The dojo is a special place where we train ourselves both physically and mentally. 

Students should respect each other and the dojo by observing the following manners and rules:

1. Always show courtesy, politeness, respect, and kindness to all. 

2. Observe the training schedule by arriving early and being prepared for class. If you’re late, change immediately, and then wait for permission from the instructor before entering the training area.

3. Shoes should be removed when entering the dojo and placed neatly in the area provided.

4. When entering or leaving the training area, show your respect by bowing.

5. Your gi should be kept clean and neat. Wearing jewelry or hair ornaments is not allowed and your fingernails and toenails should be kept short to prevent injury to other students and yourself.     

6. When the instructor calls for training to begin, line up quickly, facing the Shomen (front of the dojo).

7. Bow to the instructor, senior students, and each other with appreciation and respect.

8. Training with cuts or open sores is strictly prohibited unless properly covered. If injured while training, stop immediately and ask permission to obtain first aid supplies.

9. When adjusting your clothing or wiping perspiration from your face, always turn away from the instructor.

10. During class, kata should be performed with kime (focused power). If you become tired, rather than proceed weakly, rest for a short period and then continue.

11. Never leave the class for water, or early dismissal, without first getting permission.

12. Listen carefully to the advice and instructions given to you. Don’t forget to thank the instructor and senior student(s) to show that you have heard and understood their comments.

13. Sempai (senior students) are responsible for setting the example of cooperation and conduct in the dojo. Kohai (junior students) should observe closely the actions of the sempai to correctly further their learning.

14. Don’t talk in class except to ask or answer a question. While observing training, always stand, kneel, or sit in a proper way and do not bother others by talking.

15. No sparring is allowed below 1st kyu rank without permission. Fooling around can result in injuries and is absolutely prohibited.

16. Any outside activities (fighting, etc.) that bring discredit to Sensei, the school, karate-do, or the student are sufficient reason for dismissal. Any incident that occurs should be reported to Sensei immediately.

17. If injured, it is recommended that you still come to the dojo and learn by observing training.

18. You should advise Sensei if you have to temporarily discontinue your training.

Shorin Ryu 

Karate-do is a millenary martial art, recognized worldwide not only for its effectively, but also for its deep philosophical content. The constant combination of mind, body and spirit, makes of karate an invaluable method of personal growth, physical training and sport realization

Kata

Kata is a formal prearranged exercise. A karate kata consists of movements which can be applied as kicks, punches, blocks, strikes, leg sweeps, throw, holds, chokes and joint punishment techniques. Kata is the heart of Karate-Do. All techniques, principles and strategies are derived from kata. Its practice makes the body stronger, more flexible and better coordinated. Kata should be practiced with the following points in mind.

1. Form - Each move should be done exactly as taught with correct body positioning.

2. Speed - Each move should be executed quickly.

3. Eyes - The eyes should look straight in the direction of each technique, never out of the corners of the eye sockets.

4. Kiai - Each kata has 1 or 2 kiais, each in a prescribed place. The kiai should be executed forcefully from the abdomen.

5. Concentration - The mind should stay focused on each move of the kata from the beginning Yoi Dachi to the ending Yoi Dachi.

6. Breathing - Breathing should be natural with an exhalation where strength is applied (e.g. a punch).

7. Expansion and contraction - The body should be relaxed (expended) during movement to gain speed and should contract at the end of a movement to apply strength.

8. Commitment - Each movement should be executed as if it were real. Master Itotsu said, Kata should be practiced as if you were on a " battlefield".

Each movement of kata can be applied more than one way. The study of the various applications is the realm of the senior student. The beginning and junior students will generally be shown one basic application of block, kick, punch or strike to avoid confusion while they are learning the movements of each kata. 

The Katas are the history of a style. The influences that the master founder of the school has had can be seen through them, and each kata is an open book which shows, without words, the essence of the style.

Shorin Ryu Kyudokan has 22 kata:  

Fukiogata Ichi created by Shoshin Nagamine (Matsubayashi Ryu) 

 

Fukiogata Ni created by Yagui Meitoku (Goju Ryu) Created in the 60s with the objective of being practised by the two master branches of Okinawa Karate indistinctively (in Go Ju they are called Gekisai)

Pinnan (mind in peace) from Ichi to Goku. Created by master Anko Itosu with the aim of making their learning accessible in the primary schools. As an additional result, karate becomes public for the first time. For its creation, master Itosu extracted techniques from katas: Kushanku, Patssai, Jion y Chinto, created in 1905 and incorporated to the physical education plan between 1907 and 1909.

Naihanchin (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan). In Okinawa they are also called Nai-fan-chi and on the big island (Japan) Tekki. It is said that Shodan was brought from China by the master Sokon Bushi Matsumura. The creator of the other two is unknown, although according to some pictures dated around the early 1800s, Matsumura might be their creator. This katas most important exponent was master Choki Motobu, who trained it as unique kata during 14 years, thus creating his circular bunkai. 

As an anecdote, it can be mentioned that for its characteristics it is more typical of the Go Ju style. However, it only belongs to Shorin Ryu.

  

Unzu (Unzo), adapted to the Okinawan feeling by master Kanken Toyama, has its origins in the Shaolin temple of Honan. Out of the 106 original movements, only 52 remain, as the others were considered too bombastic.

 

Jion, of unknown creator, is also supposed to have been brought from China by sensei Matsumura, and carries the name of a famous buddist temple.

 

Jitte Its name means 10 pairs of hands. The name of its creator is unknown and its inclusion to the Shorin system responds to sensei Shimpan Gusukuma (Peichin Shiroma). It also comes from the Shaolin temple of Honan. When talking about the Shaolin Temple, it must be taken into account that master ChatanYara lived in this temple for approximately 20 years.

 

Patssai (Dai, Sho) Its translation is surround the fortress. The original version is supposed to be Matsumura no Patssai, for which its origin is thought to be Chinese. It remains unknown when and who created the partition that divides it into two.

Kushanku (Sho, Dai) its first version is Sakugawa no Kushanku (also existing: Yara no Kushanku, Oyadomari no Kushanku and Higa no Kushanku). This kata, then divided into two by master Itosu, was transmitted by a Chinese military correspondent on the island of Okinawa, his name was Kuan-Chang-Fu, which in Uchinango dialect is pronounced Kushanku.

 

Chinti It is recognized as a Kata brought by a Chinese cultural attach by the end of the 1700s, when 36 Chinese families settle down in Naha (capital of Okinawa). Not being one of the most well known katas, it is included by sensei Chiosin Chibana in his program for Kobayashi Ryu (Shorin in Japanese and Shaolin in Chinese). 

 

Chinto (name of Temple) is shown by Yara for the first time, but included in Shorin by Mastumura. 

Seizan In spite of being a kata of the Go Ju Ryu line, sensei Yuchoku Higa includes it as part of the Kyudokan program. The version that is practiced is the one designed by sense Shinzato Shinan.

  

Sochin Its creator is unknown, as well as the moment in which it was included in the Shorin program. One of its principal practitioners was Honan Soken, also known as the White Crane.

Gojushijo Literally 54 steps (in Japan there are variables sho and dai). There are no elements to indicate its origin and/or creator.

 

 

 email: danielespinillo@kyudokan-usa.org