2023 Tomoe/Kobudo Warrior Event

To receive the TOMOE Warrior Award, a karate-ka must understand the concept of TOMOE.

Can you imagine fighting a real person with a samurai sword in his hand!  That is exactly what the TOMOE warriors did.  This award is given by Grandmaster Jerry C. Piddington.  Believe it or not, Mr. Piddington has fought in the street against knife, gun, and club to survive, hence, the TOMOE award came into being.  It is a special award given to students who have a warrior spirit.  The TOMOE is the symbol of the fighting spirit of Okinawan warriors who defended their homes and families in time of war.  The victory symbol was placed on their shields which were used for defense against the sword.  It means the constant motion of our universe, the eye of a hurricane, the wheel is always turning, leading to the only certainty - at some time this human life will come to an end.  To place too much importance on this fragile butterfly life was deemed fatal.  It is far better to aim at honor and respect, which has strength in unity flowing in one direction for a better society, even if in pursuance of this, it becomes necessary to give up life - thus the warrior defeats his greatest foe - FEAR!  Fear of death, which if unconquered, could cause that slight hesitation in combat that might be fatal.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

BRONZE TWO KATA TOMOE
(Bronze TOMOE in red on white patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must have all patches in correct place.
3. Must be tested by at least two Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors and one Kyoshi.
4. Must demonstrate beginner stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
5. Must break at least one board with a striking technique and a kicking technique.
6. Must perform TWO EMPTY-HAND KATA.  Must name the kata before and after presentation, and can make no more than three mistakes.

SILVER FIVE KATA TOMOE
(Silver TOMOE in blue on white patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must have all patches in correct place.
3. Must be tested by at least two Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors and one Kyoshi.
4. Must demonstrate beginner stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
5. Must break at least one board with a striking technique and a kicking technique.
6. Must perform FIVE EMPTY-HAND KATA.  Must name the kata before and after presentation, may rest 15 seconds or less between kata, and can make no more than three mistakes.

SILVER DIAMOND SEVEN KATA TOMOE
(Silver TOMOE in red on white patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must have all patches in correct place.
3. Must be tested by at least two Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors and one Kyoshi.
4. Must demonstrate beginner and intermediate stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
5. Must break at least one board with a striking technique and a kicking technique.
6. Must perform SEVEN EMPTY-HAND KATA.  Must name the kata before and after presentation, may rest 15 seconds or less between kata, and can make no more than three mistakes.

GOLD TEN KATA TOMOE
(Gold TOMOE in red on white patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must have all patches in correct place.
3. Must be tested by at least three Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors, one Kyoshi, and one Hanshi.
4. Must demonstrate all beginner and intermediate stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
5. Must break at least two boards with a striking technique and a kicking technique.
6. Must perform TEN EMPTY-HAND KATA.  Must name the kata before and after presentation, may rest 30 seconds or less between kata, and can make no more than three mistakes.

BLACK BELT FIVE KATA TOMOE
(Gold TOMOE in blue on red patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must have all patches in correct place.
3. Must be tested by at least three Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors, one Kyoshi, one Hanshi, and the Grandmaster of AKANA.
4. Must demonstrate beginner, intermediate, and advanced stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
5. Must break at least three boards with a striking technique and a kicking technique.
6. Must perform FIVE EMPTY-HAND BLACK BELT KATA .  Must name the kata before and after presentation, may rest 30 seconds or less between kata, and can make no more than three mistakes.
7. Must demonstrate five basic black belt bunkai from the kata performing self-defense one-steps executing blocking and striking with kime! 

GOLD DIAMOND SEVENTEEN  KATA TOMOE
(Gold TOMOE in red on blue patch)

1. Must be a current member of AKANA.
2. Must receive an invitation from Board of AKANA.
3. Must be tested by at least four Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warriors, one Kyoshi, one Hanshi, and the Grandmaster of AKANA.  The Grandmaster may appoint a person to sit in for him, if he is unavailable.
4. Must wear heavy weight uniform with all patches.
5. Must demonstrate all beginner, intermediate, and advanced stances, blocks, elbows, hand strikes, knees, and kicks.
6. Must break at least three boards with a striking technique and a kicking technique.  Must break two boards with a jump kick.  Must break one board with a spinning kick.  Must perform a multiple break.  Must perform a specialty break.
7. Must perform SEVENTEEN EMPTY-HAND KATA.  Must name the kata before and after presentation, may rest 60 seconds or less between kata, and can make no more than three mistakes.
8. Left and Right Pivot Form count as one kata.  At least nine American Open Style Kata must be performed.  All Naihanchi Kata must be performed as one kata...O'Naihanchi.  At least eight of the seventeen kata should be black belt kata.
9. Must demonstrate seventeen basic bunkai from the kata performing self-defense one-steps executing blocking and striking with kime! 

SIDEKICK KARATE/AKANA SEVENTEEN KATA TOMOE WARRIORS:

1.  Ricky Smith
2.  Wayne Talbert Jr.
3.  Robert Taylor
4.  Sonia Fields
5.  Rickey Dease
6.  Jeff McClenney
7.  Tyrone Stewart
8.  Caleb Isenhour
9.  Lukas Miller
10.  Amanda Burleson
11.  Hunter Poston
12.  Kenny Chavarria
13.  Howard Douglas
14.  Tom Bristol
15.  James Bristol
16.  Ben Bolick
17.  Shawn Bolick
18.  Ryan Stopper
19.  John Bristol
20.  Thomas Wall

PINNACLE TOMOE
(Gold TOMOE inside triangle with a diamond and ruby)

The pyramid is one of the forms most frequently used throughout history to symbolize spiritual completeness, for example, the Holy Trinity in Christianity.  Mind, Spirit, and Body are symbolized with the pyramid.  The pyramid also symbolized Mt. Sumeru, the center and the home of power in the universe according to eastern tradition - not the power itself, but the source of the power, the home of the winds, souls, and God.  The power of the mountain is expressed in the human body of the master who stands atop it.

The TRIANGLE (pyramid) represents the goals of every master and every student in every school of martial arts: to attain mastery, to stand firmly upon the summit of existence.

1. Must be a 6th dan or above.
2. Must be an AKANA (lifer) member.
3. Must be recommended by AKANA Board of Directors.
4. Must be voted in by the majority of AKANA Board of Directors.
5. Must have a minimum of 30 years of giving/teaching to the martial arts.
6. Must have a teaching knowledge of at least seventeen kata.
7. Must have a working knowledge of The Pinnacle of Karate.

ORIGINAL PINNACLE TOMOE WARRIORS:

1.  Jerry C. Piddington (#001)
2.  Gene Smith (#002)
3.  Ricky Smith (#003)
4.  Randy Smith (#004)
5.  Joe McClellan (#005)
6.  Danny McCall (#006)

Hanshi Piddington's AKANA American Open Kobudo Warrior Test

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

SideKick Karate of Salisbury

520 South Main Street

Salisbury, North Carolina

This will be the 2ndt Kobudo (Weapon) Warrior Test in AKANA history!

Perform your American Open Weapon Kata for Hanshi Piddington, founder of American Open Karate, and receive rank in American Open Kobudo, along with a certificate and patch. 

Schedule:

Screaming Eagles Test:  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Kids Jr. Rank Test:  12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Adult Rank Test: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced & Black Belt patches will be awarded.  Please read and decide which weapons category you will perform for Hanshi Piddington.  If you have any questions, consult with your Sensei.  All applications must be improved by Kyoshi.

Beginner (2 Kata)

Two Weapons (White AO Kobudo Patch)

1. Bo Pivot Form
2. Nunchuck Pivot Form

Intermediate (5 Kata)

Three Weapons (Blue AO Kobudo Patch)

1. Bo Pivot Form
2. Nunchuck Pivot Form
3. Tonfa Pivot Form
4. Butterfly Bo Set 1 (A & B)
5. Bo Kata 1

Advanced (7 Kata)

Four Weapons (Red AO Kobudo Patch)

1. Bo Pivot Form
2. Nunchuck Pivot Form
3. Tonfa Pivot Form
4. Butterfly Bo Set 2 (A & B)
5. Bo Kata 1
6. Sai Pivot Form
7. Nunchuck Kata 1

Black Belt (10 Kata)

Five Weapons (Black AO Kobudo Patch)

1. Bo Pivot Form
2. Nunchuck Pivot
3. Tonfa Pivot Form
4. Butterfly Bo Set 3 (A & B)
5. Bo Kata 1
6. Sai Pivot Form
7. Nunchuck Kata 1
8. Tonfa Kata 1
9. Sai Kata 1
10. Kama Pivot Form

Advanced Black Belt (17 Kata)

Five Weapons (Gold/Black AO Kobudo Patch)

1. Bo Pivot Form
2. Nunchuck Pivot Form
3. Tonfa Pivot Form
4. Butterfly Bo Set 4 (A & B)
5. Bo Kata 1
6. Sai Pivot Form
7. Nunchuck Kata 1
8. Tonfa Kata 1 
9. Sai Kata 1
10. Kama Pivot Form
11. Kama Kata 1 
12. Bo Kata 2
13. Butterfly Bo Set (4) 
14. Nunchuck Kata 2 
15. Tonfa Kata 2 
16. Sai Kata 2 
17. Kama Kata 2 

Test Procedures:

1. This is the first American Open Kobudo System Kata test endorsed by AKANA. 
2. Substitution of any Kobudo Kata must be approved by the Head Sensei. 
3. If a Kobudo Kata is not performed to belt rank standard, it will not count. 
4. Kobudo Kata may have to be performed more than once to pass.
5. Kobudo Kata may be performed in a group or solo depending on participants.
6. If a Kobudo Kata is not counted, the student can try again at a later date.
7. Students who pass will receive an AOKS patch for the level they have attained.
8. Students will also receive an AOKS certificate for the level they have attained.
9. Certificates will be signed by GM Jerry C. Piddington, founder of our system. 

Helpful Hints:

1. Make sure you have practiced the kata you select so that you will feel confident performing it.
2. Judges will be looking for things such as strong stances (no bouncing), proper body alignment (posture), proper positioning of the weapon, directing the gaze (focus), and rhythm of the kata (proper speed).
3. Make sure you perform your salutation before and after and remember to “Kiai” at the proper places.