Our Syllabus for Nihon Go Shin Kage Ryu is divided into 7 areas. These seven areas are:

1. Kote Waza: Wrist Techniques.
2. Kansetsu waza: Locking techniques
3. Atemi Waza: Striking Techniques
4. Nage Waza: Throws
5. Kime Waza: Projections
6. Kata: Ko Kami No Kata (From Hakuda Ryu).
7. Kobujutsu: Old (Ko) Martial (Bu) Art (Jutsu) This area consists of Weapons:

Kobu- Jutsu describes the use of a variety of weapons in the Nihon Go Shin Kage Ryu syllabus:
i. Bokken (Wooden Sword)
ii. Shoto (Wooden Short Sword)
iii. Tanto (Dagger: Practise is with wood or rubber daggers).
iv. So-Jo (Short Spear)
v. Jo (4ft Stick)
vi. Tanjo/Hanbo (3ft Stick)

In the sword section of our syllabus are Drawing exercises (Iai and Batto) and sword exercises performed with a partner these are all practised as Kata with a Bokken.

In the So-Jo section of our syllabus there is Short Staff (Jo), So Jo (Short Spear)and Hanbo/Tanjo (3ft Stick/Staff) exercises (Kihon) & Kata (A serialised pattern of movements often called a Form). Staff techniques include evasion, blocking a weapon, striking, trapping/restraining and throwing.

Below is an outline of the Nihon Go Shin Kage Ryu syllabus:

1. Basic exercises (Junbi Taiso),

2. Posture (Kamae):
This includes postures for Ju Jutsu, Kempo, Te and Ken (Sword)

3. Movement or walking (Tai No Shintai):
This includes walking for Ju Jutsu, Kempo, Te and Ken (Sword)

4. Locking Techniques (Kansetsu Waza):
Basic arm-locks in a Kata form Locking Kata.wmv
The basic arm locks in the Kata come from the Ko Kami no Kata and the entrance to Tuite/Ju Jutsu techniques.

5. Kote Nage (Wrist throw):
The entrance to the wrist throw provides the basis for Shodan Ge Ichi (First immobilisation) and allows for the practise of Ura Gaeshi (Reverse Hand).

6. Shodan Ge Ichi (First Immobilisation):
These are applied against a strangle, lapel grab and strike and wrist grab. They incorporate the first foot movement and strikes from the Ko Kami No Kata Shodan.

7. Sword
Sword Postures

Sword Cutting Exercises

Sword Focus Exercises

Only when a student has grasped the principle of working from Centre and maintaining the correct posture in the performance of both empty handed and sword techniques will they be considered ready for grading. Only when a student has demonstrated that they can perform the moves comfortably and safely will they be be graded. Our grading system serves the purpose of ensuring that the student is prepared for the next level

1. Suwara Waza:
This grade begins with empty-handed techniques from Suwara (Kneeling) which are performed against Tanto(Dagger) & Shoto (Short Sword).

2. Shodan Ge: Shodan Ge Sanichi 1.wmv
The student must demonstrate the principles of Shodan Ge in Goshin Jutsu

3. Nidan Ge;Nidan Ge with Pins .wmv
The student must demonstrate the principles of Nidan Ge in Goshin Jutsu

4. Kote Kansetsu: Kote Kansetsu 5th Kyu.wmv
The student must demonstrate wrist techniques that combine the principles of Shodan Ge and Nidan Ge in Goshin Jutsu and against a Tanto (Knife) attack.

5. Sandan Ge (Third Immobilisation); Sandan Ge .wmv
This is practised both against empty hand grabbing and striking attacks and against Tanto, Shoto and Bokken.

6. Muto: Kata Guruma .wmv
These are empty hand techniques performed against an unarmed and an armed adversary.

7. Ko Kami No Kata Shodan: Ko Kami No Shodan Kata mail.wmv
This is the First Kempo Kata of Hakuda Ryu with its Bunkai

8. So Jo Kihon & Kata: Jo Kata Application V2.wmv
This is the same as in the last grade but there is greater emphasis on Ma-Ai, Kimi,and Kuzushi.

9. Iai Kata: Shommen Makko .wmv
The first Iai Kata: Nuki Tsuki, Kiri Oroshi, Chiburi and Noto.

10. Ken Kata:
Nippon Me: This is a set of 2 man exercises with Bokken.
The first move on this Kata is known as Katsujinken and emphasises the prince of Go in Go No Sen.

The second move of this Kata emphasise the principle of Sen
The third move of this kata emphasises the importance of movement and timing whilst performing various cutting and spinning movements with the sword.

The fourth and fifth moves of this kata build on the first three moves with the spinning becoming more complex.

The sixth to ninth moves of this Kata build on the fourth and fifth moves and are specifically concerned with timing and manipulation.

1. Muto Oku
These techniques are demonstrated in Goshin Jutsu and against hand and sword attacks. The emphasis in relation to sword attacks is on the development of Ki, being able to disarm an attacker weilding a sword and performing techniques whilst walking.

2. Ko Kami No Kata Nidan
This is the Second Kata of Hakuda Ryu with its Bunkai, there is strong emphasis on Kuzushi. It should be noted that there is often a stronger emphasis on Hakuda Ryu at this level with many of the exercises and principles of Hakuda Ryu Kempo being taught and practised.

3. Ken Kata
This Kata is performed solo, it is high up, fluid and like dance. Izunami No Natsu Kata.wmv

1. Ken Jutsu Uke Waza:
Defences against attacks with the sword.
In this section both Shih Deshi (Demonstrator of technique) and Uchi-Deshi (receiver of technique) wear a sword. The techniques are performed against attacks that aim to prevent the drawing of a sword and against actual sword cuts. For practise purposes a Bokken (Wooden Practise Sword) is used.

2. Yama Arashi
This literally means to storm the mountain and is based in Kempo on the move known as Yama Awase Tsuki (Mountain strike) its application in Bunkai resembles Seionage and Sode Surikomi Koshi techniques.

3. Jo Jutsu:
Jo Kihon and Kata is repeated.
Striking, Projection and Throwing techniques with the Jo are practised
Tanbo: Some basic techniques against Tanjo and Sword are practised.

4. Ken:
All Seven Sword Kata are practised at this level.

1. Hip techniques (Koshiki No Mawara):
Hip techniques are practised at this level as defences to empty hand and weapons techniques (Shoto & Tanto)

2. Ground holds (Osae Komi waza):
Holding down techniques following Koshiki No Mawara

3. Counters (Koshiki No Mawara Bugyo Waza):
Counters to Koshiki No Mawara Waza.

4. Sacrifice Techniques (Sutemi Waza):
Sacrifice throws

5. Ko Kami No Kata Sandan:
This is the third Kata and its Bunkai from Hakuda Ryu.

To receive Shodan (Menkyo) in our style the student will revisit the Principles and techniques previously learnt but would approach them in a specific way using a specific grip which applies pressure to the meridian points (Gakkun).

We would expect a Yudansha Grade to be able to apply:

1. Shodan Ge (All variations) with Gakkun against empty hand, sword and spear attacks

2. Nidan Ge (All variations) with Gakkun against empty hand, sword and spear attacks

3. Sandan Ge (All variations) with Gakkun against empty hand, sword and spear attacks

4. Muto
We would expect that the Yudansha could combine techniques from Shodan, Nidan and Sandan Ge into Muto against empty hand, sword and spear attacks.

5. A set of specific techniques are taught and demonstrated against various and multiple attacks. Thi includes Kaiten, Kubi and Koneri Nage. Kaiten Nage or Kubi Nage.wmv

6. Ken:
It is necessary to perform 6 Ken Kata (4 Solo Iai and 2 Paired Ken Kata)with Bokken

7. Randori:
a. Tori Te Aiki No Ho
This is empty handed free form practise based on the Muto for this grade.

b. Ken Jutsu Randori/Shihai
This armed free form practise based on Kata.

This grade requires a specific knowledge of the Kyu grade syllabus in its totality and the ability to apply the principles relating to the meridians from Shomokuroku to empty hand and weapons attacks. Practitioners of this level must demonstrate the utmost control in the performance of principles and techniques. The achieving of this level requires a specific state of mind (Mushin).