Shōrin-ryū (少林流)
is one of the major modern
Okinawan martial arts and is one of the oldest styles of
karate
(; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...
. It was named by
Choshin Chibana in 1933, but the system itself is much older. The characters 少林, meaning "sparse" or "scanty" and "forest" respectively and pronounced "shōrin" in Japanese, are also used in the Chinese and Japanese words for
Shaolin. "
Ryū" means "school". Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of
Shuri-te
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and Okinawan kobudō, kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its location (between "Mainland Japan" and Taiwan), Okinawa was influenc ...
.
History
Chōshin Chibana was a top student of the great master of
shuri-te
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and Okinawan kobudō, kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its location (between "Mainland Japan" and Taiwan), Okinawa was influenc ...
,
Ankō Itosu. Ankō Itosu was the top student of
Matsumura Sōkon, who was a renowned warrior in his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been called the
Miyamoto Musashi
, was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a ''Kensei (honorary title), kensei'' (swo ...
of Okinawa and was dubbed ''
bushi'', or warrior, by his king. However, while Sōkon is often referred to as the "founder" of Shuri-te, he did not invent all of its components. Chōshin Chibana never practiced kobudo. In 1933, Chōshin Chibana chose to name his style Shōrin-ryū in honor of its samurai roots and to differentiate it from other styles that were being modified from the original teachings of Ankō Itosu. Generally, Okinawan karate schools did not have individual names for styles like schools in Japan. Several branches of traditional Shōrin-ryū exist today in both Okinawa and the western world. While there is a more concentrated population of practitioners in its birthplace of Okinawa, Shōrin-ryū Karate has had many high ''
dan'' grades outside Okinawa.
Training
Shōrin-ryū is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural (narrow, high)
stances, and circular, rather than direct movements. Shōrin-ryū practitioners assert that correct motion, moving quickly to evade violence with fluid movements and flexible positions are important, and that a solid structure is vital for powerful blocks and strikes. Stances that are too deep generally make body movement difficult. Another feature in this system is how the student is taught to
punch. Generally, there is neither a horizontal nor vertical punch in Shōrin-ryū. Punches are slightly canted to the inside, with the largest knuckle of the forefinger (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.
Kata
Some of the key
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts ...
in Shōrin-ryū are:
p. 30
These are Series not truly thought of as 'kata'
*Fukyu Gata (Popular)
**ichi
**ni
**san (in some schools)
*Kihon (Basics)
**shodan
**nidan
**sandan
**yondan
**godan
Shōrin-ryū Core Kata
*Naihanchi
**shodan
**nidan
**sandan
*Pinan
**shodan
**nidan
**sandan
**yondan
**godan
*Passai
**sho
**dai
*Gojushiho
*Dai Ni Gojushiho
*Chinto
*Kusanku
**sho
**dai
*Jion
The following Kata are not taught in all Shōrin-ryū systems or dojo
*Seisan
*Ananku
*
Wankan
*Rohai
*Wanshu
*Gorin
*Koryu Passai
*Teesho
*Ryuko
The study of weapons generally only starts at dan-level, and weapon kata are not standardised across the style.
p. 45.
Branches
*
Shorin-Ryu Reihokan Naonobu Ahagon
*
Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan normally called Shidōkan or Okinawan Shidōkan
*
Shorinkan
* Shorinkan USA Lineage
*
Shōrin-ryū Seibukan
*
Matsubayashi-ryū
*
Shōrin-ryū Kokau
*
Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan normally called Kyudōkan
*
Shorin-Ryu Koshinkan
* Oshukai
* Chubu Shōrin-ryū
* Shōrin-ryū (Shaolin)
also known as Shobayashi.
* Ryukyu Shōrin-ryū
*
Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū
* Yoshudokai Shorin Ryu
Ranks
In 1924,
Gichin Funakoshi
was the founder of Shotokan karate. He is known as a "father of modern karate". Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato,Funakoshi, Gichin (1981). ''Karate-Do: My Way of Life'', Kodansha International Ltd. . he was one of the Okin ...
, a contemporary of Chibana and also a disciple of
Ankō Itosu, adopted the
Dan system from
judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...
founder
Kanō Jigorō
was a Japanese judoka, educator, politician, and the founder of judo. Judo was one of the first Japanese martial arts to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic Games, Olympic sport. Pedagogical ...
using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors to promote Karate-Do among the Japanese. In 1960, this practice was also adopted in Okinawa.
The specific order of colors varies from organization to organization.
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 gradually stress proper stances, balance, motion and coordination. Speed, timing, focus and power are examined 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
Kumite (, literally "grappling hands") is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which a person trains against an adversary.
Kumite can be used to develop a particular tec ...
,
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts ...
, and
bunkai (applications of technique).
Notable practitioners
*
Chosin Chibana (founder)
*
Kentsu Yabu
*
Joe Lewis (martial artist)
*
Mike Stone (karate)
*
Bill Wallace (martial artist)
*
Jim Kelly (martial artist)
*
Shūgorō Nakazato
*
Kazuo Hoshiyama
*
John Corcoran (martial arts)
*
Tiffany van Soest
*
Tadashi Yamashita
*
Rina Takeda
*
Yukio Sakaguchi
*
Leo Howard
*
Katsuya Miyahira
*
Higa Yuchoku
*
Ankichi Arakaki
*
Eizo Shimabukuro
*
Ciriaco Cañete
*
Robert John Burke
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shorin-Ryu
Japanese martial arts