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About TAKESHIN KARATE-DO
(Bamboo Spirit Empty Hand Way)
An art of blocks, strikes, punches and kicks, Takeshin Karate-do also applies throws, locks and takedowns not normally taught in more widely seen karate-arts. Most of this "hidden" material comes from careful analysis of traditional karate kata (forms) taken from numerous traditions (see below.)
Takeshin Karate is intended to provide an art of power without sacrificing fluidity and ease of execution.
Instruction begins with simple stances and blocks that hold subtleties often lost upon the casual observer. In essence these basic movements are the key building blocks for more advanced techniques, developed by the traditional kata and applied in various engagement drills.
Each rank from hachikyu (eighth grade) to ikkyu (first grade) requires the traditional "K's" of karate-do: keri (kicks), kata (forms) and kumite (engagement matches). At shodan (first degree black belt), the practitioners should be competent at the performance, analysis and application of the following: KERI (kicks): mae geri keage/kekomi (front snap, front thrust); yoko geri keage/kekomi (side snap, side thrust); Mikazuki/ushiro mikazuki geri (inward crescent, outward crescent); mawashi geri (close in roundhouse, extended roundhouse); ushiro geri keage/kekomi (back snap, back thrust); and at least one tobi geri (flying kick).
KATA (forms): Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan (Peaceful Mind 1-5); Kanku-dai (Viewing the Sky, principle variation); Bassai-dai (Breaking through a Fortress, principle variation); and Tekki shodan, nidan, sandan (Iron Horse 1-3).
KUMITE (engagement drills): jodan ippon kumite (upper-level one-step sparring); sandan ippon kumite (3-level one-step sparring); jiyu ippon kumite (free attack one-step sparring); jiyu kumite (free sparring).
At higher black belt levels additional specific kicking and sparring skills are required as well as a choice of at lest 5 additional traditional forms.
Our required forms begin with typical Japanese kata, reminiscent of Shotokan. In upper black belt levels, however, one may add forms from Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu and Kamishin-ryu. Each student is required to understand how to analyze their forms and how to apply variations of each movement or each form.