Shorin-Ryu
Encyclopedia
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts
Okinawan martial arts
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island in Japan, most notably karate, tegumi, and Okinawan kobudō....

. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.

History

Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu
Anko Itosu
is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.- Biography :...

. Anko Itosu was the top student of Matsumura Sōkon, who was a renowned warrior of his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been called the Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...

 of Okinawa and was dubbed bushi, 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
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...

 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) stance
Karate stances
Karate has many different stances, each used to create power, flexibility and movement. Some stances focus more on mobility than stability, and vice versa. These are the most common stances in karate:-High stances:...

s, and direct, rather than circular movements (with the exception of Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan
Shorin-ryu Kyudokan
The is one of the seven branches of Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, developed by Yuchoku Higa, Hanshi 10th Dan.- Origin :Yuchoku Higa started learning karate at the age of 16 under the Shuri-te Sensei Jiro Shiroma. After Sensei Shiroma's death in 1933, Sensei Yuchoku Higa trained...

, 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. Another of the features in this system is how the student is taught to punch
Tsuki
, is the Japanese word for "thrust", coming from the verb , meaning "to thrust". It sounds the same as the Japanese word for "moon"/"month" .-Kendo:...

. Generally, there is not either a horizontal or vertical punch in Shorin Ryu. Punches are almost vertical, slightly canted to the inside, with the largest knuckle of the fore finger (third from the tip) in vertical alignment with the second knuckle of the pinky finger. It is believed that this position is key in lining up the bones of the arm and creates a faster, more stable and powerful strike.

Branches

  • Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan
    Shorin-ryu Shidokan
    is the main branch of Shorin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, started by Katsuya Miyahira, Hanshi 10th Dan.It should not be confused with the newer Japanese Shidokan, another style of Karate 志道館 okinawan shidokan precedes 士道館, Japanese shidokan by 33 years and was well established before the...

     normally called Shidōkan or okinawan Shidōkan
  • Shorinkan
  • Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan
    Shorin-ryu Kyudokan
    The is one of the seven branches of Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, developed by Yuchoku Higa, Hanshi 10th Dan.- Origin :Yuchoku Higa started learning karate at the age of 16 under the Shuri-te Sensei Jiro Shiroma. After Sensei Shiroma's death in 1933, Sensei Yuchoku Higa trained...

     normally called Kyudōkan
  • Oshukai
  • Okinawa Shorin-ryu karate Shinkokai

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
    Fukyugata
    Fukyugata is the name of kata practiced in many styles of Okinawan karate, particularly Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. There are two sets of Fukyugata. These kata were developed by Shoshin Nagamine and Chojun Miyagi...

     series (fundamental/universal class form, also called Fukyu)
  • Taikyoku series (same as fukyugata except by a different name)
  • Naihanchi
    Naihanchi
    is a karate Kata, performed in straddle stance . It translates to 'internal divided conflict'. The form makes use of in-fighting techniques and grappling. In Shorin-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu Naihanchi Shodan is the first Ni Kyu although it is taught to Yon Kyu occasionally before Evaluations for...

     series (oldest form, where the name came from is unknown, but it is Chinese)
  • Pinan series (created and named by Anko Itosu)
  • Passai
    Passai
    Passai is the Japanese name of a group of kata practiced in different styles of martial arts, including karate and various Korean martial arts . There are several variations of these kata, including Passai sho and Passai dai . In karate, the kata are known as Passai in Okinawan styles and Bassai...

     series (Unknown where the name came from)
  • Kūsankū series (Named after a Chinese seaman who taught the kata to okinawan)
  • Chintō (Also believe to be the name of a Chinese person who taught the kata)
  • Gojūshiho (54 move kata, also called Useishin)
  • Jion  (some believe this is named after a temple in china with the kanji jion)
  • T'sho (named by Katsuya Mirahira who invented the kata)

Ranks

In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...

 adopted the Dan system from judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

 founder Kanō Jigorō
Kano Jigoro
was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical innovations attributed to Kanō include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the...

 using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors. In 1960, this practice was adopted in Okinawa.:

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
Kihon
is a Japanese term meaning "basics" or "fundamentals." The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts....

, kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....

, kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....

, and bunkai
Bunkai
, literally meaning "analysis" or "disassembly", is a term used in Japanese martial arts referring to the application of fighting techniques extracted from the moves of a "form" ....

(applications of technique).

In Shōrin-ryū, one possible rank (belt) progression is listed below: There are many others. For instance, the largest Organization in North America does not use yellow, orange, blue, nor purple belts.: Nor are they consistent from school to school.

In Brazil 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)


In Brazil the yudansha are:
  • Black Belt (from the 1st to the 4th Dan, some styles to 9th Dan)
  • Red/Black Belt (5th and 6th Dan, some styles don't use)
  • Red/White Belt (7th and 8th Dan, some styles don't use)
  • Red Belt (9th and 10th Dan, some styles only 10th)

External links

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