Tsue Kakuto Ranks - 6th Kyu Requirements
OBJECTIVE: The 6th Kyu is an introductory rank designed (1) to provide the student basic skills as a foundation for future study, (2) to introduce the basic doctrine of Tsu Kakuto and fundamental concepts of the use of the cane, and (3) to acclimatize the student to the learning environment of the martial art. Tsue Kakuto regards the White Belt as a significant achievement worthy of both time and testing requirements that allow, and require the demonstration of, the development of knowledge and skill. Students earning the White Belt are recognized for the first time as Tsue Kakuto practitioners and as members of the combat method.
TIME AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: For students with no prior martial arts or sword sports experience, the minimum time for advancement will be 3 months. During that period the student must complete at least 24 hours of class participation (one class a week); two classes a week is recommended. In addition, students should plan to practice the Kata for at least 30 minutes a day on at least two days in addition to class days. A 30 minute period is the minimum to allow focus on the elements of the Kata and to practice elements to develop correct responses, either as individual elements or as a whole. Although students with prior martial arts, fencing, or historical sword study backgrounds may master the material and be advanced more quickly, they are encouraged to spend the time needed to fully understand the differences in movement patterns in Tsue Kakuto.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS: On the completion of 6th Kyu students will be able to:
(1) for a given situation select appropriate basic legal concepts governing self-defense and the use of weapons
(2) identify elements of Tsue Kakuto philosophy and combat doctrine
(3) describe one footwork or weapon technique
(4) list the steps of the 6th Kyu Kata (1st Kata)
(5) identify the elements of the target
(6) identify the parts of the cane and the potential uses of these parts
(7) identify the distance in a given scenario
Knowledge requirements are met by passing a written examination (multiple choice for elements 1-3 and 5-7, listing for element 4) with a score of 80 percent or higher. The written examination must be completed prior to practical testing on techniques (waza) and the 1st Kata.
TECHNIQUES (WAZA): On the completion of the 6th Kyu students will be able to perform the following techniques without hesitation, showing smooth, precise, and controlled action, accuracy of delivery of offensive actions, and effectiveness of defensive actions. Speed of execution should be proportional to student experience.
(1) Footwork
(1.a.) initial position
(1.b.) balanced guard position on the dominant side
(1.c.) advancing and retreating steps in the guard position
(1.d.) a forward lunge coordinated with a weapon strike
(2) Attacks with the cane
(2.a.) underarm strike
(2.b.) above the arm strike
(2.c.) elbow strike
(2.d) knee strike
(3) Defensive actions with the cane
(3.a.) lateral parry high line inside
(3.b.) lateral parry high line outside
1ST KATA: The 1st Kata is designed to teach the application of attacks to the advanced target in the context of maintaining distance and to introduce the combination of offense and defense into a flow of actions. At the White Belt level, this kata is performed with the dominant hand against an opponent of the same or opposite hand as specified at the start of the kata. The steps of the kata with their application are:
(1) Initial position
(2) Underarm strike as the student steps back into the balanced guard position (against a simulated attack with a weapon - the strike may be executed with the technique for either an opponent with the same dominant hand or a different hand)
(3) Inside high parry with a retreating step (to block the weakened continuation of the attack)
(4) Knee strike delivered with a lunge (the reduce the opponent's ability to continue forward)
(5) Outside high parry on the recovery from the lunge (against the counter action delivered in reaction to the attack on the knee)
(6) Above arm strike with an advance step (against the arm of the opponent as he or she tries to recover from the attack)
(7) Recover to the guard position and retreat step (to maintain a safe distance and be ready for a further attack)
Note: Tsue Kakuto Kata do not attempt to return to the starting position of the Kata. They will always start with the student in the neutral initial position. They will always end with the student recovering to the balanced guard position in readiness and retreating to maintain a safe distance.
PRACTICAL TESTING: Students must demonstrate the performance of each technique correctly against the standard in 4 out of 5 tries as directed by the examiner. Examiners may observe student technique in a class setting, as opposed to a formal testing situation, but if this approach to testing is selected the expectation is that 80 percent of all executions observed (with a minimum of 5 executions of the technique) must be correctly done. Kata must be done individually in front of the examiner. The student is expected to be able to correctly execute the 1st Kata, with all movements to the standard, three times in succession.