Nathan Ligo's Grading for Shihan at
International Instructors' Seminar in Japan
February 2011

Regarding the exam footage – and the exam that Kancho gives each year at the international instructors’ seminar – the instruction givin on the largely-symbolic ten rounds of kumite is that it NOT be full-contact, and that we attempt to show our technical ability, not brute strength. Kancho’s philosophy here is that Kyokushin karate is at a stage in its development where everyone knows hard, full-contact fighting. During Mas Oyama’s time, the entirety of the Kyokushin world came to know full-contact fighting, and thanks to his hard work, we all take it for granted today. However, Kancho Royama assesses today that in the process of making everyone know, and idolize, full-contact fighting, many Kyokushin karateka lost sight of the importance of technical refinement and understanding. That, Kancho says, is the focus of these seminars and these exams. Speaking from personal experience, when I (Nathan Ligo) fought 20 consecutive fights for my Nidan exam many years ago, I was beaten into the floor time and time again by one rested opponent after another. That experience is valuable too, in terms of understanding what I know today. The focus here, however, is not to beat each other into the floor.

Regarding the result of this exam, it was the second year in a row I tested for “shihan” and it was the second year in a row I was told, “please wait a little bit longer.” Shihan, “teachers’ teacher” in Japanese, is a title Kyokushin-kan is guarding VERY closely. Two of us tested this year for Shihan (both seen in the photo above) both of us were told to wait a bit longer. In the Japanese way, it's an honor, of course, to be told to wait, because it shows that our leadership believes in our abilty to persevere and deepen our knowledge. Other spin-off Kyokushin organizations give promotions to buy members.

pinan kata and gekisaisho
oshiro no kon (bo kata)
sushiho
seienchin and other
tawata no sai dai (sai kata)
shushi no kon kumibo
kumite 1
kumite 2
kumite 3
kumite 4
kumite 5
kumite 6
kumite 7
kumite 8
kumite 9
kumite 10