What they don’t tell you about becoming a Hanshi

The epic journey of a shotokan karate master to find peace, discipline and of course backdoor kicking starts off with a white belt. This belt represents the young shotokan karate student’s experience therefore it is never washed. After much sweat, blood and dirt the belts color will change representing new levels achieved in this order yellow, orange, red, green, purple, blue, brown and ultimately black. Okay you got me that is not really how it works spoils sport pff… Okay I will explain to you the shotokan karate belt color levels in order.

Shotokan Karate Belt Color Levels In Order
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The epic journey of a shotokan karate master to find peace, discipline and of course backdoor kicking starts off with a white belt. This belt represents the young shotokan karate student’s experience therefore it is never washed. After much sweat, blood and dirt the belts color will change representing new levels achieved in this order yellow, orange, red, green, purple, blue, brown and ultimately black. Okay you got me that is not really how it works spoils sport pff… Okay I will explain to you the shotokan karate belt color levels in order.Shotokan Karate Belt Color Levels In Order article image

White Belt (Tenth Kyu)
The shotokan karate white belt color represent the birth of a student, seeking knowledge of the art. The seed that lies under the snow finding its path to sprout and begin a new life.

The white belt is the first level, to surpass this level one must learn :

Kihon syllabus for shotokan karate white belt level (10th kyu)

Ready stance (heiko dachi)
The front stance also called Zenkutsu dachi being able to move forward, backwards and also turn (all moves must be executed from this stance)
A straight punch (oi zuki)
Upward block (age uke)
Inside forearm block (uchi ude uke)
Outside forearm block (soto ude uke)
Down Block (gedan barai)
Front snap kick (mae geri keage)
Kumite– This is a tradition sparring drill designed to quicken your reflex where 2 people face each other and depending on the kumite one person will be attacking and another blocking.

Gohon Kumite (Five step sparring)
How to do gohon kumite part 1 instructions

The attacker will perform a straight punch aimed at the head while moving forward with the front stance repeatedly for 5 times. The defender has to block all these attacks with an upward block while moving backwards five times in the last block the defender must also counter that attack by performing a straight punch just after blocking the last upward straight punch and yell Kiai !

How to do gohon kumite part 2 instructions

The attacker will perform a straight punch while moving forward repeatedly for 5 times. The defender will block the straight punch by the outside forearm block while moving backwards and finishing it off by countering the last attack with a straight punch and yell Kiai !

Kata- This is a set of predetermined moves. The purpose of this exercise is really debatable and gets criticized by many martial artist. I personally see the kata as a meditation and fitness exercise.

Taikyoku Shodan Kata (Ultimate Training Kata)
How To do Taikyoku Shodan Kata step by step instructions (all moves are in the front stance)

Shotokan Karate Belt kata

Ready stance
Turn left 90 degrees while performing a low downward block
Step forward while performing a middle straight punch
Turn right 180 degrees while performing a low downward block
Move forward while performing a middle lunge punch
Turn left 90 degrees while performing a low downward block
Step forward while executing a middle lunge punch
Move forward while executing a middle lunge punch
Step forward while performing a middle lunge punch and yell Kiai !
Turn left 270 degrees while performing a low downward block
Move forward while performing a middle lunge punch
Turn right 180 degrees while performing a low downward block
Step forward while executing a middle lunge punch
Turn left 90 degrees while performing a low downward block
Move forward while executing a middle lunge punch
Step forward while doing a middle lunge punch
Move forward while executing a middle lunge punch and yell Kiai !
Turn left 270 degrees while performing a low downward block
Move forward while doing a middle lunge punch
Turn right 180 degrees while performing a low downward block
Step forward while performing a middle lunge punch
Return to ready stance

Yellow Belt (Ninth Kyu) The shotokan karate yellow belt color represents his first ray of knowledge given to the student by his master, it represents the first ray of light on the seed to be able to start sprouting.

The yellow belt is the second level, to surpass this level one must learn :

Kihon syllabus for shotokan karate yellow belt level (9th kyu)

Back stance (kokutsu dachi)
Side stance (kiba dachi)
A straight punch (oi zuki) – (execution standards higher than previous levels)
Upward block (age uke) – (execution standards higher than previous levels)
Inside forearm block (uchi ude uke) continue reading @ https://pineappledeficiency.com/shotokan-karate-belt-color-levels-in-order/