One of the most common questions I get is why the 4th, 5th and 6th Dan grading syllabuses in Jissenkō Ryū Karate look very similar on paper. Some people expect huge technical jumps or entirely different content at each level. That expectation comes from misunderstanding what Dan grades are meant to represent. From 4th Dan onwards, the syllabus is no longer about learning new techniques. It is about raising the standard of everything you already know. Small Differences on Pape

Kata plays an important role in Karate — and at Voracious Karate and within the style of Jissenkō Ryū Karate, we value it highly. Let me be clear from the start: Good kata form is encouraged. Sharp, clean, well-structured kata is a positive thing. But it is not a pass-or-fail requirement. This distinction is deliberate, principled, and rooted in our purpose: real-world self-defence. ———————— Why We Still Encourage High-Quality Kata Form When kata looks good, it usually means:

Within our style, Jissenkō Ryū Karate, the title Sōke is not used. In traditional Japanese martial arts, Sōke is commonly understood to refer to the head of a lineage or family system, often associated with hereditary succession or absolute lineage authority. While this structure exists in some arts, it does not align with how our style is designed to function. Avoiding lineage worship Within our style, Jissenkō Ryū Karate, we have made a deliberate decision to avoid lineage

In karate, Dan grades (black belt levels) indicate technical rank, while traditional Japanese shi titles—such as Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi—are used to denote master-level instructor titles. These titles are often referred to as Shōgō titles. There is no single universal standard governing how shi titles are applied across karate. Their use can vary depending on the style, organisation, governing body, and country. Some systems overlap titles across multiple Dan grades, while

People always ask me what the real  secret is behind my karate. Why I fight the way I do. Why my students develop such unique styles. Why Jissenkō Ryū became its own system instead of staying Wado. Here it is: Clay. Yes — clay. Let me explain 👇 For me, clay represents everything  that real martial arts should be. 🟣 1. Clay can become anything Raw clay starts soft, shapeless, adaptable. That’s how I see students. You don’t force them into a mould — you shape  them based on w

Before anything else, I need to be transparent: For three years, I used the term “Evolved Wado-Ryū” to describe what I taught. At the time, I genuinely believed I was still inside the Wado structure — just modernising it, adapting it, and making it more realistic for today’s world. But as time went on, something became undeniable: I wasn’t teaching Wado-Ryū anymore. Not even close. And after extensive conversations with Wado karateka all over the world, from long-established

🥋🔥 Why I Created Jissenko Ryū Karate — And Why It Was the Right Decision By Sensei Liam Musiak, Founder of Voracious Karate December 2025 I have been asked the same question over and over: “Why create your own style? Why not stay Wado Ryu?” Today I’m answering that properly — honestly — and fully. After deep reflection, hundreds of hours of teaching, pressure-testing, criminology study, and reviewing everything I built since founding Voracious Karate in October 2022… The tr

One of the biggest and best days of my life. Today we signed the official founding document for Jissenkō Ryū Karate (実戦幸流空手) — The Real Combat School of Karate. Voracious Karate is our club and brand — and Jissenkō Ryū Karate is the style we practice and train within it. This style grew naturally from years of training, teaching, criminology study, real-world self-defence, kata creation, pressure testing, psychological conditioning, and legal understanding. The truth is simpl

Today marks one of the greatest milestones of my life — the official founding of Jissenkō Ryū Karate and the formal recognition of my rank within the style I built. Before today’s ceremony, my most senior students, the co-founder of Voracious Karate, and I had long, honest discussions about what rank truly reflects the skill, knowledge, responsibility, and thousands of hours of work that went into creating this martial art. And together — openly, transparently, and with compl

When people see gold used at senior levels in Jissenkō Ryū Karate, a common question follows: “Why gold?” “Why not another colour?” “Why not something completely different?” That is a fair question — and it deserves a clear answer. The purpose of colour in a belt system In any martial art, belt colour is not decoration. It exists to communicate information quickly and clearly. A good belt colour should: Be immediately recognisable Carry meaning without explanation Fit natural

In most traditional karate systems, 9th and 10th Dan are commonly associated with the master red belt. This has long been a recognised symbol for the highest ranks, and I fully respect the tradition behind it. However, when designing Jissenkō Ryū Karate, the primary reason for moving away from a full red belt at senior Dan level was a practical one: clarity within the system. The issue with red in our structure In Jissenkō Ryū Karate, red is already used early in the kyu grad

In most karate systems, there is a fairly common and widely recognised structure for senior Dan belts. Traditionally, the format usually looks like this: At 5th and 6th Dan, practitioners may wear either a standard black belt or a red–white panel belt. At 7th and 8th Dan, the option is usually a black belt or a red–black panel belt. At 9th and 10th Dan, practitioners either continue to wear a black belt or, more rarely, a full master red belt. This structure is well establish

Kyu Grades (Beginner to Advanced) White Belt White Belt (yellow stripe – ages 15 and under) White Belt (red stripe – ages 15 and under) Red Belt Red Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Yellow Belt Yellow Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Orange Belt Orange Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Green Belt Green Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Blue Belt Blue Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Purple Belt Purple Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Br

This will be one of the biggest and best days of my life so far. Over the last week I’ve been posting hints that something huge was coming to Voracious Karate… Well — here it is. After months of deep thought, reviewing everything I teach, and speaking to Wado-Ryū karateka from all around the world, I’ve reached a clear and honest conclusion: What we teach is no longer Wado-Ryū. Not even “Evolved Wado-Ryū.” It has become something completely different. The way we train, the wa