School Handbook

Class Schedules
Testing Information
Rules and Policies
Title Definitions
Okinawan Terminology
How to Tie Your Belt
Videos

Class Schedules

Class	Monday	Wednesday	Saturday	Sunday
Dynomites	5:00-5:45 pm 5:45-6:30 pm	5:00-5:45 pm 5:45-6:30 pm

Juniors	6:30-7:30 pm	6:30-7:30 pm

Adults	7:30-9:00 pm	7:30-9:00 pm	10:30-12:00 pm

Family	7:30-8:30 pm	7:30-8:30 pm

Kobudo			9:30-10:30 am

Rank Testing

Achieving a new rank is an accomplishment that can give you a sense of pride. You should wear your new belt secure in the knowledge that you have made progress and are committed to your training. While every effort has been made to insure that you have a complete list of what your requirements will be for any given belt rank, it is possible that the requirements have been corrected or improved. It will be your responsibility to be current on the latest testing requirements. If you have any questions or concerns, you need to address these concerns with the school director.

IN ORDER TO TEST YOU MUST:
• Have met the minimum time at rank and attended the minimum required number of classes
• Know and demonstrate the required knowledge and skills on a continuing basis prior to the test
• NO CRAMMING
• Have your account current
• Pay your testing fee and turn in your required essay when due (three days prior to testing)
• Show up on time and be ready when called upon
• Wear a clean, white uniform
• Have your equipment that will be required (pads, mouth guards, weapons, etc.)

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING PLEASE DISCUSS WITH THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF PRIOR TO TESTING:

Do I know everything that will be required for the test?

Can I complete all my forms without mistakes?

Do I know everything that was required for all prior ranks and am I better at these requirements than I was when I last tested?

Am I putting forth 100% effort in 100% of the classes I attend?

Remember, if you aren’t chosen to test, it probably means your instructor feels you have an area that needs improvement. Feel free to discuss this with the instructor in private. HOW YOU ARE JUDGED: You are judged on whether you perform adequately in ALL areas. Adequately means a minimum of 75% performance of quality and quantity. Doing correct techniques properly but with poor form is a quality issue, while not being able to do the correct techniques would be a quantity issue. Ki or "Spirit" is a very critical aspect of your development as a martial artist. As you progress, your growth in confidence, respect, "can do" behavior will be a very important part of your testing.

Midland Shorin Ryu Rules and Policies

The following rules apply to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or rank. Please read through the following rules and be sure you understand your responsibility.

• Illegal activity of any kind will not be tolerated.

• No profanity in the school or at school functions

• Class time is for learning. Pay attention and keep talking to a minimum

• You must be on time for class. If late, you must obtain permission to enter floor.

• Safety is the primary concern at all times. YOU are responsible for your actions. Care should be taken in your training to minimize the possibility of injuring another person.

• No Unsupervised sparring is allowed. A minimum of a third kyu is to be present during sparring.

• Do not use another person’s equipment without permission. (Especially Weapons)

• Keep the school clean. Clean up after yourself. Clean up after others if necessary.

• You and your equipment should be kept in neat, clean, safe condition at all times. Your fingernails and toenails should be kept short and clean. No jewelry is to be worn in class.

• All others are to be treated with respect regardless of age, gender, rank, etc. If you are addressing someone in the school with a particular title, know it and use it

If you have any complaints, comments or suggestions please bring them to the attention of the proper person. If they fail to resolve the matter satisfactorily, take the issue to a superior or the school director.

• Friend brought into the school are instructed to stay in the visitor area.

Pay your dues according to your schedule. If you run into financial difficulties make arrangements with the school director- DO NOT QUIT!

Title Definitions

POSITION TITLES:

Mr. or Ms.	= Proper way to address any student
Sempai	= Senior, Proper way to address brown belts (3rd kyu or higher)
	= Also the formal relationship of a student with more seniority than you
Sensei	= Instructor, Proper address for any instructor rated individuals
	= Used when addressing a black belt that is teaching
Kohai	= Junior, this is the name of a junior student being mentored
	= The Sempai-Kohai relationship is very central to respect in karate
Shihan	= Master Instructor, Proper address for 4th degree and higher ranked black belts
Renshi	= Director or Doctor, Proper title of 6th degree and higher
Kyoshi	= Expert Master, Proper title of 7th degree and higher
Hanshi	= Most Honorary Master, Proper title of the system head

INSTRUCTOR TITLES AND RATING:

Assistant Instructor	= Minimum rank of 3rd kyu and 30 hours of documented teaching
Training Instructor	= Minimum rank of 1st Dan Blackbelt, & 50 hours of teaching
Instructor	= Minimum of 1st Dan Blackbelt, with 100 hours of teaching
	= Can promote up to 1st Kyu Brown Belt
Senior Instructor	= Minimum rank of 3d Dan Blackbelt, Min. 300 hours teaching
	= Can promote up to 1st Dan Blackbelt

Okinawan Terminology

9th Kyu Term Requirements: (Required before wearing Yamashita Chest Patch)
Instructor	Sensei	Bow	Rei
Form	Kata	Prepare	Yoi
Shout of Spirit	Kiai	Begin	Hajime
Meditate Command	Mokuso	Stop	Matte
Attention	Kyotsuke	Turn	Mawatte

8th Kyu Term Requirements: (Required before wearing School Shoulder Patch)
Punch	Zuki	One	Ichi
Kick	Geri	Two	Ni
Front Stance	Zen Kutsu Dachi	Three	San
Cat Stance	Neko Ashi Dachi	Four	Shi
Horse Stance	Kiba Dachi	Five	Go
Knife Block	Shuto Uke	Six	Roku
Middle Block	Chudan Uke	Seven	ShiChi
Forearm Block	Soto Uke	Eight	Hachi
Low Block	Gedan Bari Uke	Nine	Ku
High Rising Block	Jodan Age Uke	Ten	Ju
Hammer Fist	Tettsui	Twenty	Ni Ju
Heel Palm Strike	Teisho	Thirty	San Ju

7th Kyu Term Requirements: (Required before wearing Yamashita Back Patch)
Straight Punch	Seiken Choku Zuki	Reverse Punch	Gyaku Zuki
High Level	Jodan	Lunge Punch	Oi Zuki
Middle Level	Chudan	Ridge Hand	Haito
Low Level	Gedan	Knife Hand	Shuto
Uniform	Gi	Return to Ready	Yame
Belt	Obi	School	Dojo
Backfist	Uraken	Spear Hand	Nukite
Round House Kick	Mawashi Geri	Side Kick	Yoko Geri
Front Thrust Kick	Mae Geri	Sparring	Kumite
Front of School (Honor)	Shomen	Thank You	Domo Arigato

6th Kyu Term Requirements
Hook Stance	Kosa Dachi	Back Kick	Ushiro Geri
Crescent Kick	Mikizuki Geri	Flying Kick	Tobi Geri
Stomp Kick	Fumakomi Geri	Degree	Dan
Senior Student	Sempai	Class (level)	Kyu
Master	Shihan	Okay	Yosh
Please Teach Me	Onegaishimasu	Excuse Me	Gomen Nasai

5th Kyu Term Requirements
First in Line	Dai Sempai	Fist	Seiken
Bent Wrist	Kakuto	Hook Punch	Kagi Zuki
Short Punch	Ura Zuki	X-Block	Juji Uke
Jab	Kizami Zuki	Power Block (augment)	Morote Uke
Check Block	Kake Te Uke	Instep	Haisoku
Toes	Tsumasaki	Heel of Foot	Kakato
Edge of Foot	Sokuto	Back Stance	Kokutsu Dachi
Ball of Foot	Koshi	Most Senior Student	Ushi Deshi
Point	Pon	Shorin Ryu	Small Forest Way
Pinan	Peaceful Harmony	Ko	Old
Naihanchi	Iron Horse	Budo	Warrior Way