Dan Grading

[white owl]

Congrats, Fish!

[Fish]

Hi Zanshin

Sorry, I realised after I had posted that I addressed Patrick in answer to your question.

Yes you are right about Dave Sharkey's background - I think he started in Wado and went over to Shotokan. His organisation is multidisciplinary in that sense. My Dan grade will be awarded by the EKO. I suspect my Sensei has kept his own provisional grading because there are elements he wants to test on that are not included, or not covered in the same way, in the EKO grading (for example, making sure that all Kata learnt up to date are performed, not just a selection, and including the tough [at least, I found it tough, but at 40 what do you expect?] ohyo kumite at the end of the grading.)

It's not the EKO that sets the Kata, but my Sensei. He inherited them from our previous organisation, which was a wado ryu organisation affiliated to Shikon. You are right that some of the Kata are not official Wado Ryu Kata (I think Bassai/ Passai is though). I'm not sure why they were introduced into the syllabus, but I think the head of our previous organisation was influenced by Shito Ryu, so that may be the source. Some of the Wado Ryu Kata were modified to correspond more closely to the Shito Ryu movements (at least, so I understand).

[Fish]

By the way - thanks to everyone who has posted their congrats. I am remarkably unhurt by the fighting, although I am still quite stiff today (5 days later) despite trying to stretch every evening.

[Zanshin]

Hi Zanshin

Sorry, I realised after I had posted that I addressed Patrick in answer to your question.

Yes you are right about Dave Sharkey's background - I think he started in Wado and went over to Shotokan. His organisation is multidisciplinary in that sense. My Dan grade will be awarded by the EKO. I suspect my Sensei has kept his own provisional grading because there are elements he wants to test on that are not included, or not covered in the same way, in the EKO grading (for example, making sure that all Kata learnt up to date are performed, not just a selection, and including the tough [at least, I found it tough, but at 40 what do you expect?] ohyo kumite at the end of the grading.)

It's not the EKO that sets the Kata, but my Sensei. He inherited them from our previous organisation, which was a wado ryu organisation affiliated to Shikon. You are right that some of the Kata are not official Wado Ryu Kata (I think Bassai/ Passai is though). I'm not sure why they were introduced into the syllabus, but I think the head of our previous organisation was influenced by Shito Ryu, so that may be the source. Some of the Wado Ryu Kata were modified to correspond more closely to the Shito Ryu movements (at least, so I understand).

Hi Fish, sounds like you were well and truly put through your paces.

Was the "Ohyo Kumite" you did at the end of the grading, the Wado ohyo that most people would refer to as Mr Suzuki's. IE WIKF ohyo, or are you applying the term more liberally.

Whist Wado has a version of Bassai kata, Bassai dai (that you made reference to in your earlier post) is not a kata practiced. Two very different katas from the Wado perspective.

So, what style of Karate will your dan grade certificate say you are graded in?

[Fish]

Hi Zanshin

I might have used the wrong term when I said Ohyo Kumite. I meant completely free sparring (is that Jiyu?)

[Zanshin]

Hi Zanshin

I might have used the wrong term when I said Ohyo Kumite. I meant completely free sparring (is that Jiyu?)

Yes, Jiyu is free fighting.

As far as I understand it, Ohyo means transition or application really, ie taking moves from kata/kihon and applying them to fighting. Some styles use the word Ohyo instead of Bunkai.