Karate Main

The System

Adult training consists of a variety of training formats, divided into five sections: Basics, Renkai, Kumite, Kata and Tegumi.

Basics

These are core techniques which a beginner starts with. This section develops the basic punches and kicks together with the footwork for mobility. This is the Shi Zen Do boxing method. The techniques in the first section are practiced singly to develop the body skills before the combinations are covered. The footwork and covering techniques underlying this section is practiced through the eight gate method.

Tobikommizuki

Punching techniques
Tobikommizuki - Front jab
Gyakuzuki - Reverse jab
Kagizuki - Hook
Nagashizuki - Angle jab
Agezuki - Uppercut
Yamazuki - Overhand
Uraken - Back fist

Kicking techniques
Maegeri - Front kick
Mawashi geri - Angle kick

Eightgate Footwork

Renkai

These are combinations of basic punching and kicking techniques, linked into combinations of firstly three and then four. As the student prepares for achieving green belt use of the elbow and knee are also incorporated. At this point the techniques are also trained in a freestyle manner. Punch Kick is usually your first line of attack, all of the combinations start with the leading hand (jab - Tobikommizuki) as this is the closest limb to your opponent, discounting the leading foot. In this section the emphasis is on fluid upper body skills with rapid change of tempo and changing angles of attack. Renkai is the section when the students learn how to spar at close and medium range, use of training equipment is utilised to develop student's power, distance and avoiding techniques, all counters that your opponent may deliver are trained as body placement skills such as duck, slips and weave.

Kumite

The pre-arranged pairs work of the Wado Ryu system are divided into three sections: Ippon Kumite, Ohyo Kumite and Kihon Kumite, each developing a different attainment of skill level.

Ippon Kumite

Ippon Kumite
This is one step pairs work, wherein the student can develop the basic skills with a partner. There are twelve sets of pairs work in this section. This is the foundation to the system and will develop into the strategies in the Tegumi section. This set of pairs work will teach the angles and positions for attack and defense, these are the most important parts to the system to gain the proper body alignment under the conditions of attack, which differ to Kata where the student trains solo. In this section the student is structure tested under attack making the adjustments needed to develop Karate skills.

Ohyo Kumite

Ohyo Kumite
This tends to be more complex, the techniques involve an attack defend attack scenario where students partake in an exchange of attacking and defending roles in one set of pairswork. The pace of Ohyo is lively and flowing which differs from the first set of pairs work covered in Ippon Kumite, these sets are light and explosive in nature and involve very complex manoeuvres such as turns, sweeps and take downs . These are the Ju Jitsu techniques of the system and the photo shows how the defender has slipped the incoming punch posting herself for the throw. The attacker will be thrown across the defender's leading leg and will hit the floor alongside the defender, this will be followed up by a finishing strike to attacker's head.

There are eight Ohyos in the set encompassing a variety of attack and defense scenarios..

Kihon Kumite

The ten Kihon Kumite skills are the pinnacle of the system, the principles of this set of pairs work are neutralizing the opponent's attack through sensitivity and body placement. Kihon Kumite concept is to take the line of force from an opponent and deliver this force back with the added force of the defender. The stepping is swift and light with a rooted stance on the final strike, the shifting and avoiding of the opponent's attack are characterized by circular movements of Kihon Kumite. The pace of this pairs work tends to be slightly slower, the attacks are strong yet soft, they encompass the two elements of Go and Ju (Hard-Yang and soft-Yin). Ippon Kumite and Ohyo Kumite are the two opposites that make up Kihon Kumite. The attacks and defences tend to be closer and is the correct Kata range for Shi Zen Do's Tegumi, Kensetsu and Nage Waza.

Kata

Kata Kushanku

There are three Wazas and six Katas to the Shi Zen Do system. These prearranged forms are practiced to familiarise the students with the martial art principles and concepts contained in the body. Techniques alone serve only an application whereas the skills contained in the body serve as the function of powering the techniques. If the power is lacking, technique and application will not work. Kata is the essence of the system and at its core is the concepts and principles of the driving force of Karate. Some Katas will promote rooting and grounding, others will concentrate on fluidity and soft movements of the body. There are other Katas which emphasize fast movements with explosive body skills and rapid shifting of stances, other Katas will develop powerful heavy type stances with light hands used for neutralizing and leading the attacker into a false impression as to the intention of the defender's action. The principles and concepts learned are developed and incorporated into various training methods towards the black belt, aiding the student's understanding of Martial Arts.

Kata Sanshin

Wazas	Uke Waza
	Uke Tsuki Waza
	Empi Geri Waza

Katas	Sanshin
	Tensho
	Naihanchi
	Kushanku
	Seishan
	Chinto

Tegumi

These are hand drills worked with a partner and come in two distinct formats.

The first is touch reflex, where both arms are used in a sequence of striking drills with one partner attacking while the other deflects and then vice versa. Initially this is executed in a pre-planned fashion but is developed into a freestyle format incorporating pairs work and kata. These exercises train the body to sense incoming forces and to pass the force from one hand to another before countering. All Kata and Kumite can be channeled through this section and is one of the main training methods used by the Shi Zen Do system.

The second set of the hands on method further develops sensitivity, with the partners' arms remaining in contact whilst attacking, neutralizing and countering. These hand drill are performed in a flowing manner both rooted and moving and teach the student connectedness, attack and defense are simultaneous.

Kensetsu

This joint locking system of Shi Zen Do, a two person prearranged form performed by flowing into one restraint and then into another in an unbroken flow of movement. These are the immobilizing and seizing techniques, when the student acquires the correct skill level these locks are then applied through the Tegumi section. The photo show an immobilizing technique, the right hand performing hikite whilst the left arm is utilizing a Gedanbarri (not a downward block). There are thirteen basic locks to this section but more are added through a natural progression the student infills the gaps he or she feels. In class training the student employs Ji Yu training, this translates as freestyle, its here the student incorporates the use of all the above training methods flowing for boxing to grappling, locking and throwing.