Shōrin-ryū Karate

Shōrin-ryū

Date founded 1933

Country of Ryūkyū Kingdom

origin

Founder Chōshin Chibana

Arts taught Karate,

Ancestor Shuri-te,
schools

Descendant Shidokan, Shorinkai, Kyudokan,

schools

Practitioners Chosin Chibana, Katsuya

Miyahira, Shūgorō Nakazato, Nakama
Chozo, Yuchoku Higa,

Shōrin-ryū (小林流?) is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in
1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te [7][8][9][10][11][12].

History
Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu. Anko Itosu was the top student
of Matsumura Sōkon was a renowned warrior of his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been
called the Miyamoto Musashi of Okinawa and was dubbedbushi, or warrior, by his king. However, while he is
often referred to as the "founder" of Shuri-te, he did not invent all the components of the style. He synthesized
his knowledge of Okinawan arts with Chinese martial arts that he learned on his travels and taught it as a
coherent system to some eager students, who subsequently refined it, and passed it on. In 1933, Chosin
Chibana chose to call his style Shorin-ryu in honor of the Chinese Shaolin roots, and to differentiate it from
others styles that were being modified from the original teachings of Anko Itosu. Prior to this time, there were
no names for styles in Okinawa (though common in Japan for Japanese martial arts).

Training
Shōrin-ryū is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural (narrow, high) stances, and direct, rather
than circular movements (with the exception of Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan, which makes extensive use of circular
movements). Shōrin-ryū practitioners will say that correct motion matters, being able to move quickly to evade
violence by having fluid movements and flexible positions is quite important, and that a solid structure is very
important for powerful moves. Stances that are too deep will most likely make body movement very difficult.

[edit]Branches

 Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan normally called Shidōkan or okinawan Shidōkan

 shorinkan

 Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan normally called Kyudōkan

 Oshukai

 Okinawa Shorin-ryu karate Shinkokai

[edit]Shurite (Shaolin schools) often mistakenly called shorin-ryu.

There are a number of karate styles that are often mistakenly called Shorin-ryu by western practitioners of
karate. This mistake is made sometimes because Japanese kanji have at least two readings (on and kun) and
westerners often apply the wrong reading to the kanji, and sometimes because these styles are shuri-te (of
shaolin origins) and westerners get confused between shuri-te and shorin-ryu.

 Matsumura Seito ("Orthodox")

 Shōbayashi ("Small Forest")

 Matsubayashi ("Pine Forest")

  Seibukan

Kata
This is a list of the main kata series studied in Shōrin-ryū karate. Not all kata are practiced by all schools. In
some styles of Shōrin-ryū Kihon Kata or Kihongata is taught before Fukyugata or it takes the place of
Fukyugata.

 Kihon series (basic form)

 Fukyugata series (fundamental/universal class form, also called Fukyu)

 Taikyoku series (full hearted way kata)

 Naihanchi series (iron horse form)

 Pinan series (peace and meditation form), (riceline form)

 Passai series (breakthrough form)

 Kūsankū series (look to the sky form)

 Chintō (east-fighting kata)

 Gojūshiho (54 move kata, also called Useishin)

 Jion

 T'sho

Ranks
In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi adopted the Dan system from judo founder Kanō Jigorō using a rank scheme with a
limited set of belt colors. Other Okinawan teachers also adopted this practice.

In a Kyū/Dan system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (e.g., 7th Kyū) and progress is toward a
lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher
dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade
karateka are referred to as yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a black belt.

Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress stance, balance, and
coordination. Speed and power are added at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting
promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is
commonly done in a manner known as shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration
of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique).

In Shōrin-ryū, one possible rank (belt) progression is listed below[13]:

In America the mudansha are:

 White Belt (7th Kyū)

 Yellow Belt (6th Kyū)

 Orange Belt (5th Kyū)

 Blue Belt (4th Kyū)

 Green Belt (3rd Kyū)

 Purple Belt (2nd Kyū)

 Brown Belt (1st Kyū)