|
 Founded
by Hironori Ohtsuka, Wado-Ryu is recognized as the first truly Japanese
style of Karate, as opposed to other styles of karate which were
introduced to Japan from Okinawa around 1922. Known as the way of
peace, Wado-Ryu developed entirely on the mainland of Japan as Karate
and Jujutsu Kempo.
Ohtsuka Sensei adopted the good points of several styles
including Shotokan Karate, Shinto-Yoshin-Ryu, Yagyu-Shinkage-Ryu of
long swordsmanship techniques, and Toda Ryu of short sword techniques.
He borrowed the best aspects from each discipline to create his own
style, which emphasized natural movements that flowed like water. For even more information on the history and practice of Wado-Ryu Karate, refer to the website of the US Eastern Wado Federation. O'Riley Karate Center dojos are a part of this organization dedicated to the promotion of Wado-Ryu karate.
belt levels and rank
Wado-Ryu karate has belt colors that are earned at different levels
of experience. Below first degree black belt, or shodan, are the kyu
grades. Students begin as a white belt. Black belt, or dan, levels
start once a student has worked through the kyu grades. Shodan is first
degree black belt, and the first true ranks a practioner holds.
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belt color |
Japanese term |
kata and description |
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white belt |
mu-kyu |
The first belt a student receives is a white belt. |
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gold belt |
hachi-kyu |
The first grade a student holds. The kata is kihon no kata or the basic kata. |
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orange belt |
shichi-kyu |
The kata for this rank is pinan nidan. |
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blue belt |
roku-kyu |
Pinan shodan must be demonstrated before achieving this rank. Blue belt is considered to be an intermediate level. |
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purple belt |
go-kyu |
A student is tested on pinan sandan for this kyu rank. |
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green belt |
yon-kyu |
Green belts' kata is pinan yondan. |
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brown belt:
1 stripe |
san-kyu |
Brown belt is the final step before
black belt, and has three levels, indicated by white stripes on the tip
of belt. Pinan godan is the kata. |
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brown belt:
2 stripes |
ni-kyu |
With two stripes, the kata is kushanku. |
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brown belt:
3 stripes |
ik-kyu |
To earn the third stripe, the kata is naihanchi. The next belt after this one is shodan, or first degree black belt. |
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Black belts 2010 |
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The wado tournament at Stratford High School in Nashville, 2003
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Next tournament: March 2013
For more information, call us at (615) 399-3992.
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