TERMINOLOGY
Onegai-shimasu – Please teach us
Arigato – Thank you
Dojo – Sacred Hall of Learning (Training Room)
Deshi – Students
Sempai – Senior student
Sensei – Teacher
Gi – Karate uniform
Kata – Form; an organized series of prearranged defensive and offensive movements symbolizing an imaginary fight between several opponents and performed in a geometrical pattern.
COUNTING
Ichi – (1) One
Ni – (2) Two
San – (3) Three
Shi – (4) Four
Go – (5) Five
Roku – (6) Six
Shichi – (7) Seven
Hachi – (8) Eight
Ku – (9) Nine
Ju – (10) Ten
TESTING & RANKING
Testing and promotions are held several times a year. The focus of our traditional karate-do is not on promotions and belt colors, but rather on training and diligent practice of kata.
Our ranks and belt colors up until black belt are as follows:
Beginner (White Belt)
Ro-Kyu (White Belt with one green tip)
Go-Kyu (White belt with two green tips)
Yon-Kyu (Green belt)
San-Kyu (Green belt with brown tips)
Ni-Kyu (Brown belt)
Ik-Kyu (Brown belt with black tips)
Qualification requirements for testing and promotion are described in detail in the Red Book (see below) on pages 78-79.
WHERE TO BUY A GI
A recommended vendor for purchasing a gi is Ki International. They can be found on-line at
Click on Karate-gi in the left menu. There are two white light-weight options at the bottom of the page.
In the Twin Cities, gis and other martial arts supplies can be purchased at Rising Sun Martial Arts Supply.
http://www.risingsunmartialartssupply.net/
A note on sizing: The gi should be loose fitting. The company’s Sizing Chart is based only on height. Depending on your body build you may want to order one or two sizes larger than their chart recommends. You may also need to hem the legs and sleeves for proper length.
BOOKS
The following books are recommended reading to supplement your training. They can be purchased from your instructor or on-line.
The Shorin-Ryu Okinawan Karate Question & Answer Book (aka, the Red Book) by Robert Scaglione and William Cummins
Karate of Okinawa – Building Warrior Spirit with Gan, Soku, Tanden, Riki (aka, the Green Book) by Robert Scaglione and William Cummins
The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Shorin-Ryu) by Shoshin Nagamine
Ueshiro Northfield Shorin-Ryu Karate Dojo 