Mal's Karate page
United States Academy of the Martial Arts
Program of Martial Arts Instruction
Head Instructor:
Christian Way, 2nd Dan Okinawan Shorei Ryu, 1st Dan Okinawan Shudokan
Assistant Instructors:
Ed Harding, 1st Dan Shorie Ryu & Bill Kerr, 1st Dan Shorei Ryu
About the Style:
The style taught at USAMA is Shorei Ryu, a traditional Okinawan style brought to the U.S. By Robert Trias in 1946. , Shorei Ryu (Shuri Ryu) has its roots in the Chinese system Hsing Yi (an internal soft style martial art), and Okinawan Shuri Te (an external hard style). Shorei (Shuri) Ryu is a blended style of both hard and soft. Classes emphasize developing proper form and technique as well as strength, flexibility, self discipline and self defense.
Requirements and Rank Structure:
The Shorei (Shuri) Ryu style as practiced at the U.S.A.M.A. has 5 performance categories that karate-ka’s must pass in order to achieve rank. The 5 categories are: Waza, Goshindo, Kata, Kumite & Conditioning and History, traditions & terminology. Listed below is an outline of the system from 10th kyu white belt to 1st dan black belt.
I. Waza (Basic Techniques):
1. 14 - Stances
2. 13 - Blocks
3. 29 - Strikes
4. 28 - Kicks
II. Goshindo (Self defense):
1. Basic self defense techniques
a. Basic self defense theory
b. Ten basic self defense combinations
c. Ten collar grab variations
d. Basic wrist and finger locks
e. Basic arm bars
f. Basic ground self defense and submission holds
g. Basic throws, sweeps and take downs
h. Basic knife, club and gun self defense
III. Kata (Forms):
1. 15 Kamae's (Animal hand and Body forms)
2. Sente Exercises
3. Formal Kata'a 10th kyu to Shodan
Unarmed: Armed:
Taikyoku I, II, III Tsue Sho no kon bo
Te Ashi Sho Matsu higa no kon bo
Wansu Matsu higa no tonfa
Anaku
Naihanchi Sho
Sanchin
Empi Sho
Bassai Dai
DanEnn Sho (Dobutsu)
Gopie Sho (Kuja ku)
IV. Kumite (sparring) and Conditioning:
1. Ippon kumite kata's 1 - 15
2. Kihon kumite kata's 1 - 15
3. Taezu naru waza (continuous motion) kata's 1 - 10
4. Free sparring and point sparring
5. Physical conditioning tests
6. Tamashiwara (breaking)
V. History, Terminology and Traditions:
1. School creed
2. Uniform care and personal hygiene
3. General karate history and history of our style
4. Dojo etiquette
5. Terminology
Rank Structure:
The Shorei Ryu system is comprised of ten kyu ranks and ten black belt ranks. It usually takes an adult karate-ka at least four to five years to achieve the rank of 1st degree shodan provided that they are diligent in their practice. Children take much longer due to the difficult nature of the art and the strict requirements that are set forth. Listed below are the ranks with their corresponding belt color.
Rank Belt Color
10th Kyu White
9th Kyu White w/Yellow Stripe
8th Kyu Yellow
7th Kyu Orange
6th Kyu Blue
5th Kyu Green
4th Kyu Purple
3rd Kyu Brown
2nd Kyu Brown
1st Kyu Brown
Shodan Black
Class Schedule:
Classes are held at Iron Rail Gymnastics Academy. Classes for white belts through brown belts are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM . Advanced classes are scheduled privately. The dojo also offers an intensive summer camp program where guest instructors from the Shorei (Shuri) styles are available to work with the karate-ka’s. Call the dojo for more information about the Summer camp Program.
Class Fees:
Class tuition is $60.00 per month. There is a yearly registration fee of $35.00. Uniforms are purchased through the school and they are $30.00
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