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This page is intended for two categories of readers: those interested in the karate class offered by Rocklin Parks and Recreation and who would like to know more about the program than the short description in the class guide, and current students who need a resource providing links and reminders to aid their study.
Visitors new to this page and this karate program are encouraged to read the first few sections below in order.
Since 199? Rocklin Parks and Recreation has offered a karate class to the community. The style of karate taught in this class
is called "Kyokushin". The history of Kyokushin Karate and further information on the American Kyokushin Karate Organization (AKKO) can
be found on the official AKKO website.
Registration for classes can be done online or in person at the Sunset Center, 2650 Sunset Blvd.
in Rocklin. Further information is available at the Rocklin Parks and Rec. website (RecDirect).
Links to the AKKO website and Rocklin Parks and Recreation are provided among the links below.
Knowing a few terms is helpful if you are new to martial arts terminology. These Japanese words are commonly used with various types of martial arts and other disciplines. A fuller glossary is provided, but these terms appear in the general text on this page.
You may have 2 questions: Why does Rocklin Parks and Rec. offer the Kyokushin style of karate?
Why would one choose Kyokushin style over another?
Why is Kyokushin offered? No conspiracies, political intrigue, nor epic battles;
the reason Rocklin Parks and Rec. offers the Kyokushin style of karate is simply a matter of
American Kyokushin Karate being able to support instruction. Hanshi Fred Buck's Dojo was in South
Sacramento at one time and enabled the establishment of the initial classes in this style offered
through Parks and Recs.
Dedicated instructors have continued to provide support for this offering. Parks and Recs may have different
or additional offering in karate or other martial arts based on instructor and student interest, all programs are
independent. (At the time this is being written, Rocklin also offers Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.)
Why would you want to choose Kyokushin style? Hanshi Fred Buck
is trained in many martial arts styles and any true martial artist has respect for all styles and disciplines.
A better question for the intended audience here is "Why study karate through this particular program?".
Full contact Kyokushin fighting is not for the faint of heart, but this style of match is not a direct part of the Parks and Recs. program.
The training you will receive is essentially the same initial training given at an Kyokushin dojo for advancement through
the kyu ranks. A point style of match is employed in sparring training using a small amount of appropriate
safety equipment and there are opportunities to spar in this style in tournaments outside of the Parks and Recs. program.
But, the Parks and Recs. program is really about fitness, self-confidence, self-defense and learning (and respect for) the
techniques and practices of the martial arts.
Beginners are always welcome and can join at any session. Because new
students join us any time during the year, and current students sometimes have conflicts that cause them to drop out
for some sessions during the year, this Parks and Recs. class is an ideal program for anyone who wants to try a
karate program: your first session is not a long term commitment, but still enough time to experience a significant
portion of the training program; you may participate and advance at your own pace; you can prepare to join the larger
Kyokushin world if your interest takes you there; what you learn in the class will serve you well in all martial arts and in life.
Note: visitors and family or friends of students are always welcome to participate in the
warm-up, flexibility and fitness portion of class which normally takes roughly the first half of class.
Each class typically has three phases: 1) roughly the first half of the class is warm-ups, flexibility and fitness consisting of
both standard exercises and stretches and karate related ones; 2) most of the second half is karate training
(kata, sparring, or techniques); 3) a brief time at the end of class is used for either self defense techniques
or an occasional karate related game (The Tiger's Den is a favorite).
Part 1) above, is never exactly the same routine and can vary either a little or a lot depending on Sensei's mood.
The karate training portion of the class, part 2) above, varies depending on where the class is in the testing
cycle - the focus will be on kata, leading up to testing; the focus is on sparring and technique after a recent test.
The exact mix will also vary depending on the class size and portion of beginning students. Part 3) is always intended
to be covered and often is, but may have to be skipped if time runs short.
Several other variations occasionally occur: testing is done during class time roughly 4 times a year, and shortly after each test, promotions occur. Once or
twice a year, several classes will use part 2) to work on falls and throws (using mats). There may also be one
of the rare visits from Hanshi.
Every time you enter or leave the dojo, you are to bow - facing the room - to show respect for the dojo. You should do this
not only when you arrive for class and when you leave, but also if you exit the room during a water break or for
any other reason. This is also true, even if there is no one else in the room - it is still a show of respect.
A proper bow is a small but noticeable bend at the waist. There is no need to make a deep bow.
Prepare for class by removing socks and shoes. Pants should be loose fitting to allow for proper stretching and should be cuffed if needed to avoid tripping or slipping. Before class begins, use your time to stretch and warm up.
If you arrive late, prepare for class as noted above, then kneel near the door through which you entered. Raise your hand, indicating you are prepared to join the class in progress. When Sensei acknowledges your readiness, take an appropriate place in the class or as instructed.
Each class starts when students are called to line up. Highest ranked student is in the front row farthest to the
students' right (Sensei's left), next lower rank is to the first student's left, filling each row (about 4 or 5 students)
and continuing the same pattern in the next row. Unranked students fill in any remaining spots and then make rows further back.
Black belts are invited to join Sensei in the front of the class. (You may see those assisting with class instruction
line up in the last row or with new students in order to observe and help students instead of being in belt rank order.) You should stand in
the "ready position" (see description on this site).
At the beginning of class, there will be an initial mokuso as instructed, then the highest ranking
attendee (other than Sensei) will say "Sensei rei", meaning "bow to Sensei" and the class bows to Sensei as
the speaker and Sensei bow to each other.
Sensei responds "otagai ni rei", meaning "bow to each other" and Sensei and the class bow to each other.
After this, Sensei typically greets the
class with "Good evening class" (we suspect Sensei would also say the same thing in the morning out of habit).
The students respond in unison "Good evening Sensei".
At the end of class, the class recites (with Sensei leading) "arigato gozaimashita",
meaning "Thank you" [for teaching class].
Sensei answers the class with "do itashimashte" meaning "You're welcome".
(A side note since some readers may know "arigato gozaimasu" as "Thank you".
The shita ending changes the meaning to refer to a past event. So arigato gozaimasu = thank you,
arigato gozaimashita = thank you for that [i.e. having taught the class]).
Testing for kyu ranks is performed during class time and occurs roughly 4 times a year. There is
no fixed schedule and last minute schedule changes can result depending on how much preparation
the students still need, when a new session is to begin, etc.
There is a fee charged for each test you take and complete, which is in addition to the class fee.
(See RecDirect for current fees.) This fee covers AKKO administration, your promotion certificate and
a new belt if needed for that rank.
For each kyu rank, students learn two kata. The student is also expect to know a "chart" for that level -
typically a list of kicks, strikes, etc. and the proper Kyokushin term used for each item.
The testing process has certain protocols that won't be described in detail here, but consists of 1 or more
students (testing for the same rank) being called forward at a time to demonstrate both of their kata.
A student does not fail the kata demonstration portion of the test due to imperfection in their kata, but
rather only if they show a lack of preparation (in Sensei's judgment) or a lack of focus which prevents
them from completing their kata.
The kata demonstration is followed by having each student break a board. This is not a demonstration of
strength! The wood used is easily broken at any level of training. However, many students will have
some difficulty with this task. Breaking a board is test of focus and confidence that one will
break the board. If one strikes through the board, it will always breaks, if one simply strikes the board it
is typical to hold back and the board may fail to break. (Initial kyu ranks use an elbow strike for the
breaking process.)
Sparring in class is a point scoring style of fight, rather than full contact Kyokushin style fighting. Participants should have a mouth guard (the kind you heat and form to the teeth and are available for a couple of dollars at sporting goods stores or departments.) Males should wear a protective cup. Small padded gloves are provided as well as head protection which is required to be worn by anyone under 18 years of age.
Participants will hear many Japanese words and a few phrases used during class. Most of these are
terms for stances, specific moves (such as a type of strike), a few commands and counting. Terms
not associated with counting will be covered in other areas of this web site.
Counting is used mainly for exercises and occasionally for kata moves.
If the count is simply from 1 to 10, the Japanese words are almost always used. For
exercises, there are also three main styles of counting. For a rapid count, such as
fist strikes, the class counts in Japanese with Sensei. Moves that take a bit
longer are counted in Japanese with the class echoing Sensei's count between each
move. The third style of counting is used for exercises that have multiple counted moves
within each repetition and is counted with Sensei in English: "1" "2" "3" "4",
"2" "2" "3" "4", "3" "2" "3" "4", "4" "2" "3" "4", etc., for example.
Normally, on the tenth count, instead of echoing Sensei's count for ten, the class
will respond with "osu".
The Japanese terms for 1 to 10 are
"ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, ju"
and are pronounced, roughly, as
"eech, nee, san, she, go, roke, seech, hotch, coo, joo".
In Japanese martial arts, ranks below black belt are the kyu levels.
The kyu ranking system varies from art to art and school to school.
In some arts, all the kyu grades wear white belts, in others, different colored belts,
tags or stripes are used.
There is no standard association between particular ranks and belt colors, tags or stripes,
different schools and organizations assign these independently.
However, white is often the lowest ranked belt and brown is commonly the highest kyu rank.
The AKKO assigns white, green and brown belts to the kyu levels, with 1, 2 or 3 stripes
to create 9 kyu levels.
Unranked AKKO students wear white belts. Each promotion adds one stripe to the current belt,
until three stripes are achieved, after
which a new belt color is earned.
The first test & promotion adds one
stripe to the white belt, this is the 9th kyu rank.
A promotion from 7th kyu to 6th kyu is from a white belt with 3 stripes to a green belt with
a single stripe. 4th kyu to 3rd kyu is from a green belt with 3 stripes to a brown belt with
a single stripe. (In the past, brown belt stripes were instead removed at advancement, but this has
now been changed to be the same process of adding stripes across all 3 colors.)
Sensei Al Muir 2nd Dan
AKKO Northern California Branch Chief
Last updated 1/26/2010