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Shōrin-ryū

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Shōrin-ryū [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Date founded1933
Country of origin Ryūkyū Kingdom
FounderChōshin Chibana
Arts taughtKarate,
Ancestor schoolsShuri-te,
Descendant schoolsShidokan, Shorinkai, Kyudokan,
PractitionersChosin Chibana, Katsuya Miyahira, Shūgorō Nakazato, Nakama Chozo, Yuchoku Higa, Bill Wallace, Tom Fabiano

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 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 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.

Branches

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.

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.

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)

In America 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)

References

  1. ^ Bishop, Mark. Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques. ISBN 0804832056.
  2. ^ http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/index.htm
  3. ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/001/002/index.html
  4. ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/006/003/index.html
  5. ^ http://www.shorinryushorinkan.com/chosin.htm
  6. ^ http://www.oshukai.com/index.php?m=12
  7. ^ Bishop, Mark. Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques. ISBN 0804832056.
  8. ^ http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/index.htm
  9. ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/001/002/index.html
  10. ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/006/003/index.html
  11. ^ http://www.shorinryushorinkan.com/chosin.htm
  12. ^ http://www.oshukai.com/index.php?m=12
  13. ^ Karate belts
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