 years (on and off) of practicing various martial arts, there's one question I'm asked more than any other: "How do I choose the best martial arts school?" It's a difficult question because the answer depends on several factors.

Staying Close to Home

Most people choose a school based on convenience, choosing the martial art they find by accident whether it's taught in school, a fitness club, the YMCA, a city recreation center, or a retail storefront. For children especially, the choice of a school may depend on what's popular at the movies or on t.v. One year it's "Kung Fu," and the next it's "The Karate Kid," "Ultimate Fighting," or Cardio Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), or Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. Ultimately, you'll choose a school that's nearby.

Four Possible Outcomes in Choosing a Martial Arts School

Martial arts fads come and go. Regardless of what's considered popular, there are four possible outcomes to learning a martial art:

1. You have a satisfying, long-term experience. You find a great teacher in a quality school.
2. You have a mixed experience. You spend too much money or injure yourself and become discouraged, even though you may learn a few valuable techniques in the process.
3. You waste your time and money. You think you're learning the nuances of an ancient art while in reality your instructor is inexperienced or even fraudulent and/or the school itself is focused mainly on getting your money. (The saddest part of this outcome is that you might never realize that you've been RIPPED OFF and that you've learned nothing useful.)
4. You suffer from #3 above, PLUS, you find yourself with an instructor who is abusive, reckless, or dangerously incompetent. If you're enrolling your children, ask for references from other parents. If you're enrolling yourself, make sure you take the opportunity to observe classes (preferably unannounced) before you sign up.

Why Study Martial Arts

Choosing a martial arts school often depends on why you want to study. Here are some typical reasons, and some tips for choosing a school.

Self-Defense

For practical self-defense classes, contact your local police department or community college and ask specifically about self-defense classes. These are typically short-term (several weeks), with a focus on practical tips for improving your chances in a confrontation. In contrast, traditional martial arts are often taught in equal parts to to pass down a cultural tradition, to enhance fitness, and to perfect technical fighting arts. If you're looking to learn a few self-defense techniques quickly, traditional martial arts don't provide the answer.

Competition/Sports

Some martial arts emphasize individual and team competition much like other sports such as wrestling, football, or basketball. Judo, a Japanese art of grappling and throwing, was conceived purely as a competitive sport like college wrestling. Tae kwon do, the Korean art similar to Japanese or Okinawan karate is also widely practiced as a competitive sport and appeared in the 2000 Olympics. There's now an active movement to make karate an Olympic sport as well. Along with karate and Chinese martial arts generally labeled as "kung fu," the degree to which the school emphasizes competition depends on the teacher or school. Some will emphasize the sport aspects of their arts and some will not seem to care at all about competition. You should make a judgment about the school based on your preferences.

Fitness and Health

Many martial arts provide intensive aerobic conditioning, strength training, and stretching. In visiting a martial arts school, watch the class warm ups and exercises. Some schools focus on explaining techniques more than on physical conditioning. If you're looking for physical conditioning, be aware that some schools may expect you to arrive to class ready (already warmed up) to learn techniques, while others will lead an intense cardio workout before moving on to the technicalities. There's no right or wrong in this case. When time in the dojo is limited, you may want more technical instruction and less exercise that you could otherwise do on your own. Just be sure to watch the class to see if it provides the kind of workout you want.

Also, keep in mind that traditional martial arts are folk arts passed down through oral traditions. The physical training — while intense — may not incorporate the latest scientific fitness methods. You might want to inquire about these training methods and consider cross-training for a better-rounded workout. Also, beware of instructors who discourage you from cross training and exploring outside interests. They might be seeking to monopolize your time and your money.

Spiritual Development

Many people who seek spiritual development or understanding of Eastern philosophies do so through the study of traditional Asian martial arts. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts embody various Buddhist principles, whether or not an instructor acknowledges them. The harmonizing of the body and the spirit is central to the practice of these martial arts, and the practice of kata (forms) is considered a form of moving meditation. The breath control, the enhanced awareness of one's surroundings, and the calmness of mind are all basic to this spirituality. The practical effect of this training is to make the movements you're learning second nature, to speed-up your reaction time by minimizing conscious thought, and to help you remain clear-headed to avoid confrontations or, if necessary, prevail in battle.

If you seek a deeper understanding of a particular religious or spiritual discipline, look for a temple in your area. In my experience, most Western martial arts instructors are amateur (unqualified) spiritual gurus at best and frauds at worst.

Strength, Confidence, Discipline

Many people study martial arts because they feel physically vulnerable. Practicing a martial art can provide a sense of confidence and control. (This is why parents enroll their children). This is more than simply self-defense. A martial art can't make you invulnerable, but it can help you cope with the fear of confrontation, the fear of pain, or the fear of striking another person even in self-defense. The training can help you develop basic assertiveness and confidence.

All of the Above

When you choose a martial art, you need to be aware of how well the school and the instructor matches your goals. If you choose carefully, you'll have a great experience. If you have limited choices in your area, you might have to make some compromises, but at least you'll be aware of your objectives and what your chosen school has to offer. At least you'll avoid the worst, and you'll have a satisfying and worthwhile experience.

Achieve the Best by Avoiding the Worst

Because most people will sign up for martial arts training in their neighborhoods or in their schools, here are some guidelines for making a decision — especially for avoiding the worst of the lot.

AVOID any school that discourages you from visiting a regularly scheduled class. Visit each school you wish to consider. Grab a copy of the class schedule, then drop in unannounced at a later date. Watch what's going on. Is the class orderly? Are the students respectful of the instructor and of each other? Is the instructor helpful or hostile? Humble or boastful? You can decided for yourself which of these characteristics you like.

BEWARE of free trial promotions at commercial schools. Visit the school to watch classes even before you attend a so-called "free trial." Some schools even SELL a "free" trial, which includes a uniform and three to six classes. These trial classes can put you in a high pressure sales situation. Bottom line: A quality school will let you try one or more classes with no obligation. If you visit a dojo to train, you may be asked to pay a class fee of as much as $20, which is legitimate. Many instructors rent training space on an hourly basis. If you work out with the group, you should be prepared to chip in to help cover the rent.

AVOID schools that require signing a non-refundable membership contract for any term longer than a few months. Years ago, I signed a membership contract. The instructor who had impressed me with his knowledge never taught a class after I joined. To make matters worse, my contract was sold to a collection agency and I was required to pay a monthly fee for two years after I had left the school.

Accreditation, Licensing, and Credentials

There is no single accrediting body for martial arts schools, nor are there any licensing requirements in most of the United States. Pretty much anybody who wants to teach martial arts may do so. This makes it nearly impossible to use accreditation or licensing as the basis for choosing a school. Even if you can decipher the acronyms for the various accrediting bodies, such as the WKF (World Karate Federation), JKF (Japan Karate Federation), the USANKF (U.S.A. National Karate-Do Federation), or the ITF (International Tae Kwon Do Federation), you can't rely on these affiliations to guarantee that a school will suit your needs.

The discussion of teaching credentials could take up another whole article. Belt ranks vary from school to school, so focus on the chief instructor's years of experience studying and teaching. In my opinion, teaching any martial art as a senior instructor requires a minimum of 10 years experience in training, and ideally more. There's nothing wrong with a junior black belt leading classes or helping students, but only under the supervision of a more senior instructor. In Japanese karate, a full instructor (a Sensei) status is not typically granted until 3rd Dan (third degree black belt), which generally requires at least 10 years of experience. A master or Shihan grade requires 15 to 20 years of training.

Qualities to Look For in a Martial Arts School

In seeking martial arts instruction, look for a school:

• that let's you watch (unannounced) and try first
• that doesn't require long-term contracts
• where students and instructors are respectful of each other
• where you see the right degree of physical conditioning
• where the instructors have a minimum of 10 years of experience
• where the emphasis is on quality and not on commercial exploitation

If the school advertises an affiliation with an accrediting body or international organization, do some reseach on the Web to confirm that the organization exists and that its mission seems consistent with what you were told at the school.

Finally, check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out if a school has a history of complaints. If you avoid the worst of the lot, chances are you'll do just fine.

David M. Kalman began studying Shutokan karate in 1974 as a member of the St. John's Prep Martial Arts Club (Danvers, Mass., USA). He later served as the club's leader. He's had some experience training in Tae Kwon Do, Shito-Ryu Karate, American Freestyle Karate, and Shaolin Kempo. Since 1996, he has trained in Seigokan Goju-Ryu under Sensei Marcos Collaco in the San Francisco Bay Area. Email Dave at David@seigokan.com or visit www.Seigokan.com.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Seigokan organization or anyone else.

Copyright © 2009 David M. Kalman ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Worldwide Seigokan Dojo List

AUSTRALIA
Seigokan Australia

BRAZIL
Seigokan Brazil

CANADA
SGKC Canada (unofficial site)

CHILE
Asociación de Karate-Do Seigokan de Chile

COLOMBIA
El Honbu Dojo Sunao, Julio César Herrera, Sensei

HONG KONG
Hong Kong Seigokan HQ

Shatin Dojos

Kenny Yu's Dojos

Lok Wah Dojo

Quarry Bay Dojo

Chaiwan Dojos

Tuen Mun Dojos

INDIA
SGI - Seigokan Goju-Ryu India

ITALY
ISGK: Italia Seigokan Goju-ryu

JAPAN
Honbu Dojo

Harimakasai-Dojo

MACAU
Associação de Karatedo Seigokan de Macau (AKSM)

NEPAL
Seigokan Nepal

PHILIPPINES
SGKP-Seigokan Goju-Ryu Philippines

PORTUGAL
Associação de Karatedo Seigokan de Portugal
AKSP English Language Site

Associação de Portugal Seigokan Nagaikai

SRI LANKA
Seigokan Sri Lanka

UNITED STATES
Seigokan USA

Seigokan Bay Area Dojos

VENEZUELA
Seigokan Venezuela

Seigokan USA Lineage

Master Seigo Tada (1922-1997)
            |
Shoji Yuki and Yukiaki Yoki
Hong Kong Dojo - 1967
            |
José Martins Achiam
Macau Dojo - 1967 ----------------|
            |           Puchy e Irmãos Novos
            |
Luis Pedruco and Alberto Carlos Paes D'Assumpção (Acaio)
Nov. 1970                May 1971
            |
            |
Leonardo Carion (1976)
            |
Marcos Collaco (1977)------(SF Bay Area, USA)
            |                              |
R. Takeshi Fukuchi (1978)                  |
            |                              |
Mario Carion (1976)                        |
            |                              |
Marcos Furtado (1981)                      |
                                      Shaun Greely
                                     Frank Hinckley
                                     Craig Hartford
                                      Jose Collaco
                                      Leon D'Aquino
                                     David M. Kalman
                                       Peter Popin
                                  Cathy D'Aquino Greely
                                      Angela Ng Swanson
                                      Dzung Dang
                                      Juliana Collaco

Goju-ryu and Seigokan History

The history of karate depends on oral accounts and anecdotes. Inevitable discrepancies in such accounts often breed controversies and sometimes bitterness. The intention here is to present an overview of the most basic facts based on a general agreement of multiple sources) for visitors and newcomers to Seigokan Goju-Ryu. I welcome corrections and annotations from any knowledgeable source. For in-depth historical research, I recommend Mark Bishop's book Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles, and Secret Techniques.

Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi

Naha-Te

Sensei Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915), born in the city of Naha, Okinawa, studied Okinawan kempo ("fist-method" or "way of the fist") and in 1867 traveled to Foochow, Fukien Province, China to study Chinese martial arts. He spent twenty years under the Chinese master Ryu Ryuko, who was believed to have studied at the southern Shaolin Temple and may have also taught in the White Crane tradition. Higaonna became Ryuko's personal disciple or uchi-deshi. It is believed that Higaonna returned to Okinawa in 1881 (Meiji Era) and later began a new Naha-Te school in his home of Nishishin-machi. He later taught at the Naha Commercial High School.

Goju-ryu

Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953), born on Okinawa and at age of 11 or 12 began study with Sensei Ryuko Aragaki. At the age 14 he was introduced to Sensei Higaonna and later accepted as Higaonna's disciple studying Naha-te until Higaonna's death in 1915. From 1915 to 1917, Miyagi also studied in Foochow, Fukien province of China. After returning to Okinawa he taught at his home.

From his study in China and his acquaintance with Chinese masters visiting Okinawa, Miyagi became well versed in and influenced by other Chinese martial arts, including White Crane boxing, Tiger Boxing, and Monk Fist. According to an account written by Master Morio Higaonna, in 1926, Miyagi founded the Okinawa Karate Kenkyu-Kai (Research Club) with Chomo Hanashiro of Shuri-Te, Choyu Motobu of Tomari-Te and Kenwa Mabuni. Soon after, he traveled to Japan to demonstrate what he called "toudijutsu" (China Hand Art) or what was simply known as Te (hand) on Okinawa.

In 1933, "Goju-Ryu" was officially accepted by the Dai Nippon Butokokai (All Japan Martial Arts Association). This was the first "karate" so recognized. After World War II, Miyagi taught at the Police Academy of Okinawa and also accepted new students at his home. Miyagi was known as one of the first masters to systematize Karate as a self-defense method and as a spiritual endeavor that could be taught in a modern setting.

Seigo Tada

Master Seigo Tada

From his official biography: Seigo Tada (1922-1997), born in Kyoto, Japan. As early as 1937, he learned Chinese martial arts (Chinese Kenpo) from Sensei Ching Lou in Shanghai. He entered Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and its Karate club. Then and after graduation, he studied the essence of Goju-Ryu Karate-do from Sensei Chojun Miyagi. In 1943 he was nominated as a coach of the Ritsumeikan University Karate Club. After graduation, he established the Nihon Seigokan Karate-doshikai (SAJKA), Nihon Goju-Ryu Karate-doshikai and Nihon Seigokai in Kyoto. He had been leading 120 Seigokan domestic dojos and branches, as well as University clubs and overseas dojos, as president and chief instructor.

In 1964, Master Seigo Tada joined as one of the promoters and executives in establishing and organizing the All Japan Karate-Do Federation, Kansai District Karate-do Federation, Kinki District Karate-do Federation and each prefectural karate-do federation, and pursued the union of each federation. He established competition rules and developed the original protector in 1952 for the purpose of modernizing Karate-do as a sport. In 1981, he won the Hyogo Prefecture Athletic Award of Merit.

• Member of the Instruction Committee in the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) and a member of deliberation
• Director of Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF)
• Chief of Directors of Kansai District Karate-do Federation
• Chief of Directors of Kinki District Karate-do Federation
• Chief of Directors, VP and Acting President in Hyogo Prefectural Karate-do Federation

Upon his death in 1997, Master Seigo Tada was succeeded by his wife, Mrs. Michiko Okamoto (Seigo Tada II), and subsequently by their son (Seigo Tada III) as president of the Seigokan organization. The contact information for the Seigokan headquarters is as follows:

Kancho Seigo Tada III, The President Seigokan All Japan Karate-do Association 722 Bessho, Bessho-cho Himeji-city, Hyogo-ken 671-0221 Japan Tel and Fax: +81 792 520026

Seigokan Goju-ryu Kata Videos

Seigokan Goju-Ryu incorporates original Seigokan kata (created by Seigo Tada) and traditional kata that have been passed down from Chinese and Okinawan martial arts.

This kata list includes sample performances. Note that the timing and some techniques differ from instructor to instructor. Kata performed in competition will use variations in timing both for dramatic effect and to allow judges to see subtle and complex movements. The WKF specifies versions of the kata that are standardized for competition. The standard or compulsory kata ("shitei gata") from the Goju-ryu style are Saifa and Seipai.

Kihon Tsuki-No - Basic punching kata (Seigo Tada)

Gekisai Dai Ichi - "Attack and Smash One" (Chojun Miyagi)

Gekisai Dai Ni - "Attack and Smash Two" (Chojun Miyagi)

Saifa* - "Smash and Tear" (Traditional)

Seiyunchin* or Seienchin-- "Method of Attack" (Traditional)

Sanchin - "Three Battles" (Traditional)

[Still looking for a decent Sanchin video]

Uke-no - "Blocking/Defensive Kata" (Seigo Tada)

Shisochin* - "Battle in Four Directions" (Traditional)

Tensho - "Revolving Hands" (Traditional kata redesigned by Chojun Miyagi)

Seipai* - "18 Hands" (Traditional)

San-sei-ru - "36 Hands" (Traditional)

Seisan* - "13 Hands" (Traditional)

Kururunfa* - "Maneuvers of Evasion - Tai Sabaki" (Traditional)

Suparinpei* - "108 Hands" (Traditional)

*The Seigokan Goju-Ryu kata have some variations from kata of other Goju-Ryu schools. This is the inevitable result of each school's founder or master interpreting the kata. For the purpose of inter-school tournaments, Seigokan also requires training in the compulsory shitei kata. The kata asterisked above are recognized shitei kata.

In WKF tournaments, a competitor must first perform a shitei kata in the first round, and if advancing to a second round, perform a different shitei kata. If advancing to a third round, the competitor may choose a free kata or Tokui kata.

Seigokan Goju-ryu Techniques

Tachi Kihon - Stationary basic techniques (waza)

Uke (block) Waza	Ate (strike) Waza	Hiji (elbow) Ate	Ura (back fist) Uchi	Geri (kick) Waza Practice 10 kicks each leg
Block #1: Soto uchi uke	Shomen tsuki (from heiko-dachi and shiko dachi)	Mae (front)	Mae jodan (front, face height)	Kinteki geri (groin instep kick)
Block #2: Soto (outside/inside forearm) uke
Block #3: Harai (lower) otoshi uke	Shita-tsuki (back knuckles) from shiko dachi with single knuckle (Nakadaka-ippon-ken)	Yoko (side)	Yoko jodan (side, face height)	Mae (front ball-of-foot) geri
Block #4: Shomen (inside/outside) uke	Shuto (swinging knife hand) uchi	Furi (hooking)	Fukubu (side, stomach height)	Yoko (round/side ball-of-foot) geri
Block #5: Age (rising) uke	Haito (ridge hand) uchi	Ushiro (back)	Furi uchi (swinging backfist)	Kansetsu (dropping kick) geri
Block #6: Jyoge uke (shomen and harai uke together)
				Hiza (knee) ate
				Ushiro kinteki geri (Kinteki geri to rear direction)
				Ushiro (rear) kinteki (groin) geri
				Fumi (stomping kick) geri, sokuto geri (straight side blade kick), mawashi geri (roundhouse kick)* (not traditional Seigokan kicks)

Renzoku Kihon Dosa - Moving in Zenkutsu (front-leaning) Dachi, Shiko (straddle) Dachi, Sanchin (tension) Dachi, Yoko Zenkutsu Dachi

UKE (block) WAZA	ATE (strike) WAZA
Shomen (front) uke	Jun (lunge) and giaku (reverse) tsuki
Soto uke	Mae (front) geri
Jodan (upper) age (rising) uke	Yoko (side) geri
Kake (soft hooking block) uke	Sokuto (blade of foot) geri
Harai (swinging) otoshi (downward) uke	Mawashi (round) geri
Jyoge (up and down) harai (swinging) uke	Ushiro (back) geri
	Ushiro mawashi geri
	Ura mawashi geri

Renzoku Kihon Dosa - Moving in other stances

Sanchin and/or Zenkutsu Dachi (for tsuki and uke)	Koza (crossing feet) Tsuki Dachi	Neko Ashi (Cat) Dachi (for geri)	"T"-ji-Dachi (for geri)
Tsuki to mae geri (punch/front kick combo)	Koza tsuki chudan (middle)	Tenshin (moving backward and forward)	Tenshin (moving all directions)
Tsuki to yoko geri (punch/side kick combo)	Koza tsuki jodan (upper)	Tsugi-ashi (shuffle step back foot moves first) and Okuri ashi (shuffle step front foot moves first)

Yakusoku Kumite (Set Sparring)

#	Seigokan Yakusoku Kumite (set sparring)
	Ganmen-tsuki: Zenkutsu dachi no tsuki (defending an upper lunge punch, zenkutsu dachi attack)	Fukubu-Tsuki: Shiko dachi no tsuki (defending a middle lunge punch, shiko dachi attack)
1	Uchi uke suigetsu (solar plexus) tsuki	Soto uke wakido (side) tsuki
2	Soto uke wakido tsuki	Uchi uke ganmen tsuki (straight punch to face)
3	Kawashi (evasive) tsuki yoko geri	Osae (hand-pressing) uke furi uchi
4	Suriage (upward sliding palm block) furi uchi (hooking strike)	Shomen uke ude giaku kansetsu tori
5	Uchi uke shuto uchi	Soe uke (reinforced block) kansetsu geri
6	Nodoate ashi (pulling/grabbing) kake nage (hook throw) fumi geri	Harai otoshi (downward) yotsui kime (defending mae geri)
7	Harai uke ura (reverse) uchi* *(Not official Seigokan set sparring)	Age uke mae geri* *(Not official Seigokan set sparring)

-

Grading and Belt Colors

Belt colors and ranks reflect each student's experience and skill level. Ranks up to black belt are called "Kyu" or junior ranks, and start with 12 Kyu and end with 1 Kyu. Black belt ranks start with 1st Dan and advance to 10th Dan. Each Kyu or Dan up to 3rd Dan includes a letter grade of A, B, or C based on the student's proficiency.

The First Test

The grade to be achieved on a student's first test depends in part on the student's age.

School Year/age	First Test(after 6 months of training)	Second Test (after 6 months to 1 year of training)
Nursery School	12 Kyu B	11 Kyu C
Kindergarten	12 Kyu B	11 Kyu B
Elementary 1st Grade	11 Kyu B	10 Kyu B
Elementary 2nd Grade	10 Kyu C	9 Kyu C
Elementary 3rd Grade	10 Kyu B	9 Kyu B
Elementary 4th Grade	10 Kyu A	9 Kyu A
Elementary 5th Grade	9 Kyu C	8 Kyu C
Elementary 6th Grade	9 Kyu B	8 Kyu B
Middle School 7th Grade	9 Kyu B	8 Kyu A
Middle School 8th Grade	8 Kyu C	7 Kyu C
Middle School 9th Grade	8 Kyu C	7 Kyu B
High School	8 Kyu B	7 Kyu A
Adult (age 16 and over)	7 Kyu B	6 Kyu B

Testing up to 1st Dan (black belt) may take place every six months.

Black Belt (Dan) Grading Standard

A black belt (Dan) grade requires a minimum number of years of training in Seigokan Goju-Ryu, depending on the student's age. A student with a middle school 2nd Dan may advance to Adult 1st Dan at age 16.

Grade	Years required and minimum rank	School year or age/years of experience in Seigokan
Child 1st Dan	Child 1st Kyu holder	Elementary school/More than 5 years in Seigokan
Child 2nd Dan	Child 1st Dan holder	Middle school/More than 2 years in Seigokan
Adult 1st Dan	Adult 1st Kyu holder or Child 2nd Dan holder	Age 16 or over/More than 3 years in Seigokan
2 Dan	2 years after 1st Dan issued	Over age 18/more than 5 years in Seigokan
3 Dan* Special terms	4 years after 2nd Dan issued*3 years after 2nd Dan issued	Over age 22/more than 10 years in Seigokan*Over age 30/more than 7 years in Seigokan or over age 23/more than 15 years in Seigokan
4 Dan* Special terms	4 years after 3rd Dan issued*3 years after 3rd Dan issued	Over age 26/more than 12 years in Seigokan*Over age 35/more than 12 years in Seigokan or over age 27/more than 19 years in Seigokan
5 Dan	5 years after 4th Dan issued	Over age 31/more than 15 years in Seigokan
6 Dan	7 years after 5th Dan issued	Over age 38/more than 22 years in Seigokan
7 Dan	8 years after 6th Dan issued	Over age 46/more than 30 years in Seigokan
8 Dan	10 years after 7th Dan issued	Over age 56/more than 40 years in Seigokan(requires recommendation by the directors)
9 Dan		(requires recommendation by the directors)
10 Dan		(requires recommendation by the directors)

Seigokan Grading Minimum Requirements

In Seigokan testing, examiners are looking for proper form, concentration, speed, power, and balance.

Grade		Kata	# of Katas	Yakusoku Kumite (set sparring)	Jiyu Kumite (free sparring)
White/Yellow	Child	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2	1	2	Not required
	Adult	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2	1	2	Required
Green	Child	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai	1	2	Not required
	Adult	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai	1	2	Required
Brown (currently 4th Kyu)	Child	Any kata	1	4	Not required
	Adult	Sanchin and another kata	2	4	Required
Brown (3rd Kyu-2nd Kyu)	Child	Any kata	2	4	Not required
	Adult	Sanchin and another kata	2	4	Required
Black (currently 1st Kyu)	Child	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Not required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Required
Black (currently 1st Dan)	Child	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Not required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
Black (currently 2nd Dan)	Child	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	5	Required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
3rd Dan	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
4th - 5th Dan	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any Goju-ryu kata (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(requires analysis of at least two applications of the kata)	2	more than 5	Required
6th - 7th Dan		Uke-no-kata and two other katas (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(requires analysis of at least three applications of the kata)	3	Not required	Not required

Seigokan USA Goju-Ryu Belt Colors

White, no stripes - All students begin here White, 1 stripe - 12th or 11th Kyu [nursery school or kindergarten students] White, 2 stripes - 10th Kyu Yellow, no stripes - 9th Kyu Yellow, 1 stripe - 8th Kyu Yellow, 2 stripes - 7th Kyu Green, no stripes - 6th Kyu Green, 1 stripe - 5th Kyu Green, 2 stripes - 4th Kyu Brown, no stripes - 3rd Kyu Brown, 1 stripe - 2nd Kyu Brown, 2 stripes - 1st Kyu Black, no stripes - 1st Dan - 10th Dan