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Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Dan’i shinsa (段位審査) as part of the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai (第14回糸東流国際空手道競技大会)

I am honoured to announce that I have received my 4th Dan/degree in Karate-dō [空手道四段; Karate-dō Yondan] by Japan Karate-dō Kai [日本空手道会 ; Japan Karate-dō Association] (Seitō Shitō-ryu [日本空手道会; orthodox/pure]) dated 26 August 2025.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit for Dan’i shinsa (段位審査; Degree rank examination) / Dan Grading just 6 hours drive away from KL, that is in Singapore as part of the as part of the as part of the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai (第14回糸東流国際空手道競技大会; Dai Jūyon-kai Shitō-ryū Kokusai Karate-dō Kyōgi Taikai) 2025 held in Singapore, 25-28 August (organised by Shitoryu Singapore Karate-Do Kai Shinyuu Kai.



宗家 / Sōke [Head (of the family)]
三世 / San-sei [Third Generation]

摩文仁 司 / Tsukasa Mabuni

糸東流宗家 / Sōke Shitō-ryū [Head of Shitō-ryū]
日本空手道会 / Nihon Japan Karate-dō Kai [Japan Karate-dō Association]

二○二五年七月二十六日 / Nirei nigo nen shichi gatsu nijūroku nichi [Year 2025, month 7, day 26]

右認定す / Migi nintei su [Hereby certified]
空手道四段 / Karate-dō Yondan [4th Dan/degree in Karate]

ダトゥ・フィルザダ・ハルン / Datou Firuzada Harun [Datu Firzada Harun]
認定証 / Ninteishō [Certificate]


If memory serves me right, there were four (4) stations af Examination panels. One for those going to Shodan [初段; 1st/first dan/degree], another for going for Nidan [弐段; 2nd/second dan/degree], another going for Sandan [参段; 3rd/third dan/degree], and the last with the smallest number of candidates of nine (9), those going for Yondan [四段; 4th/fourth dan/degree] and Godan [五段; 5th/fifth dan/degree]. For each grading there were four parts, plus an additional part for the Yondan and Godan station:

  1. Kihon [基本; fundamentals]
  2. Ido shiki [移動指揮; movement commands]
  3. Tenshin [転身; self rotation]
  4. Kata [型・形; kar. prescribe form of patterns], where candidates have to perform one from each of the two lineage
    • Itosu-ke (糸洲家; Itosu lineage)
    • Higaonna-ke (東恩納家; Higaonna lineage)
  5. Improvised ippon kumite [一本組手; one step sparring] (for Yondan and Godan station only)


My selection of Kata were:
  1. Itosu-ke: Gojushihō [五十四歩; 54 Steps]
  3. Higaonna-ke: Niapaipo [二八歩; 28 steps / two, eight steps]



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Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Technical Seminar (技術研修会) as part of the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai (第14回糸東流国際空手道競技大会)

Zad Datu Sensei at the Seminar or 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai (source: official event photography)

There were two other events prior to the Taikai (大会; tournament) itself as part of the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai (第14回糸東流国際空手道競技大会; Dai Jūyon-kai Shitō-ryū Kokusai Karate-dō Kyōgi Taikai) 2025 held in Singapore, 25-28 August (organised by Shitoryu Singapore Karate-Do Kai Shinyuu Kai.

  1. Gijutsu kenshū-kai (技術研修会; technical workshop) / Seminar
  2. Dan’i shinsa (段位審査; Degree rank examination) / Dan Grading

The Seminar had two (2) parts:

  • Seminar 1 by 北野 延保 (Kitano Nobuyasu) 師範 (Shihan)
    • Tenshin Happo [転身八方; turnover all sides]
    • Tenshin Dōsa no Sansoku [転身動作の三則; Three Principles of Turning Movement]
    • Tenshin [転身; self rotation] & Yakusoku Kumite [約束組手・約束組み手; promised/arranged sparring]
  • Seminar 2 by Robert Tan 師範 (Shihan)
    • Uke no Go Genri [受けの五原理; Five Principles of Defence]
    • Bassai Dai [抜塞大; 'Extract (from the Fortress)' – Major]








Below are official posts by the Organisers facebook page:

Sensei Zad's Dan Grading will be in the next pose

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Tuesday, 7 October 2025

KarateDatu/KarateTTDI's Success at 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai 2025, Singapore

Shito-ryu Malaysia team (M.A.S.K.) grabs Overall Champions with contributions from KarateTTDI/KarateDatu

For the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai 2025 held in Singapore, 25-28 August (organised by Shitoryu Singapore Karate-Do Kai Shinyuu Kai), KarateTTDI (part of KarateDatu) Dōjo contributed six (6) participants, including Zad sensei, to the total of 27 representatives from M.A.S.K. (Malaysian Assocaition of Shito-ryu Karate-do) team representing Malaysia. Out of the 16 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals respectively from Malaysia, KarateTTDI/KarateDatu contributed 5 🥇gold, 2 🥈silver and 2 🥉bronze medals respectively.

These are great odds for us. KarateDatu made up of just 20% (6 of 27) of Malaysian contestant, but contributed 30% (9 of 30) of number of medals, and 32.25% (5 of 16) of Gold medals.

The Shitō-ryū International Taikai is the international/world tournament of the Nippon Karate-dō Kai日本空手道会, also referred to as Seitō Shitō-ryu正統糸東流. Seitō Shitō-ryu is one of two mainstream Shitō-ryu organisation lead by the Mabuni family. Seitō Shitō-ryu is a continuation of very organisation that the founder of Shitō-ryu Karate-dō , Mabuni Kenwa, founded.

Sensei Zad Datu:
  • 🥈Adult Kata (Dan) Over 35-45 years old (Men)
  • 🥇Adult Kumite (Dan) 35-45 years old (under 75kg) (Men)

Alexzander: 🥇Junior Kata (Kyu) 10-11 years old (Boy)

Adelia:
  • 🥈Junior Kata (Kyu) 12-15 years old (Girl)
  • 🥇Junior Kumite (Kyu) 12-15 years old (Girl)
Basheer:
  • 🥇Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy)
  • 🥋(no prize) Junior Kumite (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy)

Ihsaan: 🥉Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy)

Tasneem:

  • 🥉Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Girl)
  • 🥇Junior Kumite (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Girl)


Kata [型・形; shape (prescribe form of patterns)] event

The Shitō-ryū International Taikai tournament format doesn't follow the commonly known modern WKF (World Karate Federation) format. The Taikai's format is closer to the early WKF format especially when it was still called WUKO (World Union of Karate-do Organisations).

For Kata, winners are determined by points much like springboard Diving in the Olympics as how it was in the old WUKO (early WKF) competition format, instead of elimination system in modern WKF. Kata performance was judged more on the correctness and proficiency according to the syllabus, as if it was belt upgrading/examination, much like early WKF up to when the Shitei Kata (指定形; designated/compulsory kata) and Tokui (得意形; free-choice kata) system was still in place, as opposed to judge more heavily towards athleticism as it is in modern WKF.


Sensei Zad Datu: 🥈Adult Kata (Dan) Over 35-45 years old (Men) Alexzander: 🥇Junior Kata (Kyu) 10-11 years old (Boy) Adelia: 🥈Junior Kata (Kyu) 12-15 years old (Girl) Basheer: 🥇Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy) Ihsaan: 🥉Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy) Tasneem: 🥉Junior Kata (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Girl)

Kumite [組み手・組手; meeting of the hands (sparring)] event

Kumite events of For the 14th Shitō-ryū International Taikai 2025 held in Singapore, 25-28 August. KarateTTDI (part of KarateDatu) Dōjo contributed six (6) participants, including Zad sensei, to the total of 27 representatives from Malaysia Team.

The Shitō-ryū International Taikai tournament format doesn't follow the commonly known modern WKF (World Karate Federation) format. The Taikai's format is closer to the early WKF format especially when it was still called WUKO (World Union of Karate-do Organisations).Kumite, unlike modern WKF, any technique that lands will be awarded only one point regardless of whether its a punch or kick, to the torso or to the head. Instead of a difference of 9 points to win before times-up, in Taikai, the first to 3 points wins before times-up.

Kata event is compulsory. There is no option to compete in Kumite only. In order to compete on Kalumite you would first need to compete ini Kata.

Below are Kumite results: Sensei Zad Datu: 🥇Adult Kumite (Dan) 35-45 years old (under 75kg) (Men) Adelia: 🥇Junior Kumite (Kyu) 12-15 years old (Girl) Basheer: 🥋(no prize) Junior Kumite (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Boy) Tasneem: 🥇Junior Kumite (Kyu) 8-9 years old (Girl)

Below are official posts by the Organisers facebook page:

Seminar & Grading

As part of the event, the day before the Tournament, there was a Seminar followed by Dan grading. Seminar was open to all participants and non-particpants.

Dan Grading however has a requirement of number of years served in the current Dan. Sensei Zad was eligible to upgrade his black belt to a higher level and took part. Stay tuned for the next post.

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