Preparing for your Black Belt
Attempting to test for your Black belt advancement by no means implies you are a master. Nor does it imply you can defeat four or five opponents at once in kumite. Black belt represents many things. It implies you have developed:
a position to begin the next phase of your karate journey with a fresh new set of eyes.
Remember each time we advance, we do not get a “new” kata. On the contrary, we are introduced to “another”
kata. In simple terms, when we introduced to a new kata we do not let the previous ones fall by the way side.
We are introduced to another because our instructor believes we are now good enough to learn another kata
without allowing any previous katas to slip. The goal is to keep improving on each of them.
Ultimately, what your instructor really wants to see in you before they give you the go ahead to test for
advancement is that your overall karate is very sound and has become instinctive. This progress must also
be backed up with self-discipline, etiquette and quality of character.
Introduction to Additional Advanced Katas
- High level of self-mastery in both body and mind
- A high level of self-discipline and etiquette
- Your kihon, kata and kumite techniques are becoming instinctive
a position to begin the next phase of your karate journey with a fresh new set of eyes.
Remember each time we advance, we do not get a “new” kata. On the contrary, we are introduced to “another”
kata. In simple terms, when we introduced to a new kata we do not let the previous ones fall by the way side.
We are introduced to another because our instructor believes we are now good enough to learn another kata
without allowing any previous katas to slip. The goal is to keep improving on each of them.
Ultimately, what your instructor really wants to see in you before they give you the go ahead to test for
advancement is that your overall karate is very sound and has become instinctive. This progress must also
be backed up with self-discipline, etiquette and quality of character.
Introduction to Additional Advanced Katas
- Seisan - 1st Dan
- Sanseru - 2nd Dan
- Sepai - 3rd Dan
- Shisochin - 4th Dan
- Suparinpei - 5th Dan
- Kururunfa - 6th Dan