Services

The El Sobrante Dojo offers training programs for students of various ages and abilities. There are three distinct training groups to choose from.

Young Children's Little Tigers Program

The Little Tigers Program, designed specifically for children ages 4-6, teaches eight major skills designed to improve a preschool child's basic motor, social and listening skills through positive reinforcement and enjoyable social interaction. The Little Tigers learn how to focus on the task at hand, work cooperatively with others and how to follow directions from their instructor. These valuable skills can help children become better disciplined, better listeners, and a better students in school. Children advance to Tigers class ( ages 6-8 ) once the basics are mastered and begin to learn five basic karate form or katas.

Children's Martial Arts Program

Our children's martial arts program teaches children ages 8-13 the fundamental principles of Karate (self-respect, confidence, and physical well-being) in a safe and nurturing environment. Children begin by learning the proper methods of stretching and exercise to keep their bodies health. Then they are taught the basic Uechi-Ryu blocks and strikes, the primary combination techniques, and the first five forms of two person sparring. The focus of this training is to build a confident child capable of controlling his or her body and mind.

Rank and Testing

Uechi-ryu students begin at the rank of 10 kyu (white belt). As they advance, they proceed lower in kyu rank, with corresponding belt colors, until they reach 1 kyu (brown belt). The black belt ranks, for advanced students, are called Dan ranks (pronounced (DAWN). The first is Shodan (sho= "one", dan= "level"). From there, the Dan ranks simply count up, using the Okinawan terms for the numbers. So we call a second degree black belt a Nidan. ("Ni"= two), a third-degree belt a Sandan ("San"= three), and so on. Got it?

When the sensei knows that a student is ready to test for the next rank, he will recommend that the student test, and prepare him accordingly. Before a student may test for Shodan, his instructor must introduce him to two Okikukai seminars. One is usually about six months before the Shodan test; the other is usually just before the test.

Belt tests are held at the biannual Okikukai workouts, in May and November. For ranks above Godan (fifth degree black belt), Uechi-Ryu practitioners should travel to Okinawa to test before the Okinawan Okikukai Test Board. Don't worry about that right now.

What the Shodan Means

For those who are new to martial arts, the black belt may seem like a near-impossible goal. We are conditioned by movies and our goal-oriented society to think of the black belt as the ‘final level' of martial mastery, and that once we put it around our waists we will attain magic powers and get attacked by ninjas everywhere we go.

But in truth, the black belt is where the martial artist truly begins his or her journey. Through the kyu ranks, we learn the fundamentals; sanchin, how to kick and punch, how to block, how to breathe. These are the mechanics of Uechi-Ryu, and provide the foundation for good practice. Once we have reached our Shodan, however, we begin to understand how all the pieces fit together.

To other martial artists, your Shodan is a recognition that you understand the fundamentals of the style. At the most basic level, it means that the testing board thinks your practice is respectable enough to represent Okikukai anywhere you go. If you find yourself in a country where you don't know the language, you can seek out a Uechi-Ryu dojo and you will be among brothers.

A Shodan is not a degree you can just hang on your wall and forget about. It's an admirable accomplishment, and one you should be proud of, but it doesn't stop there. Your practice has to keep growing. Keep stretching, keep exploring Sanchin. The wonderful thing about martial arts is that no matter how good you are (or think you are), there is always room for improvement.

Keep in mind that Uechi-Ryu is a martial art. At Shodan and beyond, as you begin to understand what lies beneath the surface, your practice comes alive. It begins to be a unique, very personal form of expression. Martial arts involve the unification of mind, body, and spirit. Nobody is quite like you, and your practice will reflect that. But there's plenty of time for that. For now, practice!