Reference Material
Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu Rank Structure
White Belt....... HachiKyu....... 8th Kyu
Yellow Belt...... NanaKyu....... 7th Kyu
Orange Belt..... RokuKyu........ 6th Kyu
Green Belt....... GoKyu............ 5th Kyu
Blue Belt......... YonKyu........... 4th Kyu
Brown Belt with one Red Stripe...... Sankyu......3rd Kyu
Brown Belt with two Red stripes......Nikyu...... 2nd Kyu
Brown Belt with three Red stripes......Ikkyu...... 1st Kyu
Yellow Belt...... NanaKyu....... 7th Kyu
Orange Belt..... RokuKyu........ 6th Kyu
Green Belt....... GoKyu............ 5th Kyu
Blue Belt......... YonKyu........... 4th Kyu
Brown Belt with one Red Stripe...... Sankyu......3rd Kyu
Brown Belt with two Red stripes......Nikyu...... 2nd Kyu
Brown Belt with three Red stripes......Ikkyu...... 1st Kyu
Shodan-Jo...... Brown with Black center stripe...... No Characters...... Assistant
(Only given as a special award and is higher than Ikkyu, but lower than Black Belt.)
(Only given as a special award and is higher than Ikkyu, but lower than Black Belt.)
Shodan...... 1st Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Nidan...... 2nd Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Sandan...... 3rd Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Yondan...... 4th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Godan...... 5th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Red Characters
Rokudan...... 6th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Red Characters
Special Titles Awarded to Ranks Yondan and above.
Titles can only be awarded by the Hombu.
Renshi...... White over Red with Black back...... Black Characters
Renshi...... Red over White with Black back...... Black Characters
Shihan...... Purple over Red with Black Back..... Gold Characters
Kyoshi...... Red and White Panels with Metalic Gold Characters
Note: Shihan Diaz wears a Purple with Gold characters with Black back.
This special belt is only worn by the head of the Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system.
Note: As an explanation concerning how ranking works, ranks below Black Belt work in the negatives. Once a student obtains Shodan, the Ranks go forward in the positives.
There are specific requirements for each Rank. When a student is ready for the next rank above, a test is required along with a modest fee to cover the cost of certificates and belts.
Nidan...... 2nd Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Sandan...... 3rd Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Yondan...... 4th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Gold Characters
Godan...... 5th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Red Characters
Rokudan...... 6th Degree Black Belt...... Black with Red Characters
Special Titles Awarded to Ranks Yondan and above.
Titles can only be awarded by the Hombu.
Renshi...... White over Red with Black back...... Black Characters
Renshi...... Red over White with Black back...... Black Characters
Shihan...... Purple over Red with Black Back..... Gold Characters
Kyoshi...... Red and White Panels with Metalic Gold Characters
Note: Shihan Diaz wears a Purple with Gold characters with Black back.
This special belt is only worn by the head of the Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system.
Note: As an explanation concerning how ranking works, ranks below Black Belt work in the negatives. Once a student obtains Shodan, the Ranks go forward in the positives.
There are specific requirements for each Rank. When a student is ready for the next rank above, a test is required along with a modest fee to cover the cost of certificates and belts.
Basic Terminology with pronunciation
THE STYLE YOU ARE LEARNING IS GOSHIN-RYU AIKI-KEMPO JU-JITSU.(Pronounced Go Shin - Ree yoo Eye key - Kehm poh Joo - Jiht soo)
Goshin - (go shin) translated means “from the heart” or Self-Defense
Ryu - (Ree yoo) means “style or system”
Aiki - (Aye Key) means “Harmony” from Aikido
Kempo - (Kehm Po) means “Fist Method” from “Ryukyu Kempo”
Ju - (Joo) means “Soft”
Jitsu - (Jit soo) means “Art”
Note: In the Japanese language, the vowels are A (Ah) E (Eh) I (Eee) O (Oh) U (Ooo)
Some basic terms that you will be using while training……
Aikido - (eye kee doh) - the way of harmony founded by morihei ueshiba (more eee hay you eee shee bah)
Judo - (joo doh) - Gentle Way - founded by Jigoro kano (gee gor oh kah noh)
Ryukyu Kempo - (ree yoo koo kehm poh) - Okinawa hands
Hakko Ryu - (hah koh ree yoo) - eighth light system founded by Okuyama Ryuho
ichi - (ee chee) - one
ni - (nee) - two
san - (sahn) - three
shi - (shee) - four
go - (go) - five
roku - (ro koo) - Six
shichi - (shee chee) - Seven
hachi - (ha chee) - Eight
ku - (koo) - Nine
ju - (jyoo) - Ten
rei - (ray) - Bow
yoi - (yoy) - listen up
kiotsuke - (kee oh skay) - command to attention
Nage - (nah gay) - The defender
Uke - (ooo kay) - the attacker - also known as tori (to ree)
hashime - (hah shee may) - begin
yamae - (yah may) - stop
Kata - (kah tah) - Prearranged form done solo.
Kumite - (koo mee tay) - Two person self-defense technique. (Some Karate schools use this term as fighting)
Waza - (wah zah) - formal technique
Shiai - (shee eye)- A contest between two participants as in fighting or Judo.
kiai - (kee eye) - a spirited yell releasing stored energy
Tachi - (tah chee) - standing
Suwari - (soo wah ree) - kneeling (Japanese sitting)
kihon - (kee hone) - basic
jo - (Joe) - 4 foot staff
bokken - (bo ken) - wooden sword
katana - (kah tah nah) - samurai sword
tanto - (tahn toe) - knife
bo - (bo) - 6 foot staff
Kyu - (kee yoo) - rank below black belt
Dan - (dahn) - black belt rank
osu - (ooos) - Positive cannotation
hai sai - (hi si) - Hello in Okinawan dialect
ohayo - (ohio) - Short for good morning
konichiwa - (koh knee chee wah) - good afternoon
kombanwa - (kohm bahn wah) - Good evening
joto - (joh toh) - Good
migi - (mee gee) - Right
hidari - (hee dah dee) - left
Titles that are commonly used in the Martial Arts
Sempai - (sehm pie) - “mentor” or “senior” often used to indicate those of higher Kyu rank
Sensei - (sehn say) - “one who came before” (formally given at 3rd dan)
Renshi - (wren shee) - master title meaning "polished expert"
Shihan - (shee hahn) - "master instructor" or ”Teacher of Teachers”
Kyoshi - (kee yoh shee) - master title meaning "Professor"
Hanshi - (hahn shee) -master title meaning "Senior Master"
Soke - (soh kay) - master title meaning "Head Master" or "Head of Family"
Kancho - (kahn choh) - Head of Dojo
Goshin - (go shin) translated means “from the heart” or Self-Defense
Ryu - (Ree yoo) means “style or system”
Aiki - (Aye Key) means “Harmony” from Aikido
Kempo - (Kehm Po) means “Fist Method” from “Ryukyu Kempo”
Ju - (Joo) means “Soft”
Jitsu - (Jit soo) means “Art”
Note: In the Japanese language, the vowels are A (Ah) E (Eh) I (Eee) O (Oh) U (Ooo)
Some basic terms that you will be using while training……
Aikido - (eye kee doh) - the way of harmony founded by morihei ueshiba (more eee hay you eee shee bah)
Judo - (joo doh) - Gentle Way - founded by Jigoro kano (gee gor oh kah noh)
Ryukyu Kempo - (ree yoo koo kehm poh) - Okinawa hands
Hakko Ryu - (hah koh ree yoo) - eighth light system founded by Okuyama Ryuho
ichi - (ee chee) - one
ni - (nee) - two
san - (sahn) - three
shi - (shee) - four
go - (go) - five
roku - (ro koo) - Six
shichi - (shee chee) - Seven
hachi - (ha chee) - Eight
ku - (koo) - Nine
ju - (jyoo) - Ten
rei - (ray) - Bow
yoi - (yoy) - listen up
kiotsuke - (kee oh skay) - command to attention
Nage - (nah gay) - The defender
Uke - (ooo kay) - the attacker - also known as tori (to ree)
hashime - (hah shee may) - begin
yamae - (yah may) - stop
Kata - (kah tah) - Prearranged form done solo.
Kumite - (koo mee tay) - Two person self-defense technique. (Some Karate schools use this term as fighting)
Waza - (wah zah) - formal technique
Shiai - (shee eye)- A contest between two participants as in fighting or Judo.
kiai - (kee eye) - a spirited yell releasing stored energy
Tachi - (tah chee) - standing
Suwari - (soo wah ree) - kneeling (Japanese sitting)
kihon - (kee hone) - basic
jo - (Joe) - 4 foot staff
bokken - (bo ken) - wooden sword
katana - (kah tah nah) - samurai sword
tanto - (tahn toe) - knife
bo - (bo) - 6 foot staff
Kyu - (kee yoo) - rank below black belt
Dan - (dahn) - black belt rank
osu - (ooos) - Positive cannotation
hai sai - (hi si) - Hello in Okinawan dialect
ohayo - (ohio) - Short for good morning
konichiwa - (koh knee chee wah) - good afternoon
kombanwa - (kohm bahn wah) - Good evening
joto - (joh toh) - Good
migi - (mee gee) - Right
hidari - (hee dah dee) - left
Titles that are commonly used in the Martial Arts
Sempai - (sehm pie) - “mentor” or “senior” often used to indicate those of higher Kyu rank
Sensei - (sehn say) - “one who came before” (formally given at 3rd dan)
Renshi - (wren shee) - master title meaning "polished expert"
Shihan - (shee hahn) - "master instructor" or ”Teacher of Teachers”
Kyoshi - (kee yoh shee) - master title meaning "Professor"
Hanshi - (hahn shee) -master title meaning "Senior Master"
Soke - (soh kay) - master title meaning "Head Master" or "Head of Family"
Kancho - (kahn choh) - Head of Dojo
Major influences in Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu
Hakko-Ryu Ju-Jitsu influences.
Shihan Diaz's first in depth Ju-Jitsu training was in Hakko-Ryu under now Soke Joseph Miller. Shihan Diaz has continued the study of Hakko-Ryu and Taizen Ryu under the guidance of Soke Miller to this day. The Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system uses principles, theories and techniques from Hakko-Ryu to enhance the system.
Aikido's Influence.
Both Ju-Jitsu and Aikido, to put into modern terms, are spinoffs of Aiki-Ju-Jitsu. While both have similarities, they are different in both theories and principles. Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu has literally brought back circular theories from Aikido
Ryukyu Kempo influences.
While Ryukyu Kempo is considered more of a hard style in comparison to Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu's being a softer style, joint locks learned directly from Taika Seiyu Oyata have been incorporated into the system.
Judo influences.
Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu has adopted Kihon (basic) Judo throws into the system.
Karate influences.
Shihan Diaz and Hanshi Myron Lubitsch trained together on a regular basis learning each other's systems and ultimately obtaining the rank of Shodan in each other's systems. Striking as well as footwork made it's way into the Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system through years of association with the Shorinjiryu Kenryukan family. Shihan Diaz teaches at the Imperial Dragon Dojo currently on a regular basis.
Shihan Diaz's first in depth Ju-Jitsu training was in Hakko-Ryu under now Soke Joseph Miller. Shihan Diaz has continued the study of Hakko-Ryu and Taizen Ryu under the guidance of Soke Miller to this day. The Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system uses principles, theories and techniques from Hakko-Ryu to enhance the system.
Aikido's Influence.
Both Ju-Jitsu and Aikido, to put into modern terms, are spinoffs of Aiki-Ju-Jitsu. While both have similarities, they are different in both theories and principles. Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu has literally brought back circular theories from Aikido
Ryukyu Kempo influences.
While Ryukyu Kempo is considered more of a hard style in comparison to Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu's being a softer style, joint locks learned directly from Taika Seiyu Oyata have been incorporated into the system.
Judo influences.
Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu has adopted Kihon (basic) Judo throws into the system.
Karate influences.
Shihan Diaz and Hanshi Myron Lubitsch trained together on a regular basis learning each other's systems and ultimately obtaining the rank of Shodan in each other's systems. Striking as well as footwork made it's way into the Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu system through years of association with the Shorinjiryu Kenryukan family. Shihan Diaz teaches at the Imperial Dragon Dojo currently on a regular basis.