Head Instructor:
Ed Harding, 2nd Dan Shorie Ryu
About the Style:
The style taught at IRGA is Shorei Ryu, a traditional Japanese/Okinawan style, which has its roots in the Chinese system Hsing Yi (an internal soft style marial art), and Okinawan Te (an external hard style). Shorei 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. Proper dojo etiquette and traditions are also taught.
Requirements and Rank Structure:
The Shorei Ryu style as practiced at the USAMA has 5 performance catagories that karate-ka's must pass in order to achieve rank. The 5 catagories are: Waza, Goshindo, Kata, Kumite & Conditioning, History, traditions and terminology. Listed below is an outline of the system.
I. Waza (Basic Techniques): |
1. 14 - Stances
2. 13 - Blocks
3. 29 - Strikes
4. 28 - Kicks
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| II. Goshindo (Self Defense): |
1. Basic self defense techniques
a. Basic self defense combination
b. 10 basic self defense combinations
c. Collar grab variations and wrist/finger locks
d. Basic arm grabs
e. Basic ground grappling & submission holds
f. Basic throws, sweeps, and take downs
g. Basic knife, club & gun self-defense
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| III. Kata (Forms): |
1. 15 Kamae's (Body forms)
2. Sente Exercises
3. Formal Kata's 10th kyu to Shodan
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Unarmed:
Taikyoku I, II, III
Te Ashi Sho
Wansu
Anaku
Naihanchi Sho
Sanchin
Empi Sho
Bassi Dai
DangEnn Sho (Dobutshu)
Gopei Sho (Kuja ku)
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Armed:
Tsue Sho no kon
Matsu higa no kon
Matsu higa no tonfa
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| IV. Kumite (Sparring) and Conditioning: |
1. Ippon kumite kata #'s 1 - 15
2. Kihon kumite kata #'s 1 - 15
3. Taezu Naru Waza #'s 1- 10
4. Free sparring and point sparring
5. Physical conditioning tests
6. Tamashiwari (breaking)
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| V. History, Terminology and Traditions: |
School Creed
Uniform care & personal hygiene
General Karate history including our style
Dojo etiquette
Terminology
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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 for to five years to achieve the rank of the 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 |
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