Green Belt Overview
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Characteristics
Green belt is an intermediate stage in a student's progress, involving the introduction
of more sophisticated techniques and forms of moving. The chief characteristics
are set out below:
| KIHON (Basics) | Basic Green belt techniques are drawn from the kata. Correct form is assumed and emphasis is on correct posture, plane of movement, balance and stability and use of hips. |
| Uke (Blocks) | Green belts learn more complex blocks including open hand blocks, double blocks (simultaneous, same hand and alternating) "striking" blocks and blocks using the leg. |
| Zuki (Punches) | In Green belt students practise common variations on the basic punch including kizami (jab) and mawashi (roundhouse). They also learn double punching (same hand and alternating) and some of the more unusual variations from Naifunchin. |
| Uchi (Strikes) | Green belt focuses on circular hand strikes and elbow strikes. |
| Geri (Kicks) | Apart from having to perform the 3 basic kicks at progressively higher levels, Green belts learn groin kicks, side snapping kicks, back kicks (with and without a spin), crescent kicks and double kicks (same leg and alternating). |
| Dachi (Stances) | Students learn jiyu dachi ("free" stance) in addition to 5 new moving stances from the kata and weapons syllabus. |
| Sabaki (Moving) | Emphasis in Green belt moving is on correct hip use and double combinations - same hand blocks and alternating hand punches in zenkutsu, alternating hand blocks and same hand punches in sanchin and alternating hand strikes in neko ashi. |
| Tenchin (Evasion) | Green belts learn to evade attacks by moving at 45° forwards followed by turn or pivot (using hips). They also learn more complex "opening" evasions. All Green belt evasion begins in jiyu dachi (free stance). |
| Ukemi (Falling) | Green belt is the phase during which falling is perfected. Emphasis is on "no hands" rolls and break falls (forward, side and back). |
| KATA (Forms) | There are 2 distinct phases within Green belt, namely the Saifa phase (Green 1 and 2) and the Naifunchin phase (Green 3 and 4). Saifa is a kata that teaches evasion, balance, hip use and flow. Naifunchin balances this by isolating techniques and by emphasizing focus and strict form. Plane, posture, timing flow and coordination are all examined closely at Green belt. |
| Embu (2 person forms) | Embu practiced at Green belt are Gekisai dai ichi (at Green 2) and ni (at Green 3) and Saifa (at Green 4). |
| KUMITE (Sparring) | Green belts begin to practise free sparring in addition to the restricted forms of sparring. The focus on all sparring is on correct distance, balance of left and right and variety. |
| Jiyu Ippon (1 step from free stance) | Jiyu ippon kumite at Green belt takes the form of kata bunkai (applications) and is performed from jiyu-dachi (one leg in front of the other) either ai- or gyaku-hanmi. |
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Tuide |
There are 2 basic locksflows or Chin-na two person drills taught to Green belts. These are based on the Saifa and Naifunchin katas. |
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Ippon (1 step) |
A means of isolating one attack and one block with a counter. It is performed with a full step and introduces evasion to basic sparring. Ippon kumite largely takes the form of kata bunkai (applications). |
| Kakie (Push hands) | Green belt kakie involves a back and forth, up and down movement (as per White belt). Green belts practise their throws and locks in kakie. |
| Randori (Flowing free-sparring) | Free sparring progresses from slow & soft (Green 1-2) to ½ speed & firm (Green 3-4). It is to be performed with at least 2 partners, 1 minute each at gradings. |
| Weapons |
Green belts can choose units from either Arnis, Jo, Bokken, Bo or Nunchaku Streams |
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SYLLABUS REVISION TABLE
| Revision | Date | Comments |
| 1 | 09/03/1997 | Pre-Jun, Junior, White 1 to Green 4, Kumijyo issued. |
| 2 | 07/06/1997 | Pre-Jun, Junior, White 1 to Green 4 re-issued; Brown 1 to Nidan 1 issued; Kumitachi issued. |
| 3 | 03/02/1998 | White 1 - 4 re-issued. |
| 4 | 14/07/2000 | Instructor evaluative version only, not adopted. |
| 5 | 06/09/2001 | White 1 - Sandan 4 re-issued. |
| 6 | 11/04/2003 | White 1 - 4 re-issued. |
| 6.1 | 15/08/2003 | White 1 - Green 4 re-issued. |