The   Kata   Ananko   has   been   brought   to   the   Shuri-te   by   Chotoku   Kyan.   It's   said   that   he did   learn   the   Kata   in   Taiwan   and   did   take   it   back   to   Okinawa.   So   it   has   no   history   in the okinawan Karate like Kushanku or Patsai. There   are   minimum   2   versions   practiced   and   one   of   them   clearly   longer   and   more versatile. Some parts reminds to the Gojushiho. Ananko   is   done   in   different   schools   of   the   Shorin-Ryu   and   also   the   Shito-Ryu.   There are   rumours   because   of   the   come   from   of   the   Kata.   One   tells   that   Chotoku   Kyan   did made   the   Kata.   An   other   calls   the   name   of   the   chinese   Martial   Art   expert   Anan   and also   adding   the   Ryuei   Ryu   Kata   Anan   to   him.   But   this   isn't   probably,   because   Anan and   Anannko   are   totally   different   Kata   using   different   concepts   and   principles   and techniques. And the name of Ryuei Ryu’s Anan comes from a chinese city’s name. Much   more   interesting   is,   that   Ananko   includes   a   grabbing   technique   which   is   identical to a technique of Kata Seipai. Another   technique   where   Soto   Uke   hits   the   own   open   hand   while   standing   on   one   leg, is also to find in Kata Empi. Furthermore   Ananko   includes   beautiful   combination,   which   will   be   done   with   a   lot   of pressure.

Ananko

Meaning of the name Light from the South Moves: 56

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu

Level Medium

Ysutsune   Itosu   made   this   Bassai   Dai   based   on   Patsai   from   Tomari-te   (Tomari   Bassai). Only   the   beginning   of   the   Kata   with   the   combination   Yoko   Uke   /   Gyaku   Yoko   Uke   (In Shotokan   style   Yoko   Uke   is   called   Uchi   Uke,   Gyaku   Yoko   Uke   is   called   Soto   Uke)   is   the main   different   between   the   Bassai   Dai   from   the   original   form.   All   other   techniques   has only been modified. These   Bassai   Dai   is   a   Kata   which   includes      some   soft   and   slow   elements.   So   it   shows harmonic   in   it's   dynamic   and   especially   on   the   end   we   can   see   elegance.   In   the Shotokan style the soft elements has been removed. In   the   Shito-Ru   the   Kata   is   representative   for   the   Shuri-te   lineage   and   together   with the Seienchin obligatory for the examination of Shodan gradudation. Bassai   Dai   is   one   of   the   most   spread   Kata   of   Okinawa.   It   will   done   in   many   schools, but a lot of them has own versions. Bassai   Dai   teaches   way   of   fighting   wich   shows   many   sudden   an   breakthrough   actions. Short   moments   of   calmness   follows   extremly   explosvie   techniques.   And   many   of   them has the goal to destroy or to smash bones or joints. The   spirit   of   the   Kata   is   offensive   and   even   the   throwing   techniques   has   the   potential of joint breaking effect. It’s   possible   to   understand   “Breackthrough    the    Fortress”    as    a    motivation    to    perform   each   technique   with   a   mind   that   don’t   accept   any barrier.

Bassai Dai

Bassai   Sho   is   also   made   by   Yasutsune   Itosu,   but   is   far   away   to   reach   the   importance or prominence of Bassai Dai. The   little   version   of   Bassai   (Sho   has   the   meaning   little)   is   shorter   and   includes techniques for the close combat. Many   techniques   targeting   to   the   joints   of   the   arms   and   the   legs.   Also   it   includes   a very   dynamic   throwing   technique.   Though   it   is   an   advanced   Kata,   Bassai   Sho   is seldom   done.   Whether   in   the   Shotokan   style   nor   in   the   Shito-Ryu   the   Kata   reach   a similar meaning of their big sister Bassai Dai.

Bassai Sho

Meaning of the name Breackthrough the Fortress (small) Moves: 34

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium

Matsumura   Bassai   is   known   as   the   most   developed   version   of   Patsai/Bassai.   Sokon Matsumura   was   on   of   the   famous   master   of   the   Shuri-te   lineage   and   teacher   of   Anko Azato   who   was   the   teacher   of   Gichin   Funakoshi.   Also   Yasutsune   Itosu   was   a   student from   Matsumura.   Sokon   Matsumura   did   also   educate   the   security   guards   of   okinawan King.   It's   said   that   he   die   create   the   both   Heian   Kata   (Shodan   and   Nidan)   and probably   also   the   first   both   Naifanchin   (Shodan   and   Nidan).   He   als   was   a   master   of the Art of Kobudo and did develop the Matsumura no Kon, a Kata for using the Bo. But   well   known   is   his   version   of   Patsai.   This   Kata   is   highly   advanced   and   in   any technique   the   full   effect   will   be   reached   only   if   the   technique   will   be   done   really     perfect. Done   in   correct   way   the   techniques   are   with   extremly   effect.   The   Kata   includes   very fast combinations and very dynamic techniques. Some   techniques   for   to   grab   and   to   lever   has   a   lot   of   pull   through   force,   because   the whole   body   weight   will   be   insert   in   the   technique.   And   this   is   a   main   spirit   of   the   Kata, because   the   effect   of   their   techniques   will   be   create   by   the   kind   of   performance   and the   transmit   of   the   body   weight.   The   power   of   the   muscles   isn't   as   important. Becuase   of   this   the   Kata   sometimes   seems   to   be   a   bit   powerless.   But   it's   only   an optical impression. A false one what can be realized by doing the Bunkai.

Matsumura Bassai

Meaning of the name Breackthrough the Fortress Moves: 58

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

It’s   supposed   that   this   Kata   did   come   to   Okinawa   even   before   Kutshanku.   It’s   original name   is   Patsai.   And   for   sure   it   is   a   very   old   Kata.   In   fact   some   of   the   techniques   has   a relationship    to    Kushanku.    But    unfortunately    it's    not    for    sure    if    some    of    these techniques    wasn't    added    later    to    the    Kata    by    okinanan    masters.    Like    the    Kata Kushanku or Rohai Patsai was used from a lot of masters and has been changed also. The   version   Patsai   of   the   Matsubayashi   Shorin   Ryu   from   Chotoku   Kyan   is   from   the Tomari lineage and is known as Tomari Bassai or Oyadomari Bassai. This   versions   seems   to   be   the   oldest      and   like   all   Kata   of   Tomari-te   the   ones   with   the lowest   differences   to   the   original   chinese   version.   In   the   first   part   of   the   Kata   open hand   techniques   will   be   done   often   and   with   incredible   velocity.   The   Kata   is   all together   with   a   higher   dynamic   as   the   later   created   versions   Bassai   Dai   and   Bassai Sho. The   meaning   of   the   namen   "to   storm   a   fortress"   or   "to   Breakthrough   a   fortress"   is   a transcription   of   the   personality   of   the   Kata.   So   the   techniques   should   be   done   with   a mind which don't accept any resistance and is able to smash any kind of barrier.

Tomari Bassai (Patsai)

Meaning of the name Breackthrough the Fortress Moves: 55

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Meaning of the name Breackthrough the Fortress (small) Moves: 51

Classificationv Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium

If   it   is   possible   to   speak   about   good   and   evil   Kata   than   the   Chinte   is   one   of   the   evil ones.   Nearly   all   of   the   techniques   have   the   intention   to   injure   the   opponent   seriously and   in   some   parts   even   incurable.   Who   is   doing   Chinte   along   with   the   knowledge   how to    use    it    in    Bunkai    will    learn    the    idea    to    destroy    an    opponent    without    any compromise. But   in   the   performance   of   the   Kata   this   isn't   open   to   see.   In   fact   the   Chinte   seems   to be harmless. The   three   jumps   on   the   end   are   only   done   in   the   Shotokan   version.   It's   possible   to interpret   this   jumps   for   a   Bunkai.   But   we   also   can   suspect   the   reason   to   bring   the Kata   back   to   the   start   point.   None   of   the   traditionell   Kata   has   been   created   under   the point   of   view   to   let   the   Kata   end   on   the   start   point.   Only   in   the   Shotokan   all   Kata follows this rule. On   the   other   hand   the   three   jumps   are   teaching   a   special   kind   of   Yori   Ashi,   if   they   are done in the right way.

Chinte

Meaning of the name Seldom hand Moves: 38

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium

Therre    are    tales    that    Sokon    Matsumura    did    meet    a    chinese    sailor    who    was shipwrecked   at   the   shore   of   Okinawa.   The   story   tells   that   Matsumura   was   sent   by   the King   for   to   investigate   rumours   about   a   lumbering   chinese   for   to   find   and   arrest   him. Matsumura   found   him   and   had   a   fight   with   him.   It’s   supposed   that   the   fight   did   end   in a   kind   of   friendship.   It’s   said   that   Matsumura   did   learn   the   Kata   Chinto   from   this chinese Martial Arts expert. Because   of   the   big   differences   between   the   Chinto   and   the   Tomari   Chinto   there   is   the question if Matsumura did learn only one Kata. Also there is probably a third version. According   to   Hirokazu   Kanazawa   three   versions   exist.   And   all   three   have   a   straight Enbusen   and   every   version   has   it's   own   direction.   In   Chinto   (Gankaku)   it's   to   the front,   in   Tomari   Chinto   it's   45   degrees   diagonal   and   the   third   version   is   straight   to   the side. The   Kata   Chinto   improves   especially   the   different   skills   for   keeping   balance.   This includes techniques which will be done standing on one leg, but also difficult turns. Another   main   part   of   the   Kata   is   the   Zanshin.   The   concentration   to   the   attention   of the    opponent    will    be    done    in    a    kind    which    has    the    goal    for    the    pure    spiritual overcoming   of   the   opponent.   For   to   stop   his   intention   for   attack,   or   for   to   slow   down his concentration, which should make it easier to perform an own sudden attack.

Chint0

Meaning of the name Fighting to the East Moves: 52

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Advanced

These   version   of   Chinto,   with   diagonal   Enbusen,   shows   not   much   similarity   to   the Chinto   of   the   Itosu   school.   And   it's   mainly   used   from   Chotoku   Kyan   in   his   Shorin-Ryu school. The   Tomari   Chinto   seems   to   be   more   chinese,   and   maybe   it's   more   close   to   the   true original version. In   this   Kata   the   relationship   to   the   style   of   the   white   crane   is   much   more   clearly   to see. Tomari   Chinto   is   a   very   dynamic   Kata.   The   technical   combinations   are   very   harmonic and   fit’s   to   the   natural   skills   of   the   body.   The   Bunkai   is   very   effective   and   many techniques are able to creat incurable injurys.

Tomari Chint0

Meaning of the name Fighting to the East Moves: 55

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

The   Kata   Jion,   Ji’in   and   Jitte   have   a   strong   relationship.   In   any   case   it   seems   that   they are from the same school. Some   suppose   that   Ji’in   and   Jitte   are   some   versions   of   Jion.   Some   suppose   that   Itosu did create Ji’in and Jitte. On   the   other   hand   there   is   a   theory   which   count   all   three   Kata   to   the   lineage   of Tomari-te. The   technique   at   the   beginning   and   at   the   end   reminds   to   greating   ceremony   of Chinese   masters,   but   in   fact   it’s   a   real   fighting   technique.   The   traditional   Jion   is   very similar   to   the   Shotokan   version,   but   ends   far   behind   the   point   where   it   start.   Some suppose   that   Jion   is   from   the   Shaolin   monestry.   The   name   Jion   can   be   translated   as the   love   and   mercy   of   buddha.   Doing   Jion   on   the   right   way   it   shows   majestics   and mercy   (maybe   in   the   meaning   of   regret).   The   length   of   the   Kata   and   the   depth   of   the stances   is   a   reason   to   suppose   that   it   is   an   elementary   Kata   to   learn   basic   techniques and   to   improve   the   power   of   the   body.   Probably   it   is,   like   Ji’in   and   Jitte,   from   the   tiger style of Shaolin.

Jion

Meaning of the name Music of the temple Moves: 51

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium

Ji’in   looks   more   similar   to   Jion   as   to   Jitte   and   is   also   longer   than   Jitte.   But   Ji’in includes   an   advanced   footwork   with   difficult   turns.   In   case   of   footwork   it’s   the   most difficult one of the three Kata. From Ji’in different versions are known. So   even   in   the   Shotokan   style   we   find   different   versions   of   the   Kata.   So   the   JKA version is different to the version of SKI (Hirokazu Kanazawa). Ji’in    teaches    how    to    move    out    to    the    side    and    a    how    to    move    out    by    a    turn backwards. The   name   ca   be   translate   as   “ground   of   the   temple”.   It’s   maybe   a   hint   for   the important meaning of the footwork. Ji’in is the only Kata of the three Kata which ends close to the point where it start. Very   interesting   is   that,   if   someone   will   do   all   three   Kata   one   after   the   other   he   comes back to the point where he did start. Not   every   old   Kata   will   end   on   the   point   where   it   starts.   A   lot   of   the   old   masters   did exercise   outside,   where   really   was   enough   space.   But   if   this   three   Kata   comes   form the   Shaolin   temple   and   was   be   done   by   groups   of   students   in   the   auricle   of   the temple   it   can   be   supposed   that   in   former   times   all   three   Kata   has   been   a   single   large one.      And   has   been   cut   in   three   parts   from   masters   from   Tomari   or   Shuri.   But   this   is not for sure.

Ji’in

Meaning of the name Ground of the temple Moves: 39

Classification Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium

Jitte   is   the   shortest   of   the   three   Kata.   In   Shotokan   it   has   been   modified   mor   than   Ji’in or   Jion   and   is   known   as   a   Kata   against   the   Bo.   Of   course   Karate   can   be   used   to   fight against   weapons.   But   no   Kata   has   been   created   only   for   to   teach   fighting   methods against weapons. The   real   speed   of   the   techniques   in   combat   is   not   the   speed   we   see   done   in   the   Kata. So   Jitte   is   a   good   example   that   the   speed   of   a   technique   done   in   the   Kata   must   be chosen   in   a   way   that   we   have   a   mostly   good   effect   to   learn   it.   The   biggest   mistake   bei doing a Kata is, to give a higher meaning to the speed than to the perfection. Every   technique   has   it's   own   optimal   speed,   what   is   really   important   in   case   of   lever and Throwing techniques. In   the   training   slow   what   is   fast   in   combat.   This   is   a   wise   of   an   old   master   of   chinese Wu   Dang).   It   could   have   the   meaning   that   it   is   the   best   way   to   perform   with   a   speed, which   is   the   best   one   for   to   learn.   The   different   speed   of   techniques   in   a   Kata   has   to been   seen   under   this   point   of   view.   Because   really   every   technique   of   a   Kata   has   it's meaning. The   meaning   of   the   name   Jitte   (ten   hands)   is   not   sure   and   will   be   interpreted different.   So   it   shall   create   a   power   what   allows   to   fight   against   10   attackers.   Some others   believe   that   the   name   has   to   do   with   the   japanese   weapon   Jitte   what   looks similar   to   the   Sai.   But   maybe   the   name   give   a   hint   that   using   Jitte   someone   get   a strong   body   and   power   especially   in   the   middle   part   of   the   body.   Maybe   as   much   that it would need ten hands for to fix master of this Kata.

Jitte

Meaning of the name Ten hands Moves: 29

Klassifizierung Shorin-Ryu

Stye Shito-Ryu Shotokan

Level Medium