The AARKJ Patch was designed by Mark Yercheck, Chris & Sarah Mitter
The left Kanji is Karate. The right Kanji is Jujitsu. Both of which are styles taught in AARKJ schools.
The Kanji in the center above the Mawn is Te No Michi (The Way of the Hand)
Ryu Kyu Kempo is one of the last few traditional Okinawan Karate Martial Arts. It is one of the few martial arts that has ideas that are as practical in self-defense today as they were in its origins. It has three main parts:
Kata & Weapons Videos will be available soon
Sierra Vista Martial Arts
AARKJ
Karate Program
Table of
Contents
Ryukyu Kempo History
3
AARKJ History
4
AARKJ
Patch
4
Elements of Ryukyu Kempo
4
Creed of Karate
5
Dojo Kun
5
Dojo
Etiquette
6
Dojo
Rules
6
Basic
Stance
7
Basic Hand echniques 7
Basic Kicks 7
Advance
Hand Techniques
7
Advanced Kicks 8
Throws 8
Fighting
Combinations
8
Empty Hand Katas
8
Weapon Katas
9
Kumite
9
Bogu
9
Promotion Requirements
10
The
History of Ryukyu Kempo
Master Taika Oyata
Taika Oyata's family lineage dates back to the Zana family, which was a Bushi family in Shuri, Okinawa. His ancestor Zana Oyakata (Oyakata is title) was the King's scholar. When Japan invaded Okinawa around 1609, the Shuri King was captured and the Zana family head resisted and was killed. The Japanese also required the family to change their name to Sinda which means Death. Years later the family name was changed to Ikemiyagusiku and eventually became Oyata.
Taika's father was the middleweight Sumo champion of all Okinawa. When he was young, he and the rest of the Sumo team challenged all comers in Okinawa. Kana Oyata was the strongest man on the team and won the competion for his native island. Taika was the fourth son of Kana Oyata and the youngest. His three brothers Taro, Kiseii and Akio were killed in the second World War, He, also fought during the war and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Japanese Navy. If the war continued a few months longer, Taika Oyata would have joined his brothers in death because he had been selected for a suicide (torpedo) mission, his death certificate had already been sent to his remaining family. As a part of training in the Navy, Taika was required to train in Iado (art of the sword), this is where Taika got his introduction to Martial Arts. When the war ended Taika returned to Okinawa and continued his studies of the martial arts. About this time he started a job working for the US government delivering food to the smaller islands. Food was not readily available and there was much starvation on the islands. Taika Oyata was stationed in the village of Termu where at age 17, He met Uhugusiku No Tan Mei who was from a Bushi Family that resided in Shuri. Uhugusiku No Tan Mei was about 93 years old at the time of their meeting. Because Taika Oyata had royal blood in his ancestry he was allowed to study under Master Uhugusiku. Taika Oyata took extensive weapons training from Master Uhugusiku, learning many aspects of the indigenous weapons of Okinawa.
Taika was also introduced to Master Wakinaguri who as a Chinese Martial Artist and was also a Bushi warrior. Master Wakinaguri was asked to teach Taika the art of vital point striking and pressure point striking, techniques for which Master Wakinaguri was renowned. When Taika Oyata met him he noticed that all the fingers on Master Wakinaguri's hands were the same lenght. This was due to many years of training by thrusting his hands into pumice.
Taika Oyata was Master Uhugusiku's only student, at the time, He considered Taika a family member calling him "Mago" which is Okinawan for grandson and teaching him more than he would have a regular student. After the deaths of his previous instructors, Taika joined an analytical research group along with Master Nakamura and trained with Master Uehara. He was accepted as an instructor/student in Master Nakamura's Dojo becuase he had studied from Uhugusiku No Tan Mei. From Master Nakamura, Taika learned the tweleve empty hand kata he now teaches to his present students. Taika worked with Master Uehara (Motobu Ryu) on weapons and was a training partner.
Through the years, Taika has constantly analyzed the kata and the human body. He developed his own style of tuite that wasn't dependent of strength but of execution of technique.
History AARKJ
Patch
(AARKJ)
The AARKJ Patch was designed by Mark Yercheck, Chris & Sarah Mitter
The left Kanji is Karate. The right Kanji is Jujitsu. Both of which are styles taught in AARKJ schools. The Kanji in the center above the Mawn is Te No Michi (The Way of the Hand).
Elements of Ryukyu Kempo
Tuite Jitsu (grab hand)
Everyone is weak in the same way, all of us have nerves, tendons, joints
and muscles that will respond in a predetermined manner when specific
pressure is applied to them.
Kyusho Jitsu (pressure point manipulation)
This is the most advanced form of strikes in the martial arts. When
properly used against selected anatomical points of the nervous or
circulatory systems it will temporarily disable the attacker beyond the
ability to renew his attack. Here precision not strength is the key to the
resolution of a threatening situation.
Ryukyu Kempo versus today's
sport Karate:
RyuKyu Kempo is the study of a real Martial Art. This simply means that a person can study RyuKyu Kempo from the time you are a small child until you have grown old with age. It is a life long study of Kata and Self Defense that will not change with a persons age.
Sport Karate usually teaches specific techniques that will win in most non-contact style tournaments. This includes many spinning and flying kicks that will not work against a streetwise fighter. These techniques can be useful, but it should be emphasized that they are not real self-defense techniques. Sport Karate also teaches a student to be aggressive in his manner similar to a boxer, because it is needed to win tournaments.
Creed of Karate
I
come to you with only karate, empty hands.
I have no weapons, but should I be forced
to defend myself, my honor, or my principals,
Should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong,
Then here are my weapons,
My empty hands.
Dojo Kun
TO STRIVE for good moral character
TO KEEP an honest and sincere way
TO CULTIVATE perseverance or a will for striving
TO DEVELOPE a respectful attitude
TO RESTRAIN your physical ability through spiritual attainment
This is written to give the student a better understanding of the Dojo Kun.
Character
Making correct moral decisions and having both physical and mental
courage; of the two, moral courage is the more important.
Sincerity
Being true to yourself and the other members of the dojo. It is a
student's commitment to train hard and a teacher's commitment to teach
well. The martial arts are a serious endeavor.
Effort
To train hard at all times. It is not fair to yourself, your sensei or the
other dojo members to give less than your best effort.
Etiquette
The proper social behavior towards your teachers, your seniors and your
juniors.
Self-control
keeping your fighting spirit in check so that you do not injure your
training partners. It is also controlling all your emotions, particularly
anger. Emotions must not take charge in one's private life outside the
Dojo.
Dojo Etiquette
Bows:
Bows are the traditional way of displaying respect and humility. Za-rei, or Formal bows, are executed by kneeling with hands made into fists, knuckles resting on the floor, and feet crossed.
Informal bows (Tachi-rei) are executed by standing with heels together, feet pointed at 45 degree angle, hands at the sides with palms turned toward the thighs, bowing from the waist. They are used to begin and end an informal class, and before and after each of the following:
1. Entering or leaving the Dojo (school);
2. Addressing another student (especially higher ranking students);
3. Addressing a Sensei (Black Belt Instructor);
4. Katas
5. Kumite
6. Any time you wonder if you need to...
Example of Etiquette:
When in the Dojo, all students should treat higher-ranking students and Black Belts with the respect attributed to their rank. If you want to talk to an instructor or senior student stand silently until you are asked to speak; execute a Tachi-rei, ask your question, addressing him or her as Sensei, sir or use their last name appended with the suffix 'san (honorable). When the Sensei has completed his answer, bow again before walking away.
Dojo Rules
All students must have a clean Gi for classes.
Patches must be sewn on by the end of the first month.
Finger and toenails must be trimmed prior to classes.
Students will wear protective equipment when sparring.
Students must remain silent and respectful throughout the class time.
Students must be on time for classes.
Dues must be paid up to date before a student is eligible for promotion.
No profanity in the Dojo at any time.
Students must observe all formalities of the dojo.
Students must never ask an instructor to kumite or grapple.
Students must attend classes as much as possible.
Safety!!! Students will do all things in a safe manner.
No one will Kumite or Grapple without the permission of the head instructor and only with full gear.
Basic Stance
1. Ready Stance
2. Submissive posture
3. Horse Stance
4. Forward Stance
5. Back Stance
6. T-Stance
7. Cat Stance
8. Fighting Stance
Basic Hand Techniques (12)
1. Ready Punches
2. Front punch
3. Upper cut
4. High technique
5. Middle technique
6. Low Technique
7. Inside technique
8. Back fist
9. Ridge hand
10. Sparring back fist
11. Empi forward
12. Empi back
Basic Kicks (10)
1. Knee lift
2. Front koshi
3. Side snap
4. Side thrust
5. Instep snap kick
6. Roundhouse kick (lead)
7. Roundhouse kick (rear)
8. Crescent inside
9. Crescent outside
10. Jump snap kick
Advanced Hand Techniques (8)
1. Shuto
2. Nukite
3. Ipon Ken
4. Reinforced technique
5. Hammer fist
6. Heel palm
7. Chicken neck
8. Thumb jab
Advanced kicks (8)
1. Front thrust kick
2. Spinning heel kick
3. Hook Kick
4. Spinning back kick
5. Rising heel
6. Ax Kick
7. Inside roundhouse flick
8. Flying sidekick
Throws (4)
1. Off balance
2. Leg throw
3. Hip throw
4. Shoulder throw
Fighting Combinations (12)
1. Block, Check Counter
2. Roundhouse kick Back fist
3. Roundhouse kick Side kick (same leg)
4. Low High Side kick Back fist
5. Front snap kick (walking) roundhouse kick Back fist
6. Back fist Ridge hand
7. Low High Roundhouse kick High Low Back fist
8. Front snap kick (skipping) Front thrust kick (same leg)
9. Roundhouse kick Spinning heel kick
10. Spinning Side kick - Spinning back fist(s)
11. Triple jumping Crescent kick
12. Inside Crescent kick Sidekick Back fist
Empty hand kata
There are 12 empty hand kata in our Ryukyu Kempo system
Nihanchi 1, 2, 3
Pinan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Tomari Seisan
Bassai
Ku San Ku
Niseshi
Weapon Katas
Bo
Tonfa
Nunchaku
Sai
Kama
Kumite
(sparing) In Ippon Kumite , sometimes called "one step sparing" one student throws one or two techniques while another attempts to block and counter-attack. Jiyu Kumite is the most advanced stage of sparing and is similar to sparring matches in boxing. Jiyu Kumite permits students to try techniques, to be original, and to find what works for them. The main objective is to find an opening in the opponent's defense. All the techniques must be under control without any intent to injure their opponent, but with good technique and minimum contact. Techniques are not allowed to the joints, eyes, spine or throat.
Bogu -
Freestyle
sparring known as "Bogu Kumite", is characterized by full
power punches and kicks and the use of bogu gear (face masks and body
armor) for protection. This enables fighters to safely use techniques that
might otherwise kill or seriously injure an opponent.
Promotion Requirements:
9th Kyu
Know all warm ups
1-4 Basic hand techniques
1-5 Basic kicks
1-4 Basic stances
Parry
Circular block
Ippon Kumite
Nihanchi Shodan (be able to break down the kata)
Intro to Nihanchi Nidan
8th Kyu
All previous requirements
1-8 Basic hand techniques
1-10 Basic kicks
1-8 Basic stances
1-4 Fighting combinations
Basic breakfalls
Nihanchi Nidan (be able to break down kata)
Intro to Pinan Shodan
Ippon/ Jiyu Kumite
7th Kyu
All previous requirements
History of Ryukyu Kempo
Phone Interview with Shihan Mark
1-12 Basic hand techniques
1-4 Advance kicks
1-8 Fighting combinations
All basic break falls and roll
Pinan Shodan (Be able to break down)
Nihanchi Sandan (be able to break down)
Intro to Bo
Intro to Bogu Kumite
6th Kyu
All previous requirements
1-8 Advance kicks
1-4 Advance hand techniques
1-12 Fighting combinations
Bo Kata 1
Pinan Nidan (Kata breakdown)
1 Board Break Foot
Bogu Kumite
5th Kyu
All previous requirements
1-8 Advance hand techniques
Pinan Sandan (Kata Breakdown)
Nunchaku Kata
Multiple Attackers Jiyu Kumite
Basic block check and counter arnis
4th Kyu
All previous requirements
Throws 1-4
Paper on History of Karate
Pinan Yondan (Kata Breakdown)
Tonfa Kata
Sai Kata
3rd Kyu
Demonstrate your ability to utilize moves from kata
In randori style self defense scenario
1 Board Break hand
2 Board Break foot
Pinan Godan (Kata Breakdown)
Tomari Seisan (Kata Breakdown)
2nd Kyu
Kama kata
Multiple Board Break scenarios
Submit personal philosophy of the Martial Arts
Bassai (Kata breakdown)
1st Kyu
(or Shodan Candidate)
Kusanku (kata breakdown)
Demonstrate basic single sinawali drill
Must be teaching in beginner classes