Requirements for karate black belt (Goju Ryu)

[@DmytroBespalchuk]

I wish you a good luck with your grading, Sensei Che. You and Sensei Zoe do the amazing work by sharing you knowledge and experience with us. Love your videos and explanations.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you very much! It is our great honour to share what we know with the world, and to give back to the art we love so much. Thank for taking the time to watch our little channel - we are so grateful 🙏🏻

[@jakpat93]

Thank you for the insight. As a white belt, it's good to know what's ahead :)

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Glad it was helpful! What a special journey you are embarking on - long may it last! We hope we can be of use in your journey ahead - please do share your grading and training stories with us as you go.

[@Coffee_is_ready]

Great summary. I am glad to see many of the things you mention also mentioned by the sensei of my dojo. Lecker! I wonder if that comes from German. We have the word, but it refers to food and means that something is delicious and tastes really good. So similar meaning, just in a different context. Edit: Googled and it comes from Dutch lekker. Edit: All the best for you grading.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

So Afrikaans is a hybrid of Dutch, French and English (once referred to, pejoratively as 'kitchen Dutch)'. When we watch German shows, we can pick up the occasional shared word. Thank you for the kind words!

[@franciscacarstens]

All the best with your grading, sensei Ché! Enjoy every moment.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, thank you our Fran! So grateful we have people like you in our dojo - you make us better instructors :D

[@camiloiribarren1450]

Good luck on your rank test, Che! And as always, thank you for your explanation of this amazing art we practice around the world

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you for the wishes! An exciting journey awaits 🙏🏻 it is our joy to share this karate world with you 😇

[@zoombam62]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. You have a good heart and spirit, with strength in your humility.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, what a beautiful message to receive! Thank you so much for these very kind words, and we hope to see you in our comment section again :D

[@terrysanders2817]

Excellent presentation. Your students are very fortunate!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you kindly! We try our best!

[@madmaf6011]

Thank you, that's beautiful!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, thank you so much 🤗

[@ShayGoku]

Hello and thank you for creating this great karate channel, all the best and good luck next week✌

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for this truly generous Super Thanks! It will be much appreciated, and go towards mat fees in Okinawa for grading 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️ thank you, truly 🩷

[@DFindlermr]

Good luck for your grading. Sincere thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

So nice of you to say so! It has been our great honour to share our knowledge :)

[@davinaerwee2349]

Lekker man. Good luck with the grading. Hope you have a very awesome time in Okinawa. Enjoy the time and privilege of training in the birth place of karate. You have sure earned it. Your knowledge of Goju is mind-blowing. Hopefully one day I can too be such an awesome Sensei.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

But you are awesome, Sensei Davina! You have such an uphill battle to teach where you do - you do an amazing job with such limited resources and support. We're proud of you, always

[@samowens3]

Listen to Sensei Che every thing he saying just makes you a better human. Karate is life exercising, stretching, breathing, wrestling, Bunkai , Kata 2 man drills , sparring, weapons but most importantly manners and humility. I add one to this I don’t care what religion you believe in but you need to acknowledge their is a higher power than you .

[@Burvedys]

Best luck in Okinawa at your grading! I hope you'll surpass the thug wife title with your new title granted (kobudo with skillet or not). :o)

[@ralfraths3619]

All the best for the grading! Thanks for the video; there is a lot of great stuff here. We're a Goju-ryu doo in northern Germany and in many respects do stuff pretty much like you guys, from what I gather. But in each and every video I find things I want to adapt, especially the whole randori complex (thanks for the videos). In this video, I do like the idea to present complex techniques to show that you learned and understood the mechanics behind it AND to show simpler, more direct techniques to show that you have versions at hand also that work when stress and adrenaline reduce you to gross motor movements. I am struggling recently to combine the "combative" aspect of karate and the "formal" aspect of karate in a meaningful syllabus and there is always the danger to go overboard in one direction. Explaining it your way makles total sense and legitimizes both approaches. Thanks!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, what a splendid and thoughtful comment! Indeed, karate is a complex entity, where many things are true at the same time. It can be super straightforward, and delightfully complicated *as the situation dictates*. Germany is on our travel bucket list - we hope to train with you one day 🙏🏻

[@ralfraths3619]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Thanks. A stop an an road tour would be great! Pin a little flag on Hannover, Lower Saxony, on your map. :D

[@ArpanRajani]

All the very best sensei Ché for the next grading.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you so much! An exciting new chapter awaits

[@henrykomansky9352]

Best wishes for your grading sensei!!!!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you!! It's exciting to be in Okinawa again 🌺

[@Kiwigeo8339]

Best of luck with your grading Sensei.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you! Excited to be travelling back to the birthplace of karate :)

[@server123456]

Enjoy your time in Okinawa! I’m sure you’ll have no problem passing your grading!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

I hope so too! It's been 14 years in the making 😅

[@PeterMitchell-s5t]

When i took my goju black belt,we started with 1 hour of circult training. My sensi said " anyone can throw go techniques when fresh" . So under pressure through exhaustion, your thinking becomes harder.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

This is the way 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 The Goju you do when you're tired is your real karate 🥋

[@GojuRyu1976]

Good luck with your grading in Okinawa!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you!! Looking forward to returning to the birthplace of Karate 🙌

[@gregs_garage]

I love this channel. But Why did you leave Seiwa-kai?

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you for watching our channel! I left because my Sensei left Seiwa-Kai, and I chose to follow him 🙏🏻still have respect for my old federation, and so glad to see Sensei Naidoo is putting out content 🥋

[@gregs_garage]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre excellent. Sensei Vassie was in Canada with us this year in May. A lot of what you teach seems to align with our club in Canada.

[@dariopolanco5641]

hi Sensei , this Dario , im shodan in goyu kai, i'd like to continue and get nidan level, i used to practice in Santa monica ca , it is far away where i live now ,i could take classes from you.? i know several katas , gueki sai dai ichi, ni. saifa sanseru sisochin, seisan, saifa, san chin, seun chin.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Hi Dario! We actually offer online classes - drop us an email at [e-mail] and I'll send you all the info :)

[@abdul-wahhaababrahams6719]

Osu shihaan is your syllabus similar to that of karate zen ?

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, no need for titles :) It is quite similar in terms of kata, but bunkai and black belt grading requirements might differ. We know Karate Zen well - please pass on our regards :)

[@abdul-wahhaababrahams6719]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre ok sensei is irikumi part of the shodan grading in your organisation.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

We do Randori and grappling in most testing. The demands and expectations change as the grade changes

[@chejagger1]

I fear her skillet

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Fear is the best seasoning :D

[@WadeSmith-oe5xd]

Hi I don't want to hog your thread, but I want to show you something. I just had to correct a guy who is teaching a "black belt mill" and I wanted your perspective on what MY black belt test was when I was training full time at my old Sensei's dojo. Getting a 1st Dan black belt should require 6 to 10 years training 3 to 5 sessions per week 3 hours per session. Only about one in every TEN OR TWENTY students should ever manage to get a 1st Dan black belt, and only about 1/2 of those should ever manage to get a 3rd Dan black belt. Basically, in Isshinryu Karate, every two belt ranks you go up, you are expected to win a handicap match against the previous two belt ranks. The ranks are: White - learns basics for 3 months Yellow - Must know all 15 basic hand strikes, 8 basic blocks, and 15 basic kicks, and about 20 basic submissions. Each belt rank learns about 20 new basic submissions - improves on basics for 3 more months Orange - Learns instructor's custom Kata and Learns Sanchin and Bunkai. Should be able to beat two white belts in a handicap full contact. Blue - Learns Seisan Kata and Bunkai Light Green - Learns Seiunchin kata and Tokomini No Kun Okinawan Bo kata and bunkai. Beat two Orange belts in handicap. Dark Green - Learns Naihanchi and Bunka Purple - Learns Wansu and Kyan No Sai and Bunkai. Beat two Light Green in handicap. 1s Brown - Learns Chinto and Hame Higa Tuifa and Bunkai 2nd Brown - Learns Kusanku and bunkai. Beat two Purple in handicap. 3rd Brown - Learns Sunsu kata and Bunkai Black Belt testing should be able to beat two 2nd/3rd browns attacking him simultaneously in full contact. 1st black through 10th black 3rd black should be able to beat two 1st blacks attacking him simultaneously in full contact. At each Kyu level, you learn around 20 unique submissions, so by the time you pass a 1st degree black belt test you should know around 200 unique Japanese Jiu Jitsu submissions. That's what a black belt is in Okinawan Karate and Jiu Jitsu. A valid black belt test is to do the following: 1) Have two newly promoted 1st or 2nd kyus simultaneously attack the black belt candidate from opposite directions, and see whether the black belt candidate can defeat both kyus attacking him simultaneously. If yes, he passes this portion of the test. If no, he fails. 2) Have one newly promoted 1st kyu attack the black belt candidate with an escrima stick and see whether the UNARMED black belt candidate can disarm the armed attacker. If yes, he passes this portion of the test. If no, he fails the test. 3) Test whether the candidate actually knows around 200 Japanese Jiu Jitsu submissions. If yes, he passes this portion of the test. If no, he fails this portion of the test. This portion of the TEST takes about six months to administer. 4) Bunkai. Test whether the black belt candidate can actually "win" various kumite scenarios taught by Kata and other forms. If yes, he passes this portion of the test. If no, he fails the test. This portion of the TEST takes about six months to administer. 5) Test whether they can run a mile and a half or so in about 10 minutes, that way they can at least out run the average unskilled gang of thugs. IF they fail any portion of the test, they are not a black belt.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Wow! What a hardcore and intense syllabus, from start to finish. We have a different order of kata to learn, but we do have similiar fighting portions. I actually film parts of our black belt grading, I think it would make an interesting video. I really like the addition of the escrima stick for disarming situations - I think this would be invaluable to have. You are right that there are a LOT of black belt mills (I prefer the mills term to McDojo, its a bit more helpful) and the test should be hard, and that there should be a higher rate of failure. We don't like seeing 12 year olds running around with black belts, and it sets students up for failure when we tell them they can handle themselves as black belts, when we've given them the belt just because they've done time. It is super long and thoughtful comments like these that we really do love receiving, as it expands our knowledge of what's going on in other dojos, so that we may also see what's really working and being implemented around the world. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this all out - it absolutely isn't hogging the thread, but sharing instead your hard-won knowledge. Best wishes from South Africa, Zoë & Ché

[@WadeSmith-oe5xd]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Thank you for replying. I mean it