SYLLABUS
The Grading System
Like many of the other martial arts, Shōrinji Kempō has a grading system of belts to allow structured learning and to acknowledge achievement and understanding. Everyone starts at white belt (5th Kyū) and then is examined at a grading every time they wish to go up to the next belt. The five novice belts are white, yellow, green, blue and brown which are also known as 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Kyū respectively.
To attain each of these belts a minimum number of training sessions must have been attended and the syllabus techniques for the desired grade must be learnt. The higher novice belts also require some knowledge of the philosophy of Shōrinji Kempō and also demand the presentation of a rehearsed sequence of techniques performed with a partner (embu).
Grading exams are fairly relaxed at novice level, but become more serious the higher the grade, however even the lowest grade exams can still be a bit daunting! The gradings are performed by another Instructor (Sensei) and are usually carried out together with a group of people from both the Oxford dojo and others.
Having attained Shodan (1st Dan/black belt) it remains possible to continue grading since, 1st Dan is only the first non-novice grade. Look at it this way: the chief instructors in Japan are 9th Dan!
The Syllabus
Outlined below are the syllabus techniques required to reach each of the belts up to San Dan (3rd Dan). The techniques names are all in Japanese and although not easy to understand at a glance, picking up the basic Japanese commands is fairly easy. In training, our Sensei uses the Japanese names for the techniques and then usually repeats them in English.
The Japanese language instructions also allow for training to be conducted in a universally understood set of commands, aiding those who may not have mastered a country's native language. This means that you could train in other dojos while visiting foreign countries (we have also had our share of international kenshi). The Japanese does not pose a barrier to learning; it just makes everything sound far more impressive! Self-defence certainly doesn't sound boring with technique names such as "Kumade Zuki" or "Ryu Nage".
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4th kyū yellow belt |
Gōhō (hard techniques) |
Uchi uke zuki (inward block punch) Mae ryūsui geri (forward flowing water kick) Ushiro ryūsui geri (backward flowing water kick) Uwa uke geri (upward block kick) |
| Jūhō (soft techniques) |
Kote nuki (forearm escape) Yori nuki (twisting escape) Gyaku gote (reverse forearm) Ude jūji (arm cross) |
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| Ukemi (the art of falling safely) |
Yoko ukemi (horizontal roll) / ōten yori okiagari (getting up using a barrel roll) Daisharin (cartwheel) |
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| Basic technical Japanese words |
Greetings, Commands and AnnouncementsRei - "bow" - Palms together in salutationNaore - "recover" - Hands down Shūgō - "assemble" Seiretsu - "line up" Chakuza - "sit down" - Sit in Seiza position (see below) Kiritsu - "stand up" Kesshu (gamae) - "concentration (stance)" - Stance taken when listening to instructions. Onegaishimasu - "please" (polite form) - Said before an exercise Arigatō gozaimashita - "thank you" (polite form) - Said after an exercise Hajime - "begin" Yame - "stop" ... hajimemasu - "beginning of ..." ... owarimasu - "end of ..." Other Useful VocabularyKamae - Stance (also -gamae, as a suffix)Seiza - Formal sitting position: kneeling with the tops of the feet flat on the floor, and sitting on the soles Anza - Relaxed sitting position: cross-legged Kiai - Shout / Fighting spirit Shin kokyū - Deep breath Chosoku - Breathing control Renshū - Training Junbi taisō - Preparatory exercises (warm-up) Kihon - Basics Waza - Techniques Otagai ni - (with) each other |
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| Counting |
1. Ichi 2. Ni 3. San 4. Shi / Yon 5. Go 6. Roku 7. Shichi / Nana 8. Hachi 9. Kyū 10. Jū |
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| Gakka (Study Subjects) |
How to behave at the dojo | |
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3rd kyū green belt |
Gōhō | Uwa uke zuki Shita uke geri Shita uke jun geri Tsuki ten ichi |
| Jū̄hō | Ryōte yori nuki Maki nuki (katate & ryōte) Okuri gote Okuri maki tembin |
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| Ukemi | Mae ukemi Ushiro ukemi |
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| Kata (tan en) | Tenchiken dai ichi | |
| Gakka | Motivation and Goals for the Founding of Shōrinji Kempō Key Attitudes Toward Training The Five Elements of Atemi The Three Essentials of Ken (gi, jutsu, ryaku) |
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2nd kyū blue belt |
Gōhō | Tenshin geri Uchi uke geri Yoko tenshin geri Han tenshin geri Juji uke geri Tsubame gaeshi Chidori gaeshi |
| Jū̄hō | Kiri nuki (uchi & soto) Juji nuki (katate & ryōte) Gassho nuki Juji gote (katate & ryōte) Ryaku jūji gote Ryōte okuri gote Kiri kaeshi nuki (katate & morote) Sankaku nuki Kiri gote (katate & morote) |
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| Kata (tan en) | Tenchiken dai ichi - ni Giwaken dai ichi |
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| Gakka | Shōrinji Kempō is a Discipline that Develops Individuals How to Study the Technical and Philosophical Teachings Ma'ai and Opportunity for Offence and Defence On Mind, Ki and Strength |
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1st kyū brown belt |
Gōhō | Soto uke zuki Soto uke geri Soto oshi uke zuki Kusshin zuki Kusshin geri |
| Jū̄hō | Jōhaku nuki (katate & ryōte) Oshi kiri nuki Jōhaku dori (katate & ryōte) Jōhaku maki (katate) Sode nuki Sode dori Sode maki Sode maki tembin Eri nuki Ude maki Kata muna otoshi Eri jūji Gyaku gote ura gaeshi nage |
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| Kata (tan en) | Tenchiken dai ichi - yon Ryūōken dai ichi |
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| Kata (sō tai) | Tenchiken dai ichi Giwaken dai ichi |
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| Gakka | The Six Distinguishing Characteristics of Shōrinji Kempō Three Teachings of Ken (shu, ha, ri) Key Principles On Sen (Initiative) |
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Shodan black belt (1st degree) |
Gōhō | Kinteki geri hiza uke Gyaku geri hiza uke Mawashi geri sambo uke Harai uke geri Furi ten ni Keri ten san Tsuki ten san |
| Jū̄hō | Nidan nuki Oshi gote (katate & ryōte) Oshi nuki (katate) Kote maki gaeshi Hiki nuki (morote) Maki gote (katate & morote) Juji nuki (morote) Juji gote (morote) |
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| Kata (tan en) | Tenchiken dai ichi - roku Byakuren ken dai ichi |
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| Kata (sō tai) | Tenchiken dai ichi Tenchiken dai ni |
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| Gakka: Home Assignments |
What is True Strength Your motives in starting Shōrinji Kempō and your present state of mind |
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| Gakka: Supervised Essay Examination |
Shōrinji Kempō is a Discipline that Develops Individuals The Six Distinguishing Characteristics of Shōrinji Kempō Key Attitudes Toward Training The Five Elements of Atemi Systems of the Training (kihon, hokei, randori, embu) On Kisei and Kiai Ma'ai and Opportunity for Offence and Defence What is Truth Strength? |
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| Ni Dan black belt (2nd degree) |
Gakka: Home Assignments |
Shōrinji Kempō is a Discipline that Develops Individuals Shōrinji Kempō Symbols and Activities |
| Gakka: Supervised Essay Examination |
The Six Distinguishing Characteristics of Shōrinji Kempō Motivation and Goals for the Founding of Shōrinji Kempō Three Teachings of Ken (shu, ha, ri) Three Essentials of Ken (gi, jutsu, ryaku) Principles used for Shōrinji Kempō On Chinkon Practice Technical Classifications of Shōrinji Kempō On Mind, Ki, and Strength Shōrinji Kempō is a Discipline that Develops Individuals |
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| San Dan black belt (3rd degree) |
Gakka: Home Assignments |
The Six Distinguishing Characteristics of Shōrinji Kempō History and Founding of Shōrinji Kempō |
| Gakka: Supervised Essay Examination |
History and Founding of Shōrinji Kempō On Sen (Initiative) Ma'ai and Opportunity for Offense and Defense Shōrinji Kempō Symbols and Activities Pressure points of the head, face, and neck (22 points) Pressure points of the arm and hand (15 points) Pressure points of the leg and foot (21 points) Pressure points of the chest and stomach (12 points) The Six Distinguishing Characteristics of Shōrinji Kempō |