What is Karate?
Karate literally means, "Empty Hand" and the original meaning was, "Chinese Hand". Karate is a martial art system of blocks and strikes using hands and feet as well as other striking and blocking points on the body. It was developed in Okinawa, via original techniques from Chinese martial arts forms such as kenpo. Karate is as much mental as it is physical, and discipline and effort are paramount. Karateka (those who study and practice karate) should strive to always achieve more and elevate their knowledge to a higher level every time they train. In every sense, karate is a life-long "journey" of humility and humanity as much as it is anything else.
How to I get started?
To get started or to get more information, email the Japan Ways Boise Instructors here.
What do I need to bring?
For your first few classes, just yourself and some loose fitting clothes (sweats and a tee-shirt work well). After the first month we ask that you purchase a uniform (gi) either from Japan Ways or one of the numerous retailers. An instructor can assist you in choosing the right size gi.
Do I have to bow?
First of all, it is important to understand that bowing in the dojo does not have any religious meaning. It comes from the Japanese practice of showing respect for one another. One of the precepts, or sayings, of Master Ginchin Funakoshi, the founder of modern Shotokan, is, “Karate begins and ends with courtesy.”
We bow when entering and exiting the dojo and the training area to show respect for all those who train there. We bow to instructors and Black Belts to show respect for those who share their knowledge with us. We bow to practicing partners to show respect for our common goal of becoming better karateka (students of karate) as well as a sign of courtesy. Also, it is part of our tradition.
However, if you believe that bowing would conflict with your religious beliefs, you may abstain from the practice. During the bowing in and bowing out of class, we ask that you simply take a small step backward to disengage yourself while the rest of the class bows and then quietly rejoin the line when they have finished.
What do the different colored belts mean?
Our belt ranking system is consistent with the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF), Japan, as well as the Shotokan Karate-Do International-United States Federation (SKI-USF). The curriculum at Japan Ways Traditional Karate-Do is centered around principles taught by the late Sensei Robert Halliburton and SKIF requirements set by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa. The SKIF requirements are further overseen by SKI-USF Chief Instructor, Sensei Jonathan Kwok here in the USA
Black Belt:
Black Belt levels are called Dan (pronounced like Don) of which there are ten levels.
First degree black belt – Shodan
Junior First degree black belt – Shodan-Sho (students under 18 years old)
Second degree black belt - Nidan
Third degree black belt - Sandan
Fourth degree black belt - Yondan
Fifth degree black belt - Godan
Sixth degree black belt – Rokudan
Seventh degree black belt - Nanadan or Shichidan
Eighth degree black belt – Hachidan
Ninth degree black belt – Kyudan
Tenth degree black belt – Judan
Kyu-Color Belt:
The color belt system is represented by Kyu (below black belt) levels. The Kyu levels run 10th (being the lowest level) through 1st (being the highest level before black belt) which is just opposite of the black belt Dan grades in which 1st is the lowest and 10th the highest. The color of the belts assigned to the Kyu levels varies from school to school; the Kyu level is what denotes the student’s level of proficiency. Our color-Kyu levels are as follows:
White Belt – no Kyu level assigned, given to beginning students.
Yellow Belt – 10th Kyu- Ju Kyu
Orange Belt – 9th Kyu- Kyu Kyu
Blue Belt – 8th Kyu- Hachi Kyu
Green Belt – 7th Kyu- Nana Kyu
Green Belt – 6th Kyu- Rok Kyu
Purple Belt – 5th Kyu- Go Kyu
Purple Belt – 4th Kyu- Yon Kyu
Brown Belt – 3rd Kyu- San Kyu
Brown Belt – 2nd Kyu- Ni Kyu
Brown Belt – 1st Kyu- Ik Kyu
Karate literally means, "Empty Hand" and the original meaning was, "Chinese Hand". Karate is a martial art system of blocks and strikes using hands and feet as well as other striking and blocking points on the body. It was developed in Okinawa, via original techniques from Chinese martial arts forms such as kenpo. Karate is as much mental as it is physical, and discipline and effort are paramount. Karateka (those who study and practice karate) should strive to always achieve more and elevate their knowledge to a higher level every time they train. In every sense, karate is a life-long "journey" of humility and humanity as much as it is anything else.
How to I get started?
To get started or to get more information, email the Japan Ways Boise Instructors here.
What do I need to bring?
For your first few classes, just yourself and some loose fitting clothes (sweats and a tee-shirt work well). After the first month we ask that you purchase a uniform (gi) either from Japan Ways or one of the numerous retailers. An instructor can assist you in choosing the right size gi.
Do I have to bow?
First of all, it is important to understand that bowing in the dojo does not have any religious meaning. It comes from the Japanese practice of showing respect for one another. One of the precepts, or sayings, of Master Ginchin Funakoshi, the founder of modern Shotokan, is, “Karate begins and ends with courtesy.”
We bow when entering and exiting the dojo and the training area to show respect for all those who train there. We bow to instructors and Black Belts to show respect for those who share their knowledge with us. We bow to practicing partners to show respect for our common goal of becoming better karateka (students of karate) as well as a sign of courtesy. Also, it is part of our tradition.
However, if you believe that bowing would conflict with your religious beliefs, you may abstain from the practice. During the bowing in and bowing out of class, we ask that you simply take a small step backward to disengage yourself while the rest of the class bows and then quietly rejoin the line when they have finished.
What do the different colored belts mean?
Our belt ranking system is consistent with the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF), Japan, as well as the Shotokan Karate-Do International-United States Federation (SKI-USF). The curriculum at Japan Ways Traditional Karate-Do is centered around principles taught by the late Sensei Robert Halliburton and SKIF requirements set by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa. The SKIF requirements are further overseen by SKI-USF Chief Instructor, Sensei Jonathan Kwok here in the USA
Black Belt:
Black Belt levels are called Dan (pronounced like Don) of which there are ten levels.
First degree black belt – Shodan
Junior First degree black belt – Shodan-Sho (students under 18 years old)
Second degree black belt - Nidan
Third degree black belt - Sandan
Fourth degree black belt - Yondan
Fifth degree black belt - Godan
Sixth degree black belt – Rokudan
Seventh degree black belt - Nanadan or Shichidan
Eighth degree black belt – Hachidan
Ninth degree black belt – Kyudan
Tenth degree black belt – Judan
Kyu-Color Belt:
The color belt system is represented by Kyu (below black belt) levels. The Kyu levels run 10th (being the lowest level) through 1st (being the highest level before black belt) which is just opposite of the black belt Dan grades in which 1st is the lowest and 10th the highest. The color of the belts assigned to the Kyu levels varies from school to school; the Kyu level is what denotes the student’s level of proficiency. Our color-Kyu levels are as follows:
White Belt – no Kyu level assigned, given to beginning students.
Yellow Belt – 10th Kyu- Ju Kyu
Orange Belt – 9th Kyu- Kyu Kyu
Blue Belt – 8th Kyu- Hachi Kyu
Green Belt – 7th Kyu- Nana Kyu
Green Belt – 6th Kyu- Rok Kyu
Purple Belt – 5th Kyu- Go Kyu
Purple Belt – 4th Kyu- Yon Kyu
Brown Belt – 3rd Kyu- San Kyu
Brown Belt – 2nd Kyu- Ni Kyu
Brown Belt – 1st Kyu- Ik Kyu