Glossary

«to break down, to analyse»

The study of what each movement of a kata contains. In the school it does not stay in theory: it is practised by two people as Bunkai Kumite.

The kata performed by two people, following the order of its movements. It does not mean “kata applications”: it means exactly that — kata between two. Toguchi Sensei created it to decipher the kata.

«step, level»

The black-belt grades, counted upwards from Shodan, the first Dan. Sho means “beginning”: the black belt is not the goal but the point where real learning starts.

Inspired by the teachings attributed to Bodhidharma and systematised by Saiko Shihan Tamano in 1977: more than 300 exercises for any age.

«place of the way»

The hall where the art is practised. Everything begins with a bow: once you cross the threshold, the outside world stays outside.

«the school of the hard and the soft»

The style named by Chojun Miyagi in 1929, heir to Naha-te. Okinawa Budo Kaisai-do is its direct heir.

«supplementary exercises»

The exercises that build the body and basic technique before moving on to kata and combat. They come in three groups: alone or in pairs (Shu), the special ones (Fuku) and those with apparatus (Kigu).

Free combat without protection. One partner attacks ten times in a row without holding back; the other holds at counter-attacking distance, blocks and gives ground, and ends by pushing the attacker away with both hands. It demands a high level of defence: Higaonna O’Sensei taught it only to those who had been with him for years.

«jissen: real combat»

Prearranged combat for senior grades. This is where throws, joint locks and vital points are trained: prearranged, because it is the only way to practise them without injuring anyone.

Okinawa Budo Kaisai-do, the art of the school. The direct heir of Okinawan Goju-ryu. Kata, bunkai and kumite form a single system for understanding, not for competing.

Precision work on striking, repeated with a partner. It appears early, already in the kyu programme, and is never left behind.

«head of the house»

The head of the school. In Shorei-Kan it is Saiko Shihan Toshio Tamano, who leads it internationally.

«form»

A fixed sequence of techniques that holds the knowledge of the school and passes from master to student. Here the kata is not repeated — it is deciphered, through bunkai and kumite.

«kigu: apparatus»

Work with apparatus: makiwara, chishi, sashi, kongoken and tan. They are not gym weights: each one trains a specific movement and develops both muscular strength (riki) and inner strength (kei).

«kiso: foundation»

The ten prearranged combats created by Toguchi Sensei, of increasing difficulty. They exist in no other school and are the backbone of the method.

«the old budo»

Bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku and kama: the implements of the Okinawan farmer, studied with the same rigour as the kata.

«forging the forearms»

Conditioning the forearms through contact with a partner. Together with Ukemi Waza, it is the first thing you need in order to train everything else for years.

«meeting hands»

All work with a partner, from prearranged to free combat. In the school it takes several forms — Kiso, Bunkai, Jissen and Kaisai, Shiai, Irikumi — spread across the grading programme.

«class, level»

The student grades before the black belt. You start at 10th Kyu and count down to 1st Kyu; in Kaisai-do the belt goes from white to green to brown, with stripes within each colour. You move up when you understand the material, not when time has passed.

The understanding that an examination looks for. A kata with spirit and a small mistake is worth more than a flawless, empty one.

«the hand of Naha»

The root of everything practised in the school. Kanryo Higaonna shaped it in Naha after more than eleven years in Fukien, southern China.

«courtesy, bow»

Courtesy, and the bow that expresses it. It is the 礼 in the school’s own name, Shorei-Kan (尚礼館), and on its emblem it is represented by the cherry blossom.

«one born before»

Teacher: the one who has walked the path before you. It is how the masters of the lineage are addressed: Higaonna, Miyagi and Toguchi Sensei.

Combat in full protective equipment. Miyagi O’Sensei conceived it and Saiko Shihan Tamano wrote its rules. Since in Okinawa there is no first attack, the rules demand real defence, and a point is only awarded for a genuine strike delivered without losing posture.

«model teacher»

The title of master instructor, reserved for senior grades. Toshio Tamano received it in 1983 together with 7th Dan, the first student to obtain them. Saiko Shihan means “supreme Shihan”.

«falling techniques»

Learning to fall without getting hurt. Together with Kote Kitai, the first thing you need in order to train everything else for years.