Shito Ryu History

Brief Summery of the History of Shito Ryu

Kenwa Mabuni was born in Shuri, a district of Naha, Okinawa in 1889. Mabuni-sensei was a descendant of the famous Onigusukini samurai family. Perhaps because of his weak constitution, he began his instruction in his home town in the art of Shuri-te at the age of 13, under the tutelage of the legendary Anko Itosu (1813–1915). He trained diligently for several years, learning many kata from this great master. It was Itosu who first developed the Pinan kata, which were most probably derived from the "Kusanku" form.

One of his close friends, Sensei Chojun Miyagi (co-founder of Goju-ryu Karate) introduced Mabuni to another great of that period, Sensei Kanryo Higaonna (Higaonna Kanryo), and began to learn Naha-te under him as well. While both Itosu and Higashionna taught a "hard-soft" style of Okinawan "Te", their methods and emphases were quite distinct: the Itosu syllabus included straight and powerful techniques as exemplified in the Naifanchi and Bassai kata; the Higashionna syllabus, on the other hand, stressed circular motion and shorter fighting methods as seen in the popular Seipai and Kururunfa forms. Shito-ryu focuses on both hard and soft techniques to this day.
Although he remained true to the teachings of these two great masters, Mabuni sought instruction from a number of other teachers, including Seisho Aragaki, Tawada Shimboku, Sueyoshi Jino and Wu Xianhui (a Chinese master known as Go-Kenki). In fact, Mabuni was legendary for his encyclopedic knowledge of kata and their bunkai applications. By the 1920s, he was regarded as the foremost authority on Okinawan kata and their history and was much sought after as a teacher by his contemporaries. There is even some evidence that his expertise was sought out in China, as well as Okinawa and mainland Japan. As a police officer, he taught local law enforcement officers and at the behest of his teacher Itosu, began instruction in the various grammar schools in Shuri and Naha.

In an effort to popularize karate in mainland Japan, Mabuni made several trips to Tokyo in 1917 and 1928. Although much that was known as "Te" (Chinese Fist) or Karate had been passed down through many generations with jealous secrecy, it was his view that it should be taught to anyone who sought knowledge with honesty and integrity. In fact, many masters of his generation held similar views on the future of Karate: Sensei Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan), another contemporary, had moved to Tokyo in the 1920s to promote their art on the mainland as well.

By 1929, Mabuni had moved to Osaka on the mainland, to become a full-time karate instructor of a style he originally called Hanko-ryu, or "half-hard style". In an effort to gain acceptance in the Japanese Butokukai, the governing body for all officially recognized martial arts in that country, he and his contemporaries decided to call their art "Karate" or "Empty Hand," rather than "Chinese Hand," perhaps to make it sound more Japanese. Around the same time, perhaps when first introducing his style to the Butokukai, is when it is believed the name of the style changed to Shito-ryu, in honour of its main influences. Mabuni derived the name for his new style from the first kanji character in their names, Itosu and Higashionna. With the support of Sensei Ryusho Sakagami (1915–1993), he opened a number of Shito-ryu dojo in the Osaka area, including Kansai University and the Japan Karatedo Kai dojo. To this day, the largest contingent of Shito-ryu practitioners in Japan is centered in the Osaka area.
Mabuni published a number of books on the subject and continued to systematize the instruction method. In his latter years, he developed a number of formal kata, such as Aoyagi, for example, which was designed specifically for women's self defense. Perhaps more than any other master in the last century, Mabuni was steeped in the traditions and history of Karate-do, yet forward thinking enough to realize that it could spread throughout the world. To this day, Shito-ryu recognizes the influences of Itosu and Higashionna: the kata syllabus of Shito Ryu is still often listed in such a way as to show the two lineages.

Kenwa Mabuni died on May 23, 1952, and the lineage of the style was disputed between his two sons, Kenzo and Kenei. Currently, the Shito-ryu International Karate-do Kai lists Kenzo Mabuni as the second Soke of Shito-ryu, while the World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation lists Kenei Mabuni.

Kata Rank Requirements

Mudansha Kyu
10th Kyu  White Belt    Kihon Kata Ichi
9th   Kyu  Yellow Belt   Pinan Nidan
8th   Kyu  Orange Belt  Pinan Shodan
7th   Kyu  Blue Belt      Pinan Sandan
6th   Kyu  Green Belt    Pinan Yondan, Pinan Godan
5th   Kyu  Purple 1       Naifanchin Shodan, Bassai Dai,
      Matsumora Rohai, Jitte
4th   Kyu  Purple 2    Jiin, Aoyagi, Sanchin, Tensho
      Gekisai Dai Ichi
3rd   Kyu  Brown 1    Naifanchin Nidan, Kushanku Dai
2nd   Kyu  Brown 2    Wankan, Wansu, Jion, Niseshi
1st   Kyu  Brown 3    Saifa, Juroku, Gekisai Dai Ni

Yodansha
Black Belt

Naifanchin Sandan, Seipai, Bassai Sho, Seienchin, Chinte, Chinto, Kushanku Sho, Matsumura Bassai Dai, Itosu Rohai Shodan, Seisan, Kururunfa, Superinpei, Shiho Kushanku, Nipaipo, Gojushiho, Itosu Rohai Nidan

Kobudo Class Kata

Kobudo Class Kata 

Kobudo History:

Kobudo古武道 is the art of weapons, which include bo, sai, tonfa, kama, nunchaku, tekko, and eku as being some of the basic and more common weapons. In addition, there are however still many other weapons which are not as populare. Kobudo first gained its prominence around the year 1314 AD (the 4th year of showa), when the Japanese Government passed the first of its laws to ban the possession of all weapons on the island of Okinawan. The second banned took place in the 1600's, were karate and kobudo took more of a stronger hold in the society of the Okinawan's. The Okinawan weapons (kobudo 古武道 literately old martial way) was developed by the population of Okinawa, which suffered under the Japanese occupying forces very much. The weapons served for self-defense against the Japanese Samurai. In addition, the systems which are practiced in the kobudo today are influenced very differently. On Okinawa exists only one old book with the name Omorososhi which documents the early martial. It contains about 1500 long and short poems, written in Ryukyu-dialect of the 13. and 17. century. The poems describe the culture, the politics and aspects of the daily life on Okinawa. Several of this were translated of Kenzaburo Torikoshi. They also contain sections about helmet, armour, sword and bend. The concepts Sai or Bo are missing. The only Kobudo weapon which is mentioned in the Omorososhi is the Jo.

Bo (Kon, Kun) 棒

 (棒: ぼう) or kon, is a long staff, usually made of tapered hard wood, for example white oak, bamboo and in some cases for training purposes, rattan. Sometimes it is made of metal or plated with metal for extra strength; also, a full-size bo is sometimes called a rokushakubo (六尺棒: ろくしゃくぼう). This name derives from the Japanese words roku (六ろく), meaning 6, shaku (尺: しゃく) a Japanese measurement equivalent to about .994 ft and bo. The rokushaku-bo refers to a staff about 6 feet long. The bo is typically 1 inch thick, sometimes gradually tapering from the middle to 0.8 inch at both ends. This thickness allows the user to make a tight fist around it in order to block and counter an attack. The most common shape, maru-bo, is a round staff, while kaku-bo (four-sided staff), rokkaku-bo (six-sided staff), hakkaku-bo (eight-sided staff) also exist. Other types of bo range from heavy to light, from rigid to highly flexible, and from simply a piece of wood picked up off the side of the road to ornately decorated works of art.

Bo (Kon) Kata

1. Bo Kihon No Kata

2. Tenryu no Kon
3. Shushi No Kon Sho
4. Shushi No Kon Dai 

5. Suishi no Kon

6. Ko-Ryu Shushi No Kon
7. Choun No Kon
8. Sakugawa No Kon

9. Shihonuki o Kon

10. Sueyoshi No Kon

11. Yonegawa No Kon

12. Ryubi No Kon

Sai 釵

The Sai is a short medal weapon with three sharp edges. Usually two or three Sais were used at the same time; their purpose was to block the opponent’s weapon, while their sharp tips were used to strike powerful and swift penetrating blows. It is difficult to trace the exact origin of the Sai- but it closely resembles a tool once used in China.

A third Sai could often be seen hanging from one’s belt behind one’s back; this was used to replace one of the other two Sais , in case it fell off one’s hand.

Another type of weapon similar to the Sai is the nunti sai or manji sai; its distinctive feature is that one of its edges points towards the opposite direction that the other two. It was often placed on a Bo (Nunti-Bo) and it is believed to have been used as a fishing tool.

Sai Katas:
1. Sai Kihon No Kata
2. Chatanyara No Sai Sho
3. Tawada No Sai

4. Chatanyara No Sai Dai

5. Tsuken Shitahaku no Sai

6. Hama Higa No Sai

Tonfa 柺

The tonfa (tuifa) was originated from a farming implement.  It was a handle that was used to turn a millstone in order to mill grain.

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Tonfa Katas:
1. Tonfa Kihon No Kata

2. Ode No Tonfa Ichi
3. Hama Higa No Tonfa

4. Chikina no Tonfa

5. Chatanyara No Tonfa

6. Yaragara No Tonfa

Kama

Kama Katas:
1. Kama Kihon No Kata
2. Kanegawa No Nichougama
3. Tozan No Nichougama

Nunchaku

Nunchuku Katas:
1. Nunchuku Kihon No Kata
2. Sosetsu Kon No Kata

3. Maezato No Nunchaku

Eku

Eku Katas:
1. Eku Kihon No Kata

2. Tsuken Akachu No Eku

  

Tekko

1. Maezato No Tekko

Suruchin

1. Kihon No Suruchin Ichi

2. Kihon No Suruchin Ni

Hanbo-jitsu

1. Kihan No Hanbo

Jo-jitsu

Tsukizue

Suigetsu

Hissage

Shamen

Sakan

Monomi

Kasumi

Tachiotoshi

Raiuchi

Seigan

Midaredome

Ranai

Iaido

 Seitei Ryu

1. Mae

2. Ushiro

3. Uke-nagashi

4. Tsuka-ate

5. Kesa-giri

6. Morote-zuki

7. Sampo-giri

8. Gammen-ate

9. Soete-tsuki

10. Shiho-giri

11. Sou-giri

12. Nuki-uchi

Omori Ryu
1. Shohatto

2. Satto

3. Uto tari-to

4. Inyoshintai

5. Ryuto

6. Junto

7. Gyakuto

8. Seichuto

9. Koranto

10. Gyakute

11. Inyoshintai

12. Batto

Toyama Ryu

1. Ippon Me

2. Nihon Me

3. Sanbon Me

4. Yonhon Me

5. Gohon Me

6. Roppon Me

7. Nanahon Me

8. Happon Me

Bo (Kon)

Bo- (棒: ぼう) or kon, is a long staff, usually made of tapered hard wood, for example white oak, bamboo and in some cases for training purposes, rattan. Sometimes it is made of metal or plated with metal for extra strength; also, a full-size bo is sometimes called a rokushakubo (六尺棒: ろくしゃくぼう). This name derives from the Japanese words roku (六ろく), meaning 6, shaku (尺: しゃく) a Japanese measurement equivalent to about .994 ft and bo. The rokushaku-bo refers to a staff about 6 feet long. The bo is typically 1 inch thick, sometimes gradually tapering from the middle to 0.8 inch at both ends. This thickness allows the user to make a tight fist around it in order to block and counter an attack. The most common shape, maru-bo, is a round staff, while kaku-bo (four-sided staff), rokkaku-bo (six-sided staff), hakkaku-bo (eight-sided staff) also exist. Other types of bo range from heavy to light, from rigid to highly flexible, and from simply a piece of wood picked up off the side of the road to ornately decorated works of art.

Kata

Bo (Kon, Kun)

Akahachi no gyaku bo
Arakaki no Kon
Chibana no Kon
Chiken no Kon (Tsuken no Kon)
Chinen Shichanaka no Kon
Chinen Shitahakun no Kon
Chinen Shichiyanaka no Kon, (Chinen Shitahaku Kon)
Choun no Kon
Chatan Yara no Kon
Gassen Bo
Ginowan no Kon
Gibo no Kon
Hakuson no Kon (Shirotaru no Kon)
Hasso no Kon
Katen no Kon (Katin)
Kenshin ryu bo
Kina no Kon
Kochinda bo
Komesu no Kon
Kongo no Kon
Kudaka no Kon
Kubo
Kushaku bo(Kyushaku 9'foot bo)
Kuniyoshi no Kon
Matsumura no Kon
Matsu Higa no Kon
Miyazato no Kon
Nakanhari no Kon
Odo no Kon (Shihonuki no Kon)
Ogusuku no Kon (Hakuson no Kon, Shirotaru no Kon)
Oshiro no Kon (Uhugushiku no kon)
Ryubi no Kon
Sakugawa no Kon sho

Sakugawa no Kon Dai
San Shaku Bo
Sesoko no Kon (Sesoku no Kon)
Shihonuki no Kon (Odo No kon)
Shimajiri no Kon
Shiromitsu no Kon
Shirotaru no Kon (Sho & Dai)
Ogusuku no Kon and Hakuson no Kon)
Shishi no Kon
Shitanaka no Kon
Shiushi no Kon (Shoshi)
Shushi no Kon
Shoun no Kon
Shuji (shushi) no Kon (Sho & Dai)
Shukumine no Kon
Soeshi no Kon (Sho Dai)
Soeishi no Kon
Sueishi no Kon
Sueshi no Kon sho
Sueshi no Kon dai
Sueyoshi no Kon
Suezoko no Kon
Sunakake no Kon
Tekamini no Kon
Teruya no Kon
Tenryu no Kon
Toko no Kon
Tokubetsu-Bo
Tokumine no Kon (Akahachi no Kon)
Toyama (Tokuyama) no Kon
Tsuken no bo (Chikin bo, Cheeken)
Tsuni Sunnakaki no Kon (Tsukensunakake)
Tsuken Shitahaku no Kon (Tsuken no Kon Chikin)
Uehara no Kon
Uhugushiku no Kon (Oshiro no Kon)
Urasoe (Urishi bo, Urashi) no Kon
Urazoe no Kon
Yomitan no Kon
Yonegawa no Kon (Yonekawa, Yuinigawa)
Yosho no Kon

List of Okinawa weapons

A list of all Okinawa weapons, there are a few Japanese weapons but they are marked as so.

Bisento – Halberd (shizoku weapon) (Japanese weapon) introduced by the Chinese in the 5th century. Resembling the naginata but much heavier.

Bo-or kon, is a long staff, usually made of tapered hard wood sometimes called a rokushakubo

Chinte- or chinti- a bamboo stave, approximately two-foot in length, strapped to each arm.

Chizekun – bo 4 to 9 inches long

Dajio - Two sticks connected with a long rope (15 cm)

Eku bo -oar (Eiku, Eku, Ueku, Ieku)

Gekiguan - staff 4 ft with chain and weight

Goshaku jo – approximately 60 inches long stick, (Japanese weapon)Gusan (Gusan jo) – 4 ft long cross-shaped stick

Hanbo - 3 foot staff

Hashaku bo – 8 foot long staffHoko – a type of yari 3 pointed.(Japanese weapon) sai mounted on top of a bo or jo, axe (Shizoku-weapon)

Kushaku bo (kyushaku bo) - 9 foot staff

Kama- sickle

Kusarigama- Kama & Chain (Japanese weapon)

Kuwa- Hoe

Jiffa- Hair Pin

Naginata – Halberd, consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade on the end;

Nunte bo- (manji sai a fix to top of bo) (Nunti, Nuntei)

Nunchaku- horses bridal

Renkuwan (Uchibo) - Flails from long and short stickRokushaku-bo (Kon, Kun, Bo) -6 foot long staff (Bo)

Rokushaku-kama – 6 ft long staff with sickle

Sansetsu-kon (Sanchaku-kun, Sanbon-nunchaku) -3 section staff

Suruchin (Kusari) - chain with weights

Sai- short sword with three points

Manji Sai

Sanshaku-bo – 3 feet long stick (Hanbo)

Tan Bo (Nitanbo, Nijotanbo, tankon) - 2 feet one hand staff

Tatame Tempe - Deer Skin Shield

Tessen- fan, 4 to 9 inches long

Tekko-horse stirrup

Teko - Punching weapon, pointed short stick

Tenchu- short staff with a point in front

Tekkan zu- a metal ring used as a concealed weapon.

Tinpe & Rorin (Tinbe Tinpe) Shield and Short spear

Tinpe, & Seryuto shield and machety

Tonfa (Tuifa, Taofua, Tunkua, Tuiha)- handle for a mill

Toyei-noborigama – 5.6 ft staff with blade

Yonsetsu-kon - Four-part Nunchaku or staff

Yari- spear

Yaware (yawara bo)- 4 to 9 inches long

Yonshaku-bo (Jo, Tsue, Sutiku) – 4 foot staff

Concepts of Kata

What do you get of of kata?
kata has various levels of practice from the most basic to complex, there are several levels

Bunkai – Means to take apart or dissect. There are various levels or degrees of taking apart bunkai.
Kata without proper bunkai is meaningless; it is the most fundamental part of kata. While the techniques can be learned in a few days for kata the bunkai can take years to understand.

Omote - Means obvious or obvious application or a straight forward explanation of the technique, such as a block or a strike.

Ura or Gyakute – From my understanding mean have a similar definition, alternative and it is a reference to what happens between the beginning and the end of the technique.

Okuden or Kakushi - Means hidden, concealed some refer to it as secret, which I think is a poor explanation of it but its more like you do not have knowledge of techniques such as grappling or applied pressure techniques, then techniques may not be apparent to you, hence they are hidden.

Henka – means along the lines of variation of a technique or the development. The henka may not look identical to technique in the kata. However, the variation must have the same underlining principle found in the kata and displayed in the bunkai and oyo.

Sutemi – Referring to a sacrifice technique, are techniques to be used when you are in disadvantageous or awkward positions, as well as those techniques in which you purposefully throw yourself off balance or in a seemingly inappropriate position, which allows you to counter attack the assailant by surprise.

Kata is not that simple,
it takes years to understand the simplest kata, there are different levels of studying bunkai, it can be anywhere from a basic understanding to a very advance one. and its not always a block or punch, take the kata tekki (naihanchin) this kata is all grappling moves with few strikes.
each kata has a number of interpretations some depend on your level of understand and others very from teach or style. there is no one answer for what the bunkai is.

Kata at its core teaches the following
Technique (waza)
Tactics (bugei)
Kokyu (breathe control)
Kaeshu (reversals)
Atemi (vital strike to vital area)
Kyusho (pressure point strikes)
Kensetsu (bone or joint bending)
Appaku (applied pressure)
Kotekitai (absorbing and controlling pain)
Nage (throwing)
Chime (choking)

Reference: (the last section came from Robert Trias)
http://www.americansamurai.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=2

Karate Titles

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Formal Karate Titles

1. Sensei "Teacher or One who has gone before": This title is by far the most often used title in karate and generally refers to someone of Sandan level (3th Degree Black Belt.) Many senior instructors including, will state that this is the most honorable title that a student can use when referring to the senior as their teacher. The title Sensei implies a close bond between the student and teacher's relationship.

2. Shihan: "Senior or Expert Teacher": Shihan translates in to teacher or model.

3. Doshi: "Leading Teacher": Title sometimes used before Renshi

4. Renshi: "Senior Expert Teacher": This is the first of the three generally (Most Often) used teacher titles. Although this title is independent of rank, it is seldom given to anyone below the rank of Go-Dan.

5. Tasshi or Tesshi: "Apprentice Master Teacher": This title was originally the title used instead of Kyoshi. It is now sometimes used between the levels of Renshi and Kyoshi by the Dai-Nippon-Butoku-Kai.

6. Kyoshi: "Master Teacher, Teacher of Teachers": This is the second of the three generally (Most Often) used teacher titles. Although this title is independent of the ranking system, it is seldom given to anyone below the rank of Roku-dan and in most cases Shichi-dan).

7. Hanshi: "Senior Master Teacher": This is the third and highest of the three generally (Most Often) used teacher titles. Although this title is independent of the ranking system, it is seldom given to anyone below the rank of Hachi-Dan (8th Degree Black Belt)

In Reference to the three titles Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi

Ren= A Trainer of the Way

Kyo=A Teacher of the Way

Han=A Model of the Way

Other Formal Karate Titles

1. Ani-deshi: Senior disciple

2. Chukyu: Used to denote a student who is at the post secondary grade/Intermediate level learning grade.

3. Hokai: Used to denote a student below dan grade.

4. Jokyu: Advanced grade. Used for a Yon-dan Sensei who is in the advanced learning stage and is on foreign assignment.

5. Kaiso: The founder of a particular style or organization/association. A Senior Advisor of the founder may also hold this title.

6. Kancho: A title sometimes given to the head of a dojo or organization. This title is independent of any rank, but in most cases this person will be a very senior student of the arts. In most cases the person holding this title will be the highest ranking instructor of a specific Ryu-Ha or Kai-Ha

7. Kaicho: This title generally refers to a Regional Head or Director of a style. It may also refer to a Branch/Regional or Head Representative of an organization or association.

8. Kensei: Sacred Fist, a title used for Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu, by his students.

9. Kohai: A title used to refer to one who is lower in rank than oneself. The opposite of Sempai

10. Kyoren: A student of Ni-dan grade who is not in training for instructor grade (San-dan)

11. Meijin: Title used for a Martial Arts Master.

12. Mukyu: One who does not hold any rank in karate.

13. Nyumon: Entry level learning grade.

14. O-Sensei or Dai Sensei: This title means Great or Greatest Teacher, Highest Respected Teacher. This title is spoken by students in honorable reference to the traditional martial arts founder.

15. Saiko Shihan or Shihan-Dai: This title refers to the person who has been designated as the Senior or Head Shihan.

16. Seito Deshi or Deshi: A student, pupil or disciple of a martial art.

17. Shoshu: The title used to designate a Master of a particular art.

18. Sempai: A title used to refer to one who is higher in rank than oneself. The opposite of Kohai.

19. Shidoin: Title used referring to a Senior Instructor.
20. Shokyu: Secondary level learning grade such as a Sho-dan.21. Soke: Founder of a system or style. This title may also be used by the successor of the founder of a style or system. This person will be a Ju-Dan (10th Degree Black Belt) in most all cases.

22. Sosai: Governor, (Highest Honorary Position of an Organization.)

23. Soshi: Title used to designate the Head Master of an Organization.

24. Taiso: The term used to designate a great master of the martial arts.

25. Uchi Deshi: A personal student who lives and trains with the Master of a martial art.