FIRST KYU - BROWN BELT/BLACK STRIPE 
Ik-kyu

Here you will find all the information you need to prepare you for your grading. This information includes your theory and your practical test. I hope this information helps you in giving you a better understanding about Kyokushin Karate and also gives you a better understanding of your requirements and at the same time helps you to study and prepare for it. 

MEANING OF THE BELTS

Below you will find a possible interpretation of the symbolism of the belt colors. I hope this will give a further understanding the sense in which the Obi (belts) colors mean. Belts colors are not only to reflect growth in technique, but also in character.

The Brown Belt (Practical /Creative Level)
The Brown Belt is a very important level and training for it should be undertaken in a serious, responsible and mature frame of mind. By now, one should be very strong and very comfortable in the execution of all techniques, whilst continuing to strive to achieve ever higher levels of skill. In sparring, the ability to control a junior opponent through timing, distance control and sensitivity, should be highly developed.

To prepare for the Black Belt level, the Brown Belt begins to take on many responsibilities in the Dojo. The Brown Belt student instructs a class with authority, from personal experience as much as from Dojo tradition and study. He is able to express clearly and precisely the various physical and psychological concepts, and the spiritual potential of Karate-Do There is a definite stepping up in the thought processes and even the most previously mediocre student is seen as somehow different upon attainment of this level.

Creativity is at its most productive so far, in that the Brown Belt easily develops technical variations of his own, based on the psycho-physical foundations of Karate. For the sake of research, one finds the creation of personal Kata and experimentation with the movements of the standard Kata to be two important facets of training. In the course of this research the Brown Belt will find one or two traditional Kata that are studied with special attention and made his own. One will perhaps spend many years refining these Kata, realizing the tremendous benefits to be gained from such training.

The Brown Belt's attitude should experience  a healthy grown like no other level. The junior students should feel that they can trust the brown Belt and he/she should respect that trust through honesty, integrity, and loyalty. One has by this stage taken control of negative mental traits that tend to make their way into the personality if one is not on guard --- anger , self-pity, jealousy (negative traits of the Blue Belt level); exaggeration, vindictiveness, deviousness (negative traits of the Yellow Belt level); miserliness, deceit, treachery, prejudice, ( negative traits of the Green Belt level). You must constantly take a step back and look at yourself, just to make sure that you are in control of the personality and the contents and prejudices of the mind, not vice versa.

The Brown Belt is practical in all areas of life, and is cultured in his outlook. He has arrived at the last of the junior grades and is now preparation time for the realm of the Yudansha, or Black Belt, where one's consciousness is permanently changed. Thus, the Brown Belt must brace him/herself with a brave heart and a will of iron, and have faith in the beauty of the unknown that lies ahead.

The Brown Belt strengthens his faith and resolve in his own path by studying the paths of others, taking note of their strong and weak points and adjusting his own attitudes accordingly. In this way, the strength of the path is maintained. Without a yardstick of comparison, one's study can quite conceivable begin to distort, and one can lose sight of reality without being aware of it. This can happen no matter how seriously one train or how  right you think you are. This is the importance of training in a school with traditional links. One is assured of sound path and a qualified instructor.

Objective comparisons with others schools, other Dojo and other students within your school are important. But don't lose sight of the purpose of this comparison. Know your own strengths by understanding the weaknesses of others. One of the most pragmatic ways to make objective comparisons with others for the sake of improving your own technique is participation in tournaments. This is one way to see if one's training has been effective.

The Brown Belt opens the mind to all possibilities, and learns to respect the strength in all people and the integrity and honour in all righteous pursuits. In opening the mind though, one is careful to develop a wise discrimination between right and wrong. The Brown Belt knows the capabilities of his own weapons and respect the potential of all enemies, whether physical or mental. As Sosai Mas Oyama has stated:

"I have not permitted myself to be ignorant of any Martial
Art that exists. Why? Such ignorance is a disgrace to
someone who follows the path of the Martial Arts." 

The Brown Belt realises that one reflects the Dojo, the chosen path and the instructor in one's words, attitudes and actions. Therefore, the Brown Belt respects the responsibility carried, giving due consideration to any word, thought or deed. Here, more than anywhere, one acknowledges the importance and strength of the relationship between student and teacher in growing into a fine Black Belt. The integrity of Kyokushin Karate is only maintained through the quality of the people it accepts as Yudansha.

The Japanese sword is an excellent analogy. It is not just a dangerous weapon design to kill efficiently and utterly, it is also a beautiful work of art. So it should be with the Karate-ka. One has the choice of either using the art to develop oneself into a work of beauty or into a callous and totally destructive weapon.

One either becomes a civilized and thoughtful person or a terrorist. The art teaches one how to live or how to die; how to give life or how to take it. The heart should resemble the artistic beauty of the sword. Life is a constant struggle; live it purely and with the keenness of a Bizen blade - deliberately and with the unmistakable spirit of its cut.

Brown Belt is an interesting mix of the three primary colours - 2/5 red, or physical, 2/5 yellow, or intellectual, and 1/5 blue, or spiritual. The Brown Belt should be drawing closer to a fine balance of body, mind and soul. It is a large step though, and as you hover here between the fourth  and fifth centres of development, you can just as easily go backwards as you can forwards.

All too often, the  Karate-ka becomes complacent at the Brown Belt, satisfied with being at the top of the junior grades. That person is not prepared to accept the challenge of Yudansha, perhaps somehow realizing that the changes in their attitude will mean that they will never again be the same as before. Excuses are many but genuine valid reasons are extremely rare.

"Studying the Martial Way is like climbing a cliff; keep going forward without rest. Resting is not permissible because it causes recessions to old stages of achievement. Persevering day in, day out improves techniques, but resting, even one day, causes lapses. This must be prevented."

Sosai Masutatsu Oyama

One who falters at this point in their training has yet to shake off the 'students mind' and accept the mantle of maturity necessary for the transformation into the Yudansha. It is no small step to be sure. As a point of departure from the student level there is a certain amount of trepidation accompanying the decision to continue. The Brown Belt is comfortable in the student ranks - the senior student of the Dojo respected by all. Yet he does not realize how great are the gifts that lie beyond and is like a bird hesitating at the open door to it's familiar cage before it is willing to take the uncertain step to the freedom beyond.

The choice is personal. Forward motion will come steadily if energy is applied in the right direction. Inertia will pull one backwards if there is complacency. Double the guard!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW FOR YOUR
KYOKUSHIN THEORY TEST
FIRST KYU - BROWN BELT/BLACK STRIPE  

Below  are some vocabulary you should be able to know  in order to do your grading.

Also you must have a basic knowledge of the following:

Budo: The Martial Way. Title which collectively describes the many Martial Arts of Japan. Budo's deepest meaning signifies a commitment to the pursuit of truth through the discipline of the Martial Arts.
Kyokushin is Budo Karate because it is not merely a sport but a serious method of understanding the ultimate truth or reality.

Misogi:  Purification ceremony in water. Spiritual training under icy waterfalls, exposed to the elements.

Aikido:  Way of harmonizing Ki, or spirit. A Martial Art created by Morihei Ueshiba in 1925 after an in-depth study of various arts, specially the Yagyu school of Sojutsu (Sword), the hozoin school of Sojutsu (lance), and Daito Ju-Jutsu Ryu. Ueshiba also made five study trips to China. It was twenty years later in 1942 that Ueshiba was finally happy with the evolution of his art. Aikido is principally defensive in nature, using throws and locks to disable the opponent. It also possesses a highly spiritual philosophy which can often confuse many people into thinking of Aikido to resemble a religion more than a Martial Arts.

Ju-jitsu (Ju-Jutsu): Martial Art combining kicks and strikes with throws, locks, dislocations and so on. Effective defense techniques based on pressure points, nerve centres and the principle of using the opponent's strength to one's own advantage. The first known Ju-Jutsu ryu was founded in 1532 by Hisamori Takenouchi.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAILS:

- The meaning of Brown Belt (See above)
 

KYOKUSHIN KATAS
PINAN KATA

Taikyoku Sokugi Sono Yon Kata:
Kicking Kata number 4, has the same movements than the normal Taikyoku but it done with kicks instead of hands blocking and punches. To the side we use Jodan Yoko Geri and Jodan Mawashi Geri. To the front we use Ushiro Mawashi Geri.
Developed by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama en 1980.

REQUIREMENT FOR THE PRACTICAL TEST
DOJO ENTHEOS

NOTE: Review these requirements often as it may be some adding/changes on it.

Below you will find all what you need to know for your grading. It was designed to supply the students with information about theirs requirements for theirs grades. If you have any question regarding the requirements consult your teacher. The grading requirements in our school contain the following:

1st KYU - ( BROWN BELT/BLACK STRIPE)

Time in Classes : 29 Months (2 years and 5 Months / three class a week - 2 hours class ).

Theory :
1.- Students must know

Physical Requirement:

1) Stances (Tachikata / Dachi):

No new stances at this level

2) Tsuki - Uchi: (Strikes)

	Ryuto Ken Tsuki Jodan (Dragon's Head Fist Trust - High)
	Ryuto Ken Tsuki Chudan (Dragon's Head Fist Trust - Middle)
	Naka Yubi Ippon Ken Jodan (Middle Finger Knuckle Fist - High)
	Naka Yubi Ippon Ken Chudan (Middle Finger Knuckle Fist - Middle)
	Oya Yubi Ippon Ken Jodan (Thumb Knuckle Fist  - High)
	Oya Yubi Ippon Ken Chudan (Thumb Knuckle Fist - Middle)
	Oya Yubi Ippon Ken Gedan (Thumb Knuckle Fist - Low)
	Toho Uchi (Sword Peak Hand Strike)
	Keiko Uchi (Chicken Beak Hand Strike)

3) Uke: (Blocks)

	Kake Uke Jodan (Hook Block - High)
	Kake Uke Chudan (Hook Block - Middle)
	Hiza Geri (Knee Block)

4) Kicks: (Keri)

No new kicks at this level

5) Forms: (Katas)

	Pinan Sono Go
	Taikyoku Sokugi Sono Yon

Combinations - ( Renraku ) :

Combinations as required ( hands and legs techniques, striking and blocking )

	Ippon Kumite: Using Basic techniques in Ippon Kumite with a good understanding of Kawashi, Kuzuchi, Ryushi, Sashi-te, Sure-Ashi, Hikkake.
	Use of Tai-Sabaki
	Releasing techniques using the concept of Sashi-te
	Students should have a clear understanding of, and good physical ability for economy of motion. Ippon Kumite should incorporate a wide range of Kihon with good use of tactics and a variety of counters and follow ups. The ability to react to unknown or new situations. Movements should indicate good Seichin Ryoku

Ten Sparring of 2 minutes

Ryuto Ken	Naka Yubi Ippon Ken	Oya Yubi Ippon Ken	Toho	Keiko

 

	RYUTO KEN
RYUTO KEN TSUKI JODAN		RYUTO KEN TSUKI CHUDAN

	NAKA YUBI IPPON KEN
NAKA YUBI IPPON KEN JODAN		NAKA YUBI IPPON KEN CHUDAN

	OYA YUBI IPPON KEN
OYA YUBI IPPON KEN JODAN	OYA YUBI IPPON KEN CHUDAN	OYA YUBI IPPON KEN GEDAN

TOHO	TOHO
TOHO UCHI JODAN	KEIKO UCHI JODAN

 

KAKE UKE
KAKE UKE JODAN (Front View)	KAKE UKE JODAN (Front View)	KAKE UKE JODAN (Front View)	KAKE UKE JODAN (Front View)
	KAKE UKE JODAN (Side View)	KAKE UKE JODAN (Side View)