Okinawa Kobujutsu Promotion Requirements—Rokkyū (6th Kyū)

Rokkyu (6th Kyu) Purple Belt

This page presents the requirements for promotion in Aragaki-Ryū Okinawa kobujutsu to the rank of rokkyū (6th kyū).  In the Kokusai Okinawa Kobujutsu Renmei (KOKR), as well as the Seishin-Kan, rokkyū is signified by a purple belt for adults, youth, and children.

n Shikaku (Eligibility Requirements)
n Sahō to Reihō (Preparation & Etiquette)
n Kihon (Fundamentals)
n Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)
n Yakusoku Kumibuki (Choreographed Sparring)
n Jiyū Kumibuki (Free Sparring)
n Kata (Self-Defence Examples)
n Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)
n Gakka (Scholarship)

Shikaku (Eligibility Requirements)

To be eligible to test for rokkyū, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below:

  n Hold a minimum rank of hachikyū in karate-dō
  n A minimum of three (3) months training in Aragaki-Ryū Okinawa kobujutsu
  n Participate in a minimum of forty (40) one-hour Okinawa kobujutsu training classes
  n Own and wear a karate-gi that conforms to Seishin-Kan standards
  n Consistently exhibit appropriate attitude and behaviour in the dōjō
  n Submit a written request for promotion testing on the prescribed form

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Sahō to Reihō (Preparation & Etiquette)

Sahō (Preparation):   Correctly wear karate-gi and keep it clean and neat, correctly tie obi (belt), consistently arrive in time to assist with class set-up and remain afterward to assist with sōji (clean up).

Reihō (Etiquette):   Consistently perform correct etiquette upon entering and leaving the dōjō,  greeting sensei and sempai and fellow participants, correctly perform hairei (venerating bow), tachi-rei (standing bow), and zarei (kneeling bow) with bō.

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Kihon (Fundamentals)

Correctly perform the following fundamentals: 

  n Honte Mochi (normal grip) of the bō
  n Gyakute Mochi (reversed-hands grip) of the bō
  n Musubi Dachi ("closed" stance)
  n Heikō Dachi ("parallel" stance)
  n Zenkutsu Dachi (front facing stance)
  n Han-zenkutsu Dachi (half-front facing stance)
  n Kōkutsu Dachi (rearward facing stance)
  n Shikō Dachi (rectangular stance)
  n Gedan Harai Uke (low-sweeping block)
  n Soto Uke (outward forearm block)
  n Uchi Uke (inward forearm block)
  n Jōdan Uke (upward forearm block)
  n Uchi-otoshi (downward strike)
  n Tsuki-uchi (thrusting strike)


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Idō Kihon (Basic Movements)

Correctly perform the following techniques while stepping forward, backward, or turning:

  n Gedan harai uke (low-sweeping block) in kōkutsu dachi with the bō
  n Soto Uke (outward block) in zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, or neko-ashi dachi with the bō
  n Kuri Uke (twisting block) in zenkutsu dachi, han-zenkutsu dachi, or neko-ashi dachi with the bō
  n Tsuki-uchi (thrusting strike) in zenkutsu dachi or han-zenkutsu dachi with yori-ashi with the bō
  n Uchi-otoshi (downward strike) in zenkutsu dachi or han-zenkutsu dachi with yori-ashi with the bō

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Yakusoku Kumibuki (Choreographed Weapons Sparring)

Yakusoku kumibuki is not required for promotion to rokkyū.


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Jiyu Kumibuki (Free Weapons Sparring)

Jiyū kumibuki is not a requirement for rokkyū.


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Kata (Self-Defence Examples)

Correctly perform the following kata, either tandoku embu (solo performance) or dantai embu (synchronised group performance):

  n Ufugushuku no Kon  (no video currently available)

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Bunkai to Ōyō (Analysis & Practical Application)

Explain the underlying reasons or tactical principles for the following techniques from Ufugushuku no Kon: 

  n What is the purpose of the bō movement during yōi ("preparation")?
  n Why do we keep the rear of the bō between our arm and side during uchi-otoshi, tsuki-uchi, and sage-bō (kamate)?
  n Why do we shift from han-zenkutsu dachi to shikō dachi to perform the chūdan tsuki-uchi in Ufugushuku no kon?
  n Why do we swing the bō forward when performing yame at the end of the kata?

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Gakka (Scholarship)

Be prepared to answer any or all of the following questions:

n What does the word "kobujutsu" mean?
  n What is the name of our style of Okinawa kobujutsu?
  n Why do we use the term "kobujutsu" instead of "kobudō"?
  n Who was the founder of our style of Okinawa kobujutsu?
  n Why are karate and Okinawa kobujutsu considered "companion arts"?
  n Name the major parts of the bō (bō no meisho) in Japanese.

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Registration of Rank

All promotion tests for yūkyūsha (ranks below black belt) are conducted by the Nippon Budō Seishin-Kan at one of its facilities or affiliated dōjō or kenkyūkai.  The rankings in Okinawa kobujutsu awarded as a result of these tests are valid only at the Seishin-Kan unless they are also registered with the governing body of Aragaki-Ryu—the Kokusai Okinawa Kobujutsu Renmei (KOKR).  The KOKR assesses a fee for registering a promotion in rank with them and issuing an official menjō (diploma) attesting to that rank.

Seishin-Kan students are not required to register their rank with a cognizant global governing body.  Instead, we encourage students to consider whether or not KOKR rank registration is consitent with their long-term training objectives.  We therefore recommend that students discuss their training goals with their sensei to help determine if rank registration best suits their needs and future plans. 

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Questions?

QuestionMark

If you are preparing to test and you are not sure you know or meet all the requirements described on this page, please be sure to ask your sempai or sensei during a class session.

Promotion Requirements

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