Student Curriculum

(Kyu)

© 2018 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 1

 Version History
Date Updated Version Comments Changed By
2018-08-31 4.0 Updated blue, purple, Shawn Burlew
brown self defenses

2017-03-12 3.0 Updated blue, purple, Shawn Burlew

brown

2017-02-26 2.0 Added blue belt Shawn Burlew

2016-02-18 1.0 First version Shawn Burlew

© 2018 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 2

 Code of Conduct

We follow a code of conduct from Shotokan Karate. The instructors reserve the right to remove any
student from class if the student’s behavior is disruptive or harmful to others.

Strive for perfection of character

Be sincere in all you do

Always endeavor to do your best

Respect others

Refrain from inappropriate behavior

© 2018 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 3

 History

I. Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do (Korea)

Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do was founded by Wong Kuk Lee (1907 - 2002) in
the 1940’s as the Chung Do Kwan (School of the Blue Wave) style of Tang Soo
Do (China hand style). Master Lee learned Shotokan Karate from master and
founder Gichin Funakoshi while studying in Japan and brought the art back to
Korea to teach to his fellow countrymen. Lee retired from teaching in 1950 and
was succeeded by Duk Sung Son (1922 - 2011), who had been training under
Lee since the opening of Lee’s first school in 1944. Master Son continued
working to spread the Chung Do Kwan school’s influence, and during the
1950’s held the position of chief instructor of the South Korean Army. Master
Duk Sung Son
Son held a meeting with several Chung Do Kwan school leaders to choose a
name to unify Korean martial arts under a single banner; through this meeting,
the name Tae Kwon Do was chosen. In 1963, he moved to the USA where he
continued teaching Tae Kwon Do. There, he founded the Tae Han Karate Association which later
became the World Tae Kwon Do Association (WTA). The Chung Do Kwan style of Tae Kwon Do is
characterized by solid stances and fundamentals, as well as a focus on speed and power when
performing kata. Tae Kwon Do consists primarily of strikes.

II. Shotokan Karate (Japan)

Shotokan (House of Shoto) is perhaps the most popular style of Karate, and
was founded by Gichin Funakoshi (1868 - 1957) in the early 20th century.
Master Funakoshi began his martial studies in the late 1800’s by learning Jigen
Ryū, and also trained in the Shōrei Ryū and Shōrin Ryū styles. Over time, he
started teaching and by the 1910’s had many students. In order to spread his
Okinawan Karate, he made several trips to Japan and eventually settled in
Tōkyō. In 1930, Funakoshi created the Dai-Nihon Karate-do Kenkyukai
association to promote camaraderie and the sharing of knowledge between
Karate practitioners; the association is known today as Shotokai. Funakoshi’s Gichin Funakoshi
students established the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in 1949, which
formalized his teachings and shaped modern Shotokan Karate. Shotokan Karate
is characterized by deep, long stances and a fluid style at advanced levels which sometimes
resembles Aikidō. Shotokan Karate consists of strikes, throws, and some grappling.

© 2018 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 4

 History

III. Shōrin Ryū Karate (Okinawa)

Shōrin Ryū (Pine Forest School) Karate is one of the oldest Okinawan martial
arts, and can be traced back to the 17th century. Known as Shuri-Te until the
early 1900’s, Shōrin Ryū is a fluid style with roots ultimately tracing back to the
Shaolin Temple in China in the 6th century. Okinawan martial arts developed as
city-based styles, the most prominent being Shuri, Naha, and Tomari. Takahara
Peichin (1683 - 1760) is commonly known as the “Father of Okinawan Karate”,
and was the first to express the principles of Shuri-Te as a philosophical way of Ankō Itosu
life as well as a fighting system. Shuri-Te was developed over the years and
eventually introduced into Okinawan schools in 1901 by Ankō Itosu (1830 -
1915). Gichin Funakoshi was among Itosu’s students. In 1933, Shuri-Te was renamed to Shōrin
Ryū by Chosin Chibana (1885 - 1969), another of Itosu’s students. Shōrin Ryū Karate is
characterized by relatively high, natural stances and circular movements. Shōrin Ryū consists of
strikes, throws, and some grappling.

© 2018 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 5

 Sparring
At MSMA, sparring is a key element of our curriculum. Sparring teaches students how to keep cool under
pressure and how to handle unexpected circumstances. As students progress, we gradually introduce
light contact as a body conditioning method. Since safety is paramount, we require students to wear
safety equipment while sparring.

IMPORTANT: Students can opt out of contact sparring on an individual basis. If you are uncomfortable
participating in contact sparring, please speak with an instructor.

Rules
Rank Contact Targets & Techniques Equipment Equipment
(Required) (Optional)
No contact
Yellow (4-6 inch gap)
• Gloves (MMA
No contact • Closed fists style)
Green (1-4 inch gap) No targets below belt
•
• No contact to the head
Blue Gi touch • No grabs or throws • Gloves (MMA • Chest
• Reset from clean hit style) protector
Purple • Shin guards • Groin cup
Light • Groin cup (over 16)
Brown (boys, under • Head gear
16) (over 16)
• Head gear • Mouth guard
• Open hands permitted (under 16) (over 16)
• Outer upper thighs permitted (round • Mouth guard
Light to
Black kicks only) (under 16 or
moderate
• Grabs & throws permitted braces)
• Continuous (no reset)

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Kyu Rank Requirements

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 White Belt (6th Kyu)
Kihon Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills
Fundamentals Chung Do Kwan 3-Step
Back stance Taikyoku Shodan (Kukmu 1) Straight punch (high)

Front stance Taikyoku Nidan (Kukmu 2) Knife hand (outside)

Horse stance Kick & chop combo

Strikes Self-defense
Straight punch (mid) Wrist grab (single)

Straight punch (high) Wrist grab (double)

Knife hand (outside) Shirt grab (double)

Knife hand (inside) Shove

Blocks
Rising block

Low sweeping block

Outside block

Inside block

Double block

Double knife hand block

Kicks
Front kick

Side snap kick

Side thrust kick

Roundhouse kick (foot)

Roundhouse kick (shin)

Combos

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 Yellow Belt (5th Kyu)
Kihon Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills
Fundamentals Chung Do Kwan 1-Step
Front roll (kneeling) Heian Shodan (Pyong-An 1) Leopard punch

Front roll (standing) Heian Nidan (Pyong-An 2) Tiger claw

Ukemi (falls) Double palm strike

Strikes Front leg side kick

Back fist Side step side kick

Hammer fist Roundhouse kick

Leopard punch Self Defense

Kicks Front choke (single)

Back kick Front choke (double)

Side kick (front stance) Side choke

Combos Rear arm grab

Sparring

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 Green Belt (4th Kyu)
Kihon (Basics) Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills
Fundamentals Chung Do Kwan 1-Step
Crane stance Heian Sandan (Pyong-An 3) Step behind combo

Strikes Heian Yondan (Pyong-An 4) Two-step combo

Vertical punch Elbow combo

Kicks Self Defense

Crescent kick (inside) Headlock (bent over)

Crescent kick (outside) Headlock (upright)

Wrist grab w/ strike

Sparring

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 Blue Belt (3rd Kyu)
Kihon (Basics) Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills
Fundamentals Chung Do Kwan Self Defense
Cat Stance Heian Godan (Pyong-An 5) Choke w/ strike

Partner ukemi Tekki Shodan (Chulgi 1) Full mount ground & pound

Kicks Ground strikes

Spinning side kick Sparring

Kobudo
Bo staff kihon

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 Purple Belt (2nd Kyu)
Kihon Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills Breaking
Fundamentals Shotokan Self Defense Power Break (Arm)
Back roll Wankan Double leg takedown 1 wood board (over 14)

Side roll Bassai Sho Bear hug series Power Break (Leg)
Kicks Kobudo Ground choke 2 wood boards

Hook kick Shihon Uke (Bo 1) Ground headlock

Arm bar

Sparring

© 2016 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 12

 Brown Belt (1st Kyu)
Kihon Kata & Bunkai Partner Drills Breaking
Fundamentals Chung Do Kwan 1-Step Power Break (Arm)
Rooted stance Bassai Dai (Pal Sek) 5 from Bassai Dai 2 wood boards
bunkai

Body conditioning Shotokan Self Defense Power Break (Leg)

Kicks Hangetsu Triangle choke 3 wood boards

Low sweep (back leg) Arm bar from guard

Low sweep (front leg) Fight from guard

Combos Free grappling

Elbow strikes Sparring

© 2016 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 13

Japanese Terminology

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 Karate Terms & Phrases
English Japanese English Japanese
Basic Terms Numbers
School Dōjō One Ichi

Teacher / Instructor Sensei Two Ni

Senior Student Senpai Three San

Rank (color belt) Kyū Four Shi / Yon

Rank (black belt) Dan Five Go

Uniform Gi Six Roku

Belt Obi Seven Shichi / Nana

Yes Hai Eight Hachi

Thank You Arigatō Nine Kyū

Attention Kiotsuke Ten Jyū

Ready Yoi Hundred Hyaku / Byaku / Pyaku

Bow Rei

Begin / Start Hajime

Stop Yame

Basic(s) Kihon

Technique Waza

Stance Dachi

Form Kata

Application Bunkai

Sparring Kumite

Yell Kiai

© 2016 Mountain Shadows Martial Arts, LLC Page 15

 Karate Terms & Phrases 2
English Japanese English Japanese
Directions Body
Front Mae Arm Ude

Back Ushiro Back Ushiro

Right Mini Chest Mune

Left Hidari Elbow Enpi

Side Yoko Hand Te

Low Gedan Head Atama

Middle Chūdan Knee Hiza

High Jōdan Leg / Foot Ashi

Movements Stances
Block / Receive Uke Back Stance Kōkutsu Dachi

Kick Keri / Geri Cat Stance Neko Ashi Dachi

Punch / Strike Tsuki / Zuki Crane Stance Tsuru Ashi Dachi

Throw Nage Front Stance Zenkutsu Dachi

Turn Mawatte Half Moon Stance Hangetsu Dachi

Horse Stance Kiba Dachi

Rooted Stance Fudō Dachi

Square Stance Shiko Dachi

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 Karate Terms & Phrases 3
English Japanese English Japanese
Strikes Blocks
Back fist Uraken Back hand block Haishu Uke

Elbow strike Enpi Tsuki Cross block Juji Uke

Hammer fist Tetsui Double block Morote Uke

Knife hand (inside) Uchi Shuto Double knife hand block Morote Shuto Uke

Knife hand (outside) Soto Shuto High rising block Age Uke

Leopard punch Hiraken Tsuki Inside block Uchi Uke

Lunge punch Oi Tsuki Knife hand block Shuto Uke

Reverse punch Gyaku Tsuki Low sweeping block Gedan Barai

Side punch Yoko Tsuki Outside block Soto Uke

Spear hand Nukite Kicks

Straight punch Choku Tsuki Back kick Ushiro Geri

Vertical fist punch Tate Tsuki Crescent kick Mikazuki Geri

Front kick Mae Geri

Hook kick Ura Mawashi Geri

Knee strike Hiza Geri

Roundhouse kick Mawashi Geri

Side kick Yoko Geri

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