Shōrin-ryū

Shōrin-ryū[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Date founded	1933
Country of origin	Ryūkyū Kingdom
Founder	Chōshin Chibana
Arts taught	Karate
Ancestor schools	Shuri-te,
Descendant schools	Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan, Shōrin-ryū Shōrinkan, Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan, Shōrin-ryū Seibukan,
Practitioners	Chosin Chibana, Katsuya Miyahira, Shūgorō Nakazato, Tiffany van Soest, Tadashi Yamashita

Shōrin-ryū (小林流) is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts and is one of the oldest styles of karate. It was named by Choshin Chibana in 1933, but the system itself is much older. "Shōrin" is the Okinawan language pronunciation of Shaolin (小林) as in the Shaolin Temple of China. "Ryu" means "style". Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

History

Choshin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu. Anko Itosu was the top student of Matsumura Sōkon, who 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 circular, rather than direct 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. Another of the features in this system is how the student is taught to punch. Generally, there is not either a horizontal or vertical punch in Shorin Ryu. Punches are almost vertical, slightly canted to the inside, with the largest knuckle of the fore finger (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 in Shōrin-ryū are:^[7]p.30

• Fugyugata Kata
• Pinan Kata
• Naihanchi Kata
• Ananku
• Wankan
• Rohai
• Wanshu
• Passai
• Gojushiho
• Chinto
• Kusanku
• Seisan

The study of weapons only starts at dan-level, and weapon kata are not standardised across the style.^[7]p.45

Branches

• Shōrin-ryū Reihokan^[8]
• Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan normally called Shidōkan or Okinawan Shidōkan
• Shorinkan
• Shōrin-ryū Seibukan
• Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan normally called Kyudōkan
• Oshukai^[9]
• Chubu Shorin-ryu^[1]
• Matsubayashi-ryu (also translates to Shorin-ryu)^[1]
• Shorin-ryu (Shaolin)^[1] also known as Shobayashi.
• Ryukyu Shorin-Ryu<^[1]
• Kyobikan shorin-Ryu

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. In 1960, this practice was adopted in Okinawa.:^[10]

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:^[11] There are many others. For instance, the largest Organization in North America does not use yellow, orange, blue, nor purple belts.:^[12] Nor are they consistent from school to school.

In the USA, the mudansha generally are:

• White Belt (7th Kyū)
• Yellow Belt (6th Kyū)
• Orange Belt (5th Kyū)
• Purple Belt (4th Kyū)
• Green Belt (3rd Kyū)
• Blue Belt (2nd Kyū)
• Brown Belt (1st Kyū)

In the USA, the yudansha generally are:

• Black Belt (1st to 3rd Dan)

Master Level

• Red and Black Checkered Belt (4th to 5th Dan)
• Red and White Checkered Belt (6th to 8th Dan)
• Red Belt (9th to 10th Dan)

References

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