The following is an excerpt from “Notes on Training” by Tsutomu Ohshima. Published by Pine Winds Press December 1, 1998.

The torite in sitting and standing form is one of the Sandan candidate’s projects. Movements from sitting form are the best training for dynamic movement of the hips. The Sandan candidate already knows basics and realistic combat, so these are extra exercises for certain situations encountered in real combat, such as when facing a judo or aikido man, wrestlers, boxers, or any opponent coming with certain unexpected techniques, distance or timing. So, in a way, the Sandan candidate has to be mature, to use his effective techniques against many different opponents.

Sandan candidates have to reach 5,000 times with Jion.

The program for a sandan test is

Basic

• Leadership for beginners.
• Torite
  • Idori (sitting)
  • Tachi Dori (standing)

Kata

• From 15 katas, favorite form
• Jion, request form

Kumite

• Jiyu Kumite

Important Points

• Sense of ma
• strong feeling with calmness
• no conscious power in shoulders