CURRICULUM
Additional Information
Each SRKDI affiliated dojo is free to establish its own unique Shorin Ryu curriculum.
The following represents the core, minimum curriculum required by SRKDI:
18 MATSUBAYASHI SHORIN RYU KATA
The 18 Kata of Shorin Ryu
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FUKYUGATA ICHI: (ROKYU)
This kata was commissioned in 1940 by the special committee of Okinawan Karate-do under Gen Hayakawa, then governor of the Okinawa Prefecture. It was finished and introduced in 1941. Developed by Grand Master Nagamine Shoshin as an easy and effective method of introducing Martial Arts to children in the Okinawan school system, this kata consists of 21 movements, utilizing only 2 stances, three strikes and two blocks; (zenkutsu dachi and Shizentai dachi; Chudan, Gyaku and Jodan-zuki; Geidan and Jodan-uke). This kata has no kicks and covers all 8 directions.
FUKYUGATA NI: (GOKYU)
Also commissioned by the special committee of Okinawan Karate-do in 1940 and introduced in 1941, this kata, developed by Master Miyagi Chogun, founder of the Goju Ryu Karate system, is also used in that system where it is known as Geikisai Dai Ichi (to “Smash”). This is one of two introductory or promotional kata, along with Fukyugata Ichi developed to unify the teachings of karate to Okinawan school children regardless of any or no previous training.
PINAN SHODAN – GODAN
PINAN 1-3: (YONKYU) • PINAN 4-5: (SANKYU)
There are five Pinan kata developed in 1907 by Itosu Anko, who was one of Grand Master Nagamine’s original instructors. It is believed that Itosu did not think any of the existing kata were appropriate to teach to high school students so he took an advanced kata, Kusanku, and broke it up into the five Pinan katas practiced today. The introduction of the Pinan katas into the school system is believed to have been one of the transforming steps that changed the perception of karate from a violent system to one that promotes physical health and well-being. These are known as Heian katas in the Shotokan system
NAIHANCHI: SHODAN-NIDAN-SANDAN
NAIHANCHI 1-2: (NIKYU) • NIHANCHI 3: (IKKYU)
These katas are adaptations of the Chinese Shaolin form Naifuanchin and were modified by Master Itosu Anku who also developed the five Pinan Katas. This set of katas were originally the first ones taught to students until they were replaced in 1907 by the Pinan katas. Once the Fukyugata katas were completed they replaced the Pinan katas as the first set taught to new students. These katas emphasize strong lower body movements and are
characterized by left to right linear movements from a starting point. These are known as Tekki katas in the Shotokan system
ANANKU
1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BLACK BELT (SHODAN)
Although the exact origin of this kata is unknown, it is widely accepted that Kyan Chotoku brought this kata back to the Tomari region of Okinawa from Taiwan in 1895 and in the early 1900s was developed as part of the Tomari-te system of karate. Both offensive and defensive movements from zenkutsu dachi are emphasizes and both strong single and double punches are utilized throughout this kata
WANKAN
1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BLACK BELT (SHODAN)
Wankan is an ancient kata practiced in many styles of karate. Not much is known about the history of this kata. It originates from the Tomari-te school and in modern karate is practiced in Shorin-Ryu, Shotokan, and Matsubayashi-Ryu. It is often considered an advanced kata, despite its brevity. Grand Master Nagamine Shoshin considered Wankan to be his favorite kata. The characteristics of this kata are its elegance combined with powerful movements of attack and defense sequences. Wankan is thought to be one of the oldest kata still practiced to this day, having been handed down in Ryukyu royal family for many centuries as a family kata. In fact, the name of the kata literally means “King’s Crown” or “King’s Victory”, a reference to the royal significance of the kata.
ROHAI
2ND DEGREE BLACK BELT (NIDAN)
The composer of this kata is also unknown, but it also has a long history and was mostly practiced in the village of Tomari. The characteristic of this kata is the one-legged stances where the other leg is drawn to deliver a quick snap-kick. It is a short kata but is very elegant looking.
WANSHU
3RD DEGREE BLACK BELT ( SANDAN)
It is believed that this kata was brought to Okinawa in 1683 by a Chinese envoy named Wanshu; but later the kata was reformed and developed by Karate men of Tomari Village. The characteristic of this kata is the execution of hidden fist punches. Grand Master Nagamine Shoshin learned this Kata from Kodatsu Iha.
PASSAI
3RD AND 4TH DEGREE BLACK BELT (YONDAN)
This kata helps to develop skills for night fighting and grappling but most importantly, the mental confidence “to thrust asunder”. Passai mentally demands that the practitioner make a quantum leap from any kata preceding it. The Pinan kata develops a peaceful mind; the ability to relax and still be extremely alert and its strategy is to establish an angle outside the opponent’s power line, and then block and counter attack. Conversely, the strategy of Passai is to move directly into the line of attack and “breach the fortress”. The Pinan strategy is far less risky and allows for a much greater margin of error. For this reason Pinan is ideal for beginners, while Passai is reserved for more advanced students. In the Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu genealogy. This version of Passai comes from Kyan Chotoku and uses many open handed techniques similar to other Tomari-te versions of the kata.
GOJUSHIHO
3RD AND 4TH DEGREE BLACK BELT (YONDAN)
The composer of this kata is also unknown. Goju-Shi-Ho literally means 54 steps. The characteristics of this kata are the spear-hand thrust and the resemblance of a drunken man’s movements. Kyan Chotoku learned this Kata from Matsumura Sokon.
CHINTO
5TH AND 6TH DEGREE BLACK BELT (GODAN)
This kata is thought to have been named after a Chinese sailor whose ship crashed Matsumura on the Okinawan coast. To survive, he stole from the crops of the local people. Sokon Matsumura, a Karate master, was sent to stop Chinto. In the ensuing fight, however, found himself equally matched by the stranger, and consequently sought to learn his techniques. It is known that the kata chinto was well known to the early Tomari-te and Shuri-te schools of Karate. Sokon Matsumura was an early practitioner of the Shuri-te style. When Funakoshi Gichen brought Karate to Japan, he renamed chinto to Gankaku (meaning “crane of a rock”), possibly to avoid anti-Chinese sentiment of the time. This kata is unique in that it is done on a straight diagonal line.
KUSANKU
5TH AND 6TH BLACK BELT (ROKUDAN)
According to most experts, Kusanku or Kung K’ung is the name of a Chinese military envoy who introduced the kata in Shuri around 1761. Many believe the kata Kusanku derives from Matsumura Sokon. The Matsubayashi-ryu version of the kata comes down from Chotoku Kyan who learned the kata from Yomitan Yara, the grandson of Yara Chatan. According to Grandmaster Nagamine, Kusanku is the most magnificent of all Matsubayashi-ryu kata and is also the most difficult to perform. The practitioner is required to go down to the ground and leap in the air to execute a kick. Furthermore, Kusanku is clearly the longest kata in Matsubayashi-ryu and requires advanced levels of stamina and strength to perform well. Many experts have asserted that Kusanku is the form that Itosu based the Pinan series of kata.
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