Moehnke Training Academy
Student Manual and Test Sheets
I would like to take a moment to thank you for your participation in Moehnke Training Academy’s GoJu-Ryu Karate-Do classes and wish you a wonderful training experience. All grading test answers can be found in this book.
Upon arrival, you may at your own time, enter the Dojo, Bowing at the training floor entrance. As a sign of respect before stepping onto the Dojo floor barefoot, Onegai Shimasu Should be spoken in a manner of excitement, and Arigato Gozaimashita, as you leave. This is a sign of respect to the location that we use to train, without which, we would not be able to train.
We ‘Bow in’ each class by lining up along the length of the dojo. Once class time starts all students, lined up along the Dojo, and the instructor, who is at the front facing the class, will bow together.
The Sensei’s assistant will step forward, the Sensei will turn around and face the front, kneeling, followed by the assistant and each student.
The Sensei’s assistant will announce Shamen-rei and the Sensei will bow, followed by each student starting with the Sensei’s assistant down to the lowest belt. This is to honor the teachers before us that shared the knowledge that we are fortunate to be practicing. Sensei will turn and face the class. (Teachers and students bow and thank the elders before us)
The Sensei’s assistant will announce Sensei-rei and Sensei bow again, one at a time. This is to honor the students who are there to learn and provide work and purpose. Sensei will turn and face the class. (Thanks from teacher to student, student say your welcome with a bow)
The Sensei’s assistant will announce Mokuso to Meditate and mentally prepare to work hard, leaving everything behind. “No Mind”
The Sensei’s assistant will announce Yame to stop meditating and return to attention.
The Senseis assistant will announce Sensei-rei again, and the Sensei will bow again to honor the students Bowing in honor to the Sensei who is teaching the students, followed again by each student bowing one student at a time. (Thanks from Students to Teacher, Teacher says your welcome with a bow)
The sensei will stand and each student will follow one at a time.
One last bow all together concludes the opening and addresses the work to be done.
Adult Kata Order and Meaning
Taikyoku Gedan – First Cause Lower Level
Taikyoku Chudan – First Course Middle Level
Taikyoku Jodan – First Course Upper Level
Taikyoku Kake Uke – First Course Hooking Block*
Taikyoku Mawashi Uke – First Course Roundhouse Block*
Gekisai Dai Ichi -Attack & Destroy One
Gekisai Dai Ni - Attack & Destroy Two*
Bassai Dai - To breach the fortress
Tensho - Rotating Palms
Saifa - To smash and tear
Seiyunchin - To control & pull
Sanseiru - Thirty Six Hands
Sanchin - 3 Battles*
Sepai - Eighteen Hands
Shisochin - To Destroy in Four Directions
Suparinpei - One Hundred & Eight Hands
Shodan - 1 year after Jr. Black/Brown
Nidan - 1 yr after Shodan
Sandan - 2 yr after Nidan
Yonda - 3 yr after Sandan
Godan - 4 yr after Yondan
Rokudan - 5 yr after Godan
Word - English TranslationJapanese Sounds like…
Things
Belt Obi Oh-bee
Hand Te Tay
Form or Pattern Kata Ka-ta
Gym/Studio Dojo Doe-Joe
Technique [Kata] Application Bunkai Bunk-eye
Teacher Sensei Sen-say
Uniform Gi Gee
Commands
Attention Kiotsuke Kay-oots-kay
Begin/Start Hajime Ha-juh-may
Bow Rei Ray
Cat [stance] Neko Nee-co
Meditate Mokuso Mook-so
Stop Yame Yah-may
Sparring Kumite Coo-meh-tay
-Strike - Uchi - Oo-key
Elbow Empi Em-pay-
Hammer fist Tettsui Tet-sue-ee
Knee Hiza Hes-a
Knife Hand Shuto Shoe-toe
Spear hand Nukite New-kay-tay
Ridge hand Haito Hay-toe
Backfist Uraken er-ack-in
Palm heel strike Taisho Tay-show
Sweep Barai Bur-rye
-Punch - Zuki - Zoo-key
Jab Zuki Zoo-key
lunge- Oi- Oi-
Reverse- Giaka- Gee-a-ka
-Kick -Geri -Gar-ee
Side- Yoko- Yo-ko-
Roundhouse- Mawashi- Ma-wa-she
Hook- Kake- Ka-key
Blocks -Uke -Oo-key
Low sweep Gedan Barai- Gay-dan Bur-rye
Middle Chudan- Choo-dan
High Jodan- Joe-dan
Hook Kake- Ka-key
Round Mawashi- Ma-wa-she
Stances -Dachi -Da-chi
– Half front stance HanZenkutsu- HanZen-coat-sue-
– Front stance Zenkutsu- Zen-coat-sue-
– Parallel stance (Shoulder width) Heiko- He-co-
– Closed foot (Heel & toes Together) Heisoku- Hi-so-coo-
– Horse riding stance Kiba- Kee-ba-
– Crossed leg or scissor stance Kosa - Ko-sa-
– Back stance Kokutsu - Kuh-co-sue-
– Formal attention stance Musubi- Muh-sue-bee-
– Cat foot stance Neko ashi- Ne-ko Ash-ee-
Hourglass stance Sanchin- San-chin-
Square stance Shiko- She-coOther
No Mind Mushin Mu-Sheen
Yell Kiai Key-eye
Thank you, or, I understand, or, Acknowledge
Oss Ous
A Quick History of Sensei Tim Minke
Sensei Tim Minke or St Catharines Ontario Canada, started Training when he was 7 years old training under Sensei Tom Burtnik, who Trained previous under Sensei Don Warner. Sensei Minke Trained under Sensei Burtnik for 14 years before leaving to train in Texas as a Firefighter Class ii pursuing further education and training. Between working and starting a family Sensei Minke Took time to train in other proficencies like Kabuto Weapons, Firearms and other life saveing and perserving tools and Training. Proficent in Technical Rope, Swit water, Ice Water, Confined Space Rescue and H2S Certified, he has dedicated his life to furthering education, sharing wisdom and building community to thoes willing to receive. Sensei Minke Had been teaching classes for 6 Years and Participating in Tounements as a contestant and as a referee beliving in truth and intagrity in competition and in service.
Sensei Minke is part of the Sertling institute for relationship and is a part of a leardership team
A, not-so-brief History of GoJu-Ryu Karate-Do
Goju Ryu History
Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived in the 6th century and is said to be the [Father] of all martial arts.
few fighting arts have a deep and fascinating history as that of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do From Shaolin temple and Chinese boxing origins, to the style of Naha-te, its further development into Okinawan Goju-ryu and the formation of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation, the history of our art spans hundreds of years
Passed from Master to student, the art was trained and the history was transmitted by word of mouth. In the late 20th century Sensei Morio Higaonna documented this information into the now famous Goju-ryu text book:
“The History of Karate.”
All the history documented below comes directly from The History of Karate and Sensei Higaonna’s lifelong research into the subject
Ryu Ryu Ko -> Kanryo Higaonna
Kanryo Higaonna was born on March 10th, 1853 in Nishimura, Okinawa. He was one of eight siblings and his family were of a lower economic class.
At the age of 10, Kanryo Higaonna began assisting his father with his work aboard boats. In 1867 when Kanryo Higaonna was 14, his father was killed in a fight, the reason for which still remains unknown. This was a terrible blow to the family, especially to a young Kanryo Higaonna and his focus quickly turned from grief to revenge. He made the decision to travel to China to learn the deadly fighting arts and return to extract revenge on his father’s killer.
He arrived in the port of Fuzhou in Southern China and once there sought out other Okinawans living in the area. He questioned them about great martial arts masters living in Fuzhou. Introductions were organized and Kanryo Higaonna was introduced to his eventual teacher; a man named Ryu Ryu Ko.
Ryu Ryu Ko accepted the young teenager and made him swear an oath to follow his philosophies, principles and to promise never to misuse the martial arts he would learn.
Kanryo Higaonna would arrive at Ryu Ryu Ko’s house every morning. He would assist his teacher in his work as a bamboo craftsman, cutting and carting bamboo and making all manner of things out of it
He endured much hardship through the often brutal training and quickly developed an unbelievable level of power, strength and speed. He also learned about herbal medicines and studied the use of weapons.
After 14 years of loyal study, Ryu Ryu Ko had grown older and told Kanryo Higaonna it was time for him to return to his homeland of Okinawa. In 1891 the two parted ways as Kanryo Higaonna followed the wishes of his master and they were never to see each other again.
Kanryo Higaonna left China an accomplished martial artist along with 9 of the current Goju-ryu kata Upon returning to Okinawa, his father’s killer heard of the great martial arts skills Kanryo Higaonna now possessed. The killer begged him for forgiveness and remembering the oath he had made to his master, he very graciously forgave the man
Kanryo Higaonna continued his training in Okinawa, firstly on his own and then eventually began teaching students in his home. He called his martial art Naha-te after the capital city of Okinawa where he was based and following the example of the other main Okinawan styles of the time: Shuri-te and Tomari-te He also eventually took a position as a karate instructor at the Naha commercial high school in 1905.
Kanryo Higaonna -> Chojun MiyagiChojun Miyagi was born on April 25th, 1888. He was born into a wealthy family, but as a youth was at times unruly. At the age of 11 he was taken to Ryuko Aragaki, who was 24 at the time, to learn karate from him in hopes to instill discipline in the mischievous boy
Chojun Miyagi immediately developed a love for karate and became a very serious student. Aragaki recognised this and decided that he needed to study under a strict teacher, whose karate was second to none, to unlock Chojun Miyagi’s full potential
In 1902 at the age of 14 he was taken and introduced to Kanryo Higaonna and was accepted as a student.
Kanryo Sensei was 49 years old at this point and known by the nick name ‘Ashi no Higaonna’ (meaning ”Legs” Higaonna) because of his exceptionally strong legs Although warned of the severity of the training, Chojun Miyagi’s expectations were far exceeded when he began his training in Naha-te. The training he received was intense and very brutal and he trained extra outside of his classes to strengthen his body to aid in his fast improvement
Kanryo Sensei observed this and eventually Chojun Sensei became the student he chose to learn the entire art of Naha-te. At the time, students only learned Sanchin and one other kata. Training took place at the Kanryo Sensei’s home each evening and after the usual two hour session, Kanryo Sensei would keep Chojun Miyagi behind for personal one-on-one instruction in the entire system.
In 1910 World War I swept across the globe and Chojun Miyagi was called upon for mandatory military service He became a soldier at the age of 20 and was discharged at the age of 22 He rushed back home to Okinawa upon hearing that his teacher’s health had deteriorated. Chojun Miyagi desperately wanted to learn the rest of the Naha-te style from his teacher and also care for him in his later years. Everyday Chojun
Miyagi would bring Kanryo Sensei to his own home to care for and learn from him He became the only student to learn all the Naha-te kata from Kanryo Sensei, who passed away three years later in 1915. Many Okinawans referred to Kanryo Higaonna by the title of Bushi, meaning a distinguished master of the martial arts Also in 1915, Chojun Miyagi fulfilled the final wish his teacher had for him and made the trip to Fuzhou in China. He traveled by boat on the same route Kanryo Sensei had many years before him. He explored and researched the area, visiting the house of Ryu Ryu Ko and demonstrating the kata he had learned to an old man who was a student of Ryu Ryu Ko. During his two month stay, Chojun Miyagi recorded much information about Ryu Ryu Ko.
Upon his return to Okinawa he was now 29 years old and he took his teacher’s place and began teaching Naha-te He worked to further develop the fighting system he had inherited Chojun Sensei had learned the kata Rokkishu in China and his further development of this resulted in the creation of Tensho Kata.
The local police force became concerned about Chojun Miyagi’s reputation and warned him of the consequences of misusing karate Chojun Miyagi explained the true nature of his teachings, and in doing so he was hired to teach at the Okinawan Police academy. In 1926 Chojun Miyagi founded the Karate Kenkyu Club, bringing together the top Masters of the main styles of karate to unite under the common goal of spreading true karate to future generations. The Masters in this club were Chojun Miyagi, Chomo Hanashiro, Choyu Motobu and Kenwa Mabuni.
In 1930 an invitation was received to perform a demonstration in Tokyo at the celebration of Crown Prince Hirohito’s succession to the throne. Chojun Miyagi couldn’t attend, but instead sent his top student, Jin’an
Shinzato, in his place. After Shinzato’s demonstration, he was asked by someone who viewed his performance what the name of his style was. Shinzato wasn’t sure how to answer, as Naha-te was more of an informal name.
He related this story to Chojun Miyagi who thought long and hard about this and on what to name his karate style. Within the famous martial arts text, the Bubishi, is a poem called the Kenpo Haku (the eight poems of the fist) and Chojun Sensei was quite fond of it:
● The mind is one with heaven and earth.
● The circulatory rhythm of the body is similar to the cycle of the sun and the moon.
● The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.
● Act in accordance with time and change.
● Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought.
● The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet.
● The eyes do not miss even the slightest change.
● The ears listen well in all directions.
The third poem, ‘Ho Go Ju donto’, is where Chojun Miyagi took the name ‘Go Ju’ He then added ‘Ryu’ to the name to formally name the style Goju-ryu (literally meaning Hard and Soft Style) in 1930.
Chojun Miyagi began promoting Goju-ryu Karate even more heavily. He performed demonstrations on the Japanese mainland to popularize karate In 1940 he created and added two new kata to the Goju-ryu system, Gekisai Dai -Ichi and -Ni. He wanted karate to be more accessible to people of all ages and wanted a basic kata to make training more popular – Chojun Miyagi’s Gekisai Kata had succeeded in doing this.
His promotional work to spread Goju-ryu was so successful that the Japanese Butokukai recognised his style as an o cial martial art and he as its o cial master. Chojun Sensei’s legendary Goju-ryu grip also earned him the nickname ‘Nukitui Magushiku’ for his ability to tear raw meat apart with his bare hands and he became quite famous for this in Okinawa
World War II then cast its shadow over the world and towards the end of the war, the Battle of Okinawa took place and along with it a massive loss and destruction of irreplaceable archives. Lost forever to history, we keep our history alive by sharing and teaching.
Quotes to live by
Effort is 1% concentration and 99% perspiration
Do, or, Do Not. There is no try.
Praticing ‘something’ imperfectly, will make you very proficent at doing ‘something’ incorectly.
White (Sr. white) -to- Yellow
GoJu-Ryu Means:
Who invented GoJu-Ryu Karate-do?
Where was he born?
Yellow (or Sr. Yellow) -to- Orange
What Does Karate Mean in english?
What is the first thing you do in a Kata?
Who was Chojun miyagi’s Teacher
Orange (Sr. Orange) -to- Red
Name of Clan that took away Okinawan Weapons?
What Year was it when they invaded?
Full name(s) of the move 13 from Taikyoku Gedan
Red (Sr. Red) -to- Purple
Who was Sensei Tim Minke’s Sensei
Gekisai Dai Ni Means-
Bassai Dai Means-
1 Book About Karate I’ve Read is called -
Effort is What
Purple (Sr. Purple) -to- Green
Gekisai Dai Ni Means-
Bassai Dai Means-
Effort is What
1 Book About Karate I’ve Read is called -Green (Sr. Green) -to- Blue
Saifa Means -
Blue (Sr. Blue) to brown
Brown (Sr. Brown) -to- Jr. Black
What is an alternative to violence?
What are the 3 battles?
100 word response for the question: “Why do you come to class?”
Typed and printed, double spaced, size 11 Times New Roman font, and, signed.
Brown/Jr. Black -to- Black
Books you have Read about martial arts
Visit 3 other martial arts Dojos and ask to sit-in and observe or participate.
1)
2)
3) 1000 word essay on “What Karate Means to you”
Typed and printed, double spaced, size 11 Times New Roman font, and, signed.