Zanshin Karate Academy Grading Syllabus

The aim of Zanshin Karate Academy is to teach students effective and pragmatic martial arts skills for dealing with modern violence.

As the definition of violence changes so shall we. Never held back by tradition and always open to new ideas and practises, we will strive to incorporate the best of what the global Karate and wider martial arts communities have to offer.

N.B. This is a reference guide and grading criteria can, and will, change depending on various factors

Important Concepts for Combat

The Rules of Combat

As defined by Vince Morris in his book “Rules of Combat, The Development of Warrior Tactics”, ISBN: 0 9539325 0 8.

Always use methods of distraction
Control the fighting distance
Never retreat (unless it is safe to do so, or as a tactic)
Never stop until it is over
Always move to a position of advantage. Do not simply rely upon blocking an attack, but move at the same time
Use the attacker’s strength against them (unbalance, deflect)
Never fight at the same speed as the assailant
Show no fear (unless as a tactic)
Control your own breathing
Do not rely upon any one technique or blow to win the fight
Do not fixate upon one attacker, there may be more
Remember that a hold or a lock is often a prelude to control or finish, the the control or finish itself
Prepare a psychological ‘switch’ in your head and be prepared to use it
Maintain a ‘stone’ face
Do not give way to anger, which is much an enemy to fluid natural movement as fear
Do not fix your attention on any one particular aspect of your opponent
If you are truly concerned to develop effective martial skills, then your practice must be as realistic as possible, not ritualistic
Train to combat the most likely forms of attack first
Action beats reaction!
Hands do only two things in a fight - they protect you and harm your enemy!
KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!)
Use the kyusho or vital (vulnerable) areas or points whenever humanly possible

OODA Loop

Observe-Orient-Decide-Act

The OODA loop is the cycle observe-orient-decide-act, developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd.

Boyd developed the concept to explain how to direct one's energies to defeat an adversary and survive. Boyd emphasised that "the loop" is actually a set of interacting loops that are to be kept in continuous operation during combat. He also indicated that the phase of the battle has an important bearing on the ideal allocation of one's energies.

Cooper Color Code

White: Unaware and unprepared. If attacked in Condition White, the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy or ineptitude of your attacker. When confronted by something nasty, your reaction will probably be "Oh my God! This can't be happening to me."
Yellow: Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself". You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary. You use your eyes and ears, and realize that "I may have to shoot today". You don't have to be armed in this state, but if you are armed you should be in Condition Yellow. You should always be in Yellow whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings or among people you don't know. You can remain in Yellow for long periods, as long as you are able to "Watch your six." (In aviation 12 o'clock refers to the direction in front of the aircraft's nose. Six o'clock is the blind spot behind the pilot.) In Yellow, you are "taking in" surrounding information in a relaxed but alert manner, like a continuous 360 degree radar sweep. As Cooper put it, "I might have to shoot."
Orange: Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has your attention. Your radar has picked up a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat (but you do not drop your six). Your mindset shifts to "I may have to shoot that person today", focusing on the specific target which has caused the escalation in alert status. In Condition Orange, you set a mental trigger: "If that person does "X", I will need to stop them". Your pistol usually remains holstered in this state. Staying in Orange can be a bit of a mental strain, but you can stay in it for as long as you need to. If the threat proves to be nothing, you shift back to Condition Yellow.
Red: Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger (established back in Condition Orange) has been tripped. "If 'X' happens I will shoot that person" — 'X' has happened, the fight is on.

Habitual Acts of Violence

N.B. This list is not conclusive

Push to the chest followed by swinging punch to the head
Swinging punches to the head
Lapel grab followed by punch to the head
Double lapel grab followed by head butt
Double lapel grab followed by knee to the groin
Bottle, glass or improvised weapon to the head
Kick to the groin or lower legs
Broken bottle/glass jabbed to the face
Slashing, hacking or stabbing with an edged weapon
Headlock
High or low tackles
Throat grab, single or double hand
Hair pull
Wrist grab, single
Wrist grab, double
Single or double hand shove
Bear hug
Biting

Recommended Study

N.B. This list is far from exhaustive and students are encouraged to explore further and wider than what is presented below

The Rules of Combat - Vince Morris

Meditations on Violence - Rory Miller

Facing Violence - Rory Miller

The Little Black Book of Violence

From Shotokan to the Street - Andi Kidd

The Gift of Fear - Gavin De Becker

Creepology - Anna Valdiserri

Study of Violence - Jason Donison, Richard Dimitri & Pamela Armitage

9th Kyu (white belt going for red)

Grade aim: Hit, and learn to hit hard!

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force):

Core Skills

Gedan barai
Age uke
Uchi uke
Soto uke
Shuto uke

Sporting

Jab, cross
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)

Throws

Funakoshi’s spinning top

Sparring and Live Practise

Blocks and counter attacks from random wrist and lapel grips
Sparring, 1 minute rounds

8th Kyu (red belt going for orange)

Aim: Angles, offlining

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force):

Core Skills

Gedan barai
Age uke
Uchi uke
Soto uke
Shuto uke

Sporting

Jab, cross, angle off, hook
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)
Jab, cross, pivot off, roundhouse

Throws

Chin rip

Sparring and Live Practise

Drill/spar combative principles and methods from Heian Shodan
Sparring, 1 minute rounds

Kata

Heian Shodan

7th Kyu (orange belt going for yellow)

Aim: Taking balance and an introduction to throws

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force):

Core Skills

Gedan barai (at 45 degree angle), step oi zuki
Age uke, age enpi
Shuto (block and strike on the inside), switch and hiza geri
Shuto (trapping and striking at 45 degree angle on the outside)
Uchi uke (at 45 degree angle), gyaku zuki
Soto uke (at 45 degree angle), elbow lock
Frame head, enpi

Sporting

Jab, cross, angle off, hook
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)
Jab, cross, pivot off, roundhouse
Jab, cross, cover, cross
Jab, cross, slip, cross
Lead leg thrust kick, reverse kick

Throws

Funakoshi’s topple a folding screen / Osoto gari

Sparring and Live Practise

Drill/spar combative principles and methods from Heian Nidan
Folding screen topple (plus variations)
Clinch / throw sparring (randori)
Sparring, 1 minute rounds

Kata

Heian Nidan

6th Kyu (yellow belt going for green)

Aim: Clinch / in-fighting

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force):

Core Skills

Gedan barai (at 45 degree angle), step oi zuki
Age uke, age enpi
Shuto (block and strike on the inside), switch and hiza geri
Shuto (trapping and striking at 45 degree angle on the outside)
Uchi uke (at 45 degree angle), gyaku zuki
Soto uke (at 45 degree angle), elbow lock
Frame head, enpi
Rising elbow, round elbow

Sporting

Jab, cross, angle off, hook
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)
Jab, cross, pivot off, roundhouse
Jab, cross, cover, cross
Jab, cross, slip, cross
Lead leg thrust kick, reverse kick
Jab, cross, into elbow (with same arm), knee

Throws

Hip Throw / O-goshi

Sparring and Live Practise

Drill/spar combative principles and methods from Heian Sandan
Iriminage (plus variations)
Clinch / throws sparring (randori)
Sparring, 1 minute 30 second rounds

Kata

Heian Sandan

5th Kyu (green belt going for purple)

Aim: Combative mindset

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force).
N.B. Students expected to proficient on both sides:

Core Skills

Gedan barai (at 45 degree angle), step oi zuki
Age uke, age enpi, hiza geri
Shuto (block and strike on the inside), switch and hiza geri
Shuto (trapping and striking at 45 degree angle on the outside)
Uchi uke (at 45 degree angle), mae geri, gyaku zuki
Soto uke (at 45 degree angle), elbow lock
Frame head, enpi and hiza geri
Rising elbow, round elbow, dropping elbow

Sporting

Jab, cross, angle off, hook
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)
Jab, cross, pivot off, roundhouse
Jab, cross, cover, cross
Jab, cross, slip, cross
Lead leg thrust kick, reverse kick
Jab, cross, into elbow (with same arm), knee
Lead leg roundhouse, jab, cross, back leg roundhouse

Throws

Figure four / shoulder lock throw

Sparring and Live Practise

Drill/spar combative principles and methods from Heian Yondan
Ground escapes from back
Any previous
Sparring, 1 minute 30 second rounds

Kata

Heian Yondan

4th Kyu (purple belt going for purple and white)

Aim: Demonstrate understanding of Heian katas

Basics and Applications

To be performed solo, with partner (movement) and on pad (movement and force).
N.B. Students expected to proficient on both sides:

Core Skills

Gedan barai (at 45 degree angle), step oi zuki
Age uke, age enpi, hiza geri
Shuto (block and strike on the inside), switch and hiza geri
Shuto (trapping and striking at 45 degree angle on the outside)
Uchi uke (at 45 degree angle), mae geri, gyaku zuki
Soto uke (at 45 degree angle), elbow lock
Frame head, enpi and hiza geri
Rising elbow, round elbow, dropping elbow

Sporting

Jab, cross, angle off, hook
Front kick (with front leg), reverse punch
Reverse punch, front kick (rear leg, stepping through)
Jab, cross, pivot off, roundhouse
Jab, cross, cover, cross
Jab, cross, slip, cross
Lead leg thrust kick, reverse kick
Jab, cross, into elbow (with same arm), knee
Lead leg roundhouse, jab, cross, back leg roundhouse

Throws

Shoulder throw / Ippon Seoi Nage
Funakoshi’s neck ring

Sparring and Live Practise

Drill/spar combative principles and methods from the Heian system
Ground work
All content from previous gradings
Sparring, 1 minute 30 second rounds

Kata

Heian Godan

3rd Kyu (purple and white belt going for brown)

Aim: Self study of Kata and progression of skills

Basics and Applications

All previous combinations and additional variations at grading panel’s discretion

Throws

Funakoshi’s throat press
Fuankoshi’s half wheel

Sparring and Live Practise

Pad drills
Joint locks
Shield / focus mitts, 2 minute rounds
Sparring, 2 minute rounds

Kata

Iain Abernethy’s Ground Kata

Additional

Design and deliver a drill as prescribed by grading panel

2nd Kyu (brown belt going for brown and white)

Aim: Self study of Kata and progression of skills

Basics and Applications

All previous combinations and additional variations at grading panel’s discretion

Throws

Feet sweep / De ashi barai
Scooping throw

Sparring and Live Practise

Pad drills
Joint locks
Shield / focus mitts, 2 minute rounds
Sparring, 2 minute rounds

Kata

Tekki Shodan

Additional

Design and deliver a drill as prescribed by grading panel

1st Kyu (brown and white belt going for brown and two whites)

Aim: Self study of Kata and progression of skills

Basics and Applications

All previous combinations and additional variations at grading panel’s discretion

Throws

Bartitsu hype throw
Body drop throw / Tai otoshi

Sparring and Live Practise

Pad drills
Joint locks
Shield / focus mitts, 2 minute rounds
Sparring, 2 minute rounds

Kata

Kanku-Dai

Additional

Design and deliver a drill as prescribed by grading panel

1st Dan

Aim: A complete demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge

Basics and Applications

All previous combinations and additional variations at grading panel’s discretion

Throws

Demonstration of three throws of candidate’s choice

Sparring and Live Practise

Pad drills
Joint locks
Shield / focus mitts, 2 minute rounds
Sparring, 2 minute rounds

Kata

All previous kata with demonstrations of bunkai

Additional

Design and deliver a drill as prescribed by grading panel

Within reason, candidate must have participated recently in external courses / seminars and should be able to demonstrate learning acquired from these outside of this syllabus

2nd Dan

Aim: Self analysis

Core Skills

Any previous grading material of the grading panels choice
Demonstration of continued personal development
Kata of choice from Karate Do Kyohan

Additional

Two areas of improvement - grading panel’s choice
One area of improvement - students choice

3rd Dan

Aim: Analysis of others

Core Skills

Any previous grading material of the grading panels choice
Demonstration of continued personal development
Kata of choice from Karate Do Kyohan

Additional

Regular coaching of others
Demonstration of understanding of skills and techniques for analysis of, and coaching of others

4th Dan

This grading and its aim will be bespoke for the candidate. All aspects of practical karate training and theory will be in scope and the grading can include any additional complementary subjects (e.g. self defence skills, martial arts research, etc.) at the discretion of the grading panel.