Belt Test Study Guides
Yellow Belt
1. What style of karate do you study? (Isshinryu Karate)
2. What is the English translation to the last question? (One heart way)
3. Who was the founder of this style? (Tatsuo Shimabuku)
4. What is the name of the patch we wear on our Uniforms? (Mizu Gami)
5. What are the two styles of karate that make up our style? (Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu)
6. Who was Master Shimabuku's first karate instructor? (His uncle)
7. Who was his first Master Instructor? (Chotuku Kyan)
8. What year was Master Shimabuku born? (1908)
9. What year did he die? (1975)
Define
1. Mae-geri (Front kick)
2. Sensei (instuctor or teacher)
3. Kumite (sparring)
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu
Orange Belt
1. What does the Name "Tatsuo" mean? (Dragon Man)
2. On what date did Master Shimabuku pass away? (May 30th, 1975)
3. What year did Isshinryu become an official style? (1954)
4. Who was Master Shimabuku's first master instructor? (Chotuku Kyan)
5. What style did this instructor teach? (Shorin-ryu)
6. Who was Master Shimabuku's second master instructor? (Chojun Miyagi)
7. What style did this instructor teach? (Goju-ryu)
8. Who was Master Shimabuku's third master instructor? (Choki Motobu)
9. What do the three stars on the mizu gami stand for? (Shimabuku's three instructors, Shorinryu, gojuryu, Isshinryu, The holy trinity, or the three arrows of karate)
10. In what country was Master Shimabuku born? (Okinawa)
11. How many opponents do you face in Seisan kata? (13)
12. Who was your instructor's (Brent Holland) first Sensei? (Brian Cox)
Define
1. Waza (technique)
2. Bunkai (definition)
3. Ushiro-geri (back kick)
4. Kyu (grade or rank)
5. Dachi (stance)
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu
Blue Belt
1. What was Master Shimabuku's birth name? (Shinkichi Shimabukuro)
2. What date did Isshinryu become and official style? (Jan. 15, 1954)
3. In what manner are you fighting in Naihanchi kata? (with your back on a wall)
4. What does the orange ring around the mizu gami signify? (fire)
5. How many required kiai's are in Naihanchi kata? (1)
6. What style of martial arts did Choki Motobu teach? (a version of shorin ryu)
7. Name one thing that differentiates Isshinryu from other karate styles. {Vertical fist, Sunsu kata, upright stances, low kicks, 8 open hand katas...)
8. Name one first generation Isshinryu student. (Harold Long, Sherman Harrill, Don Nagle, Don Bohan, Harold Mitchum, Steve Armstrong, Angi Uezu, Kichiro Shimabuku, Shinso Shimbabuku, Bill Blond, etc.)
9. What are the three arrows of karate? (Mental, Physical, Spiritual)
10. How do you say 32 in japanese? (San-ju-ni)
11. Who are your instructors three sensei's? (Tim Cunningham, Dan Glover, Brian Cox)
Which Style of karate did the following katas come from?
1. Seisan (Shorin-ryu)
2. Seiuchin (Goju-ryu)
3. Naihanchi (Shorin-ryu)
Definitions
1. Yudansha (Black Belt holder)
2. Karate-ka (karate student)
3. Chudan-uke (side block)
4. Hisa-geri (Knee kick)
5. Karate (Empty hand)
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu
Green Belt
1. What does Shinkichi mean? (good fortune)
2. Which of Master Shimabuku's master instuctors was most known as an excellent fighter? (Choki Motobu)
3. What are the traditional names for Shorin ryu and Goju ryu? (Shuri-te and Naha-te)
4. What is wansu kata known for? (the dump)
5. What style of shorin-ryu did Choki Motobu teach? (kobayashi-ryu)
6. On your mizu gami, what does the gray background represent? (the serenity of life)
7. Who was Master Shimabuku's fourth master Instructor (weapons) (Taira Shinken)
8. Name two first generation Isshinryu students. (see blue belt)
9. What is the name of the first bo kata? (Tokumeni no kun)
10. In what city was Kyoshi Glover's school located in 1988? Where is it now? (Jacksonville NC, Burlington NC)
11. What city is Renshi Cunningham's dojo located? (Tarboro NC)
12. Under what circumstances did Sensei Cox and Sensei Holland work out on a weekly basis? (on concrete with no air conditioning or heat)
13. Of the arrows of karate, which do you consider the most important in your personal training?
Definitions
1. Renshi (one to be mirrored)
2. Seiken (punch)
3. Nukite (knife hand)
4. Rei (bow)
5. Ni-dan (second degree)
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu
Purple Belt
1. What is the name of Master Shimabuku's oldest son? (Kichiro Shimabuku)
2. Which of the master instuctors did Master Shimabuku spend the most time learning from? (Chotoku Kyan)
3. On your mizu gami, what does the churning water represent?(the turbulence of life)
4. Who is Eizo Shimabuku? (Tatsuo's younger brother, master of shorin ryu)
5. In what city was the central dojo located? (Agena)
6. Name three 1st Generation Isshinryu students (see blue belt)
7. Who is the head of the USIKA? (Phil Little)
8. On what date was Master Shimabuku born? (September 1908)
9. Which of the following katas was not named after a man or family? Tokumine no kun, Wansu, Sieuchin, Chinto (Sieuchin)
10. How man katas (open hand and weapon) are in the Isshinryu system> (14)
11. What rank does Renshi Cunningham hold? (6th degree black belt)
12. What rank does Kyoshi Glover hold in Isshinryu? (8th degree black belt)
13. Beware the fury of a.......... (patient man)
14. What does goju-ryu mean? Translate (hard-soft way)
15. Which Isshiryu kick do you consider the most devastating? Which do you consider to be the most practical?
16. What do you enjoy most about your karate training?
17. Why do you think Master Shimabuku changed the structure of the traditional twist punch in favor of the Isshinryu vertical fist?
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu
Brown Belt
1. In what year did Chotoku Kyan pass away? (1945)
2. Which of Master Shimabuku's three Master instructors lived beyond World War II? (Chojun Miyagi)
3. Name four 1st generation Isshinryu students. (See blue belt)
4. Name two katas that originate in the goju-ryu style (Sanchin and Sieuchin)
5. Which Master instuctor taught Shimabuku Tokumeni No Kun? (Kyan)
6. Name the three weapons taught in Isshinryu. (Bo, Sai, Tuifa)
7. How did these weapons originate? (farm tools)
8. Who was Habiku Moden? (the weapon master who taught Taira Shinken)
9. What is unique about sunsu kata? (only taught in Isshinryu..created by Master Shimabuku)
10. What relation was Tatsuo Shimabuku to Angi Uezu? (Angi Uezu is married Master Shimabuku's daughter)
11. Name three styles of Martial arts not closely related to Isshinryu. (Kung Fu, Tae Kwon do, Jeet kune do, Aikido, etc....)
12. What year was Sensei Holland promoted to black belt? (1992)
13. Who are Renshi Cunningham's three Isshinryu Instructors? (JC Burris, Chuck Chau, Dan Glover)
14. What two martial arts systems does Kyoshi Glover hold a black belt in? (Neko-ryu, Kodokan Judo)
15. Which of the 15 upper body basics do you consider most practical for your fighting style.
16. With the exception of Tatsuo Shimabuku, of all the karate masters we have learned about, which would ou like to spend one week working out with? Explain your answer.
17. Starting with yourself, trace your Isshinryu history back to Master Shimabuku.
Write out the karate creed
Know the eight codes of Isshinryu and briefly explain each.
Lips gets his Orange Belt!
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