Chito-ryu

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Chito-Ryu (千唐流 - "One thousand year-old style originating in the Chinese 'To' era") is a style of Karate founded by Dr. Chitose Tsuyoshi.

As a young man born and raised in Okinawa, Dr. Chitose grew up studying the pre-karate art of Tode (or "To-te") from many of the top masters of the period. He later moved to mainland Japan to practice medicine, where Chito-ryu evolved as he utilized his modern medical knowledge of anatomy and physiology to modify traditional techniques to make them both more effective against opponents as well as less detrimental to the bodies and joints of long-term practitioners.

Although generally classified as a Japanese karate style simply because O-Sensei Chitose formulated and founded Chito-ryu principally while living in Kumamoto, Japan, many modern practitioners feel it is more properly categorized as an Okinawan style given that its roots and techniques are firmly grounded in and derived from traditional Okinawan tode.

Contents

[edit] Development & Influences

"Development & Influences" will primarily deal with O-Sensei's early training and instructors, the "middle-years" influences of his medical instruction and teaching with Funakoshi, then conclude with his continuing study of Okinawan and Chinese kata and techniques that continued to be folded into the style.

[edit] Definition of the Chito-Ryu Crest

There are three main part to the Chito-Ryu Crest.

  • The first and most obvious is The Rising Sun. The Rising Sun is the cultural symbol of Japan which is derived from oriental mythology and is represened as the National symbol seen on the flag of Japan
  • The second is the Japanese characters seen on the Crest. These simply represent the Chito-Kai Association
  • The third is the Clasping of the Hands in the Circle. The fingers clasping hands in a circle is representative of the way of Karate. Many Eastern philosophies prophesied the belief in life as a continuity or a continual flow as seen in the mathematical symbol, the circle, a line without beginning or end. Within that circle lie two hands clasping togother in apposition. Where one ends the other begins, continuously chasing each other year after year. The seasons are an example of contrasts; summer, winter, spring, and fall. Karate can also be seen to be like the seasons; hard and direct, soft and circular. It takes these two contrasting feelings to make a whole and, in the same way, Karate requires a person to be hard and direct, soft and circular. Only when a student has mastered these two elements does he/she really know the Way of Karate.

The design is based on the crest of the All Japan Karate-Do Federation founded by Toyama Kanken, of which Chitoryu was a member. Another version still remains in use by the International Shudokan Karate Association. See also Shudōkan.

[edit] Signature Aspects of Chito-ryu

"Signature Aspects" would, of course, briefly review what makes Chito-ryu technically different from other karate styles. I'll certainly look to the Chitonet membership for suggestions in this area. a large part of many chito-ryu techniques is the emphasis on beginning and arriving at the start and finish of a technichue, as opposed to the motion of getting there, though there are exceptions to this.

A few additional trademarks of Chito Ryu Karate include the hip technique emphasis during Kata performance and hard, slow respiratory techniques. The hip technique (koshi-waza) is performed by first stepping back, then forward when beginning many of the katas (unlike fast Shotokan and Goju Ryu forms). Although this movement takes more time when completing some techniques, like low blocks (gedan barai) it provides greater power through greater hip movement. In addition to koshi-waza there are many respiratory techniques which are used during kata training. These hard breathing (kokyo) techniques help cleanse the body by compressing the internal organs in order to excrete toxins and enzymes, in the Chitoryu katas respiratory techniques are usually used to signify either choking or throwing an opponent (shime or nage).

Dr. Chitose created Chitoryu by combining 70% of the strength techniques from Shorin Ryu and Shorei Ryu.

[edit] Chito-derived and Influenced Styles

"Chito-derived & Influenced Styles" will give a nod to many of the great karate-ka who trained with or under O-Sensei and then went on to use his methods in styles of their own such as Ryusei, Yoshukai, Tsuruoka-ryu, Shintora-Kai and others which I know are represented in the Chitonet membership.

[edit] Showa

Showa is the code or "motto" of Chito-Ryu practitioners. Shown below are the English and phonetic Japanese versions.

Ware Ware Karate-Do O Shugyo Tsurumonewa Tsuneni Bushido Seishin o Wasurezu Wa to Nin o Motte Nashi Soshite Tsutomereba Kanarazu Tasu!

We who study Karate-Do Shall never forget the Spirit of the Warrior's way With Peace, Perseverance, and hard Work We shall not fail to reach our goals!

This code is often recited at the end of classes.

[edit] Chito-ryu Around the World

"Chito-ryu Around the World" is where I see more specific historical information on the "history" of Chito-ryu in varioius countries, how it progressed in Japan through the life of O-Sensei and then passed to his son as the 2nd Soke, how Tsuruoka brought it to Canada and Dometrich to the US and so forth.

[edit] International

[edit] Japan

[edit] Canada

Chito Ryu is a popular mainstream karate style in Canada, with almost 60 Chito Ryu dojos in 8 of Canada's 10 provinces. O-Sensei Chitose visited Canada in 1967, accompanied by one of his leading protogés, Yamamoto Sensei (who would later go on to found Yoshukai karatedo). This trip was organized by Tsuruoka Sensei, widely recognized as the father of Canadian karate, who was then head of Chito Ryu in Canada. During this trip, O-Sensei Chitose presided over events at the Canadian National Karate Tournement in Toronto and conducted clinics at dojos across Canada. The current head of the Chito Ryu style, Soke Sensei - the son of O-Sensei Chitose, continues this practice and conducts clinics in Canada for Chito Ryu practitioners approximately every other year.

[edit] External links

[edit] Chito-ryu Organizations

[edit] Independent Chito-ryu Organizations


[edit] Other Articles

[edit] Bibliography

  1. Kempo Karate-Do — Universal Art of Self-Defense by Tsuyoshi Chitose, ISBN 0-9687791-0-7. The seminal textbook by the founder of Chito-Ryu Karatedo.
  2. The Endless Quest — The Autobiography of an American Karate Pioneer by William J. Dometrich, ISBN 0-9687791-1-5.

[edit] See also

List of Karate schools
Ashihara • Chito-ryu • Enshin • Gensei-ryu • Goju-ryu • Go kan ryu • Isshin-ryū • Kyokushin • Ryu te • Seido • Shorin-Ryu • Shorinji-ryū • Shito-ryu • Shotokai • Shotokan • Shudōkan • Uechi Ryū • Wado-ryu
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