Belt Ranks

Promotion tests are typically scheduled every three months. Students can test for their next rank at the discretion of the instructor. Students wear a belt (obi) that indicates rank according to the standard system adopted by Connecticut Kyokushin Karate. The lower ranks (mudansha) of Kyu or non-black belt holders are divided into the following colors: white, red, blue, yellow, green …

Kata is the lesson plan, not the lesson

Kata is the lesson plan, not the lesson. If students never practiced a single kata, karate would survive intact. I am certain of this, provided that instructors hew close to the lessons outlined in the kata. That’s right, lessons outlined, not described in full, in the kata. In a recent [discussion] on the subject of bunkai I submitted a clip …