Shinseikan Core System

List 1:  Manner of Teaching

1

Embrace and disseminate Okinawan (Ryukyuan) traditions

2

Work in the old style and seek to be fully functional, utilitarian, practical, and efficient. Principle led training before form led training.  Good form is borne of good function.

3

Seek to emulate the system disseminated by Bushi Matsumura through sound personal research and through copying the ways of those further along the path.

4

Always practise in a safe, therapeutic and healthful manner.

List 2:  Teaching licences

1

No one may run a dojo until they have been awarded Menkyo Shoden or equivalent Shodan rank within our or another reputable organisation with verifiable certification (see Structure of Personal Advancement).  All levels below Shoden or Shodan are student (deshi) ranks only.

2

Dojo sensei (running their own dojo), wishing to join Shinseido Shorin Ryu will, subject to a) assessment by SSR Chief Instructor Roger Sheldon, b) their CV and c) validation of their certification, retain their existing rank subject to their willingness and ability to adopt the principles of the association herein described.  SSR confirmation and certification of rank will be made when all SSR  requirements have been met.

3

All teachers who have, but not yet been awarded the Menkyo Chuden certificate or Yondan and therefore called by the honorific Senpai, will act ‘under supervision’ of SSR Chief Instructor Roger Sheldon as ‘student’ or ‘provisional’ teachers (Kyousei).

4

Teachers having been awarded the Menkyo Chuden certificate or Yondan will be recognised as being capable of operating their dojo on a ‘fully independent’ basis.

5

Each dojo sensei will be designated a given name.  The given name will be the name of the dojo.  For example Roger Sheldon’s given name is Shinsei and his dojo is Shinsei dojo (SSR).

MSK Mandatory Core System 

Each member dojo must have or must aspire to have the following in place:

The Rudiments of Matsumura Shurite     To be taught for, or anytime before Shoden (Shodan)

1

Stance techniques

Tachi waza

a

Natural stance - ready posture (kamae)

Shizen dachi (Shizen tai or yoi dachi)

b

Tied foot stance

Musubi dachi

c

Tiger stance

Tora dachi (Zen kutsu dachi)

d

Horse stance (Ba dachi) (open version)

Paisai dachi

e

Horse stance (Ba dachi) (closed version)

Naihanchi dachi

f

Snake stance

Hebi dachi (Ko kutsu dachi)

g

Half stance

Han dachi

h

Crane stance

Tsuru dachi (Tsuru ashi dachi)

i

Dragon stance

Ryu dachi (Sanchin dachi)

j

Phoenix stance

Houho dachi (Kage dachi)

k

Regular stepping - forwards and backwards

Ayumi ashi

l

Scooting in stance - forwards and backwards

Yori ashi

m

Pivot turn

Mawatte

n

Step turn

Kaiten

2

Receiving techniques

Uke waza

a

High inwards defence (1)

Jodan Uchi uke    

b

Low outwards defence (7)

Gedan soto uke   

c

Low inwards defence (13)

Gedan uchi uke   

d

High outwards defence (16)

Jodan soto uke  

e

Rising defence (5)

Age uke

3

Thrusting techniques

Tsuki waza

a

Regular thrust (palm or fist) (17)

Oi tsuki

b

Reversed thrust (palm or fist) (3)

Gyaku tsuki

4

Striking techniques

Uchi waza

a

Back-fist strike (2)

Uraken uchi

b

Rising strike (uppercut - hand or fist) (6)

Age uchi

c

Sword hand strike (14)

Shuto uke

d

Elbow smash (8)

Enpi ate

e

Hammer fist strike (11)

Tetsui uchi

5

Kicking and sweeping techniques

Ashi waza

a

Shin bridge (10)

Sune uke

b

Outside foot block (12)

Sokuto uke

c

Inside foot block (4)

Teisoku uke

d

Knee smash (15)

Hiza ate

e

Front kick off the back foot (18)

Mae geri ura

f

Front kick off the front foot (9)

Mae geri omote

g

Side foot kick  (additional technique)

Sokuto geri

h

Round kick  (additional technique)

Mawashi geri

i

Back kick  (additional technique)

Ushiro geri

j

Crescent kick  (additional technique)

Mikazuki geri

6

Combinations (various combinations of above)

Renketsu waza

7

Pairs work

Kumite

a

Evasion: Body change (taisabaki)  Evade successive random advancing linear attacks with standard lateral evasion, advancing laterally, retreating laterally.  Ducking and weaving

b

Releasing techniques (hanashi waza)  (appropriate releasing, disengaging and breakaway strategies to various holds).  Use of pressure points (kyusho)

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8

Additional:  To be introduced for, or anytime before Shoden (Shodan)

a

Etiquette and courtesy

Reigi

b

Neatness and precision

Seido

c

Behaviour, attitude, bearing

Soburi

d

Sensitivity and control

Kansei

e

Relaxation and fluidity

Chikan

f

Focused power and energy

Kime Chikara 

g

2500 word essay entitled:             "Personal Reflections Upon My Martial Art" 

Ronbun

9

Core Foundation Forms:   To be taught for, or anytime before Shoden (Shodan)

a

b

c

Kata Seisan

g

Kata oyo and bunkai:  See Pairs work (kumite) m above

10

An understanding of the fundamental principles:  To be introduced for, or anytime before Shoden (Shodan)

a

Shizentai:  Natural structure, loose form

b

Dynamic, straight stepping

c

Natural breathing

d

Mobility, evasion, body change, yielding (taisabaki)

e

Off-line defence and counter attack

f

Attacks to kyusho with specific hand & foot weapons

g

h

Successive strikes

i

j

Angled, multi-directional delivery

k

Low line kicking

Whip, recoil striking action (inc. whipping hip movement)

Speed

12

Basic Matsumura Shurite Historical and Geographical Paper

a

Ability to answer any of the questions

To be learned for, or anytime before Shoden (Shodan)

13

Core Intermediate and Advanced Forms

a

Kata Paisai            Intermediate

To be taught for, or anytime before Chuden (Yondan)

b

Kata Chinto           Intermediate

c

Kata Useishi          Advanced

d

Kata Kusanku        Advanced

e

Kata Hakutsuru      Advanced

14

Core Kobudo forms

a

Kata Soken no Bo Jutsu  (Entry example of a stick cum spear form)

To be taught for, or anytime before Chuden (Yondan)

b

Kata Soken no Sai Sho  (Entry example of a paired weapons form)

c

Ken no gata  (Entry example of a single bladed weapons form)

Note:  Additional material in the form of kata, methods, procedures, drills etc. may be added to the core system to the needs and convictions of each dojo sensei.