Isshin-ryū

Isshin-Ryū is a style of Okinawan karate created by Tatsuo Shimabuku in approximately 1947/1948. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method". In 1989 there were 336 branches of Isshin-ryū throughout the world, most of which were concentrated in the United States.

Kata

The system is summarized in its kata, and the specific techniques used to punch and kick presented as upper and lower 'charts', most of which are thrown from natural stances and body posture. In many of the various forms of the system, sixteen kata are agreed upon as composing Isshin-ryu. These kata include original developments of the Master, and inherited kata from the parent styles.

Empty-Hand Kata

[Seisan]

Tatsuo Shimabuku learned Seisan from his primary instructor, Chotoku Kyan. Previous to Kyan's instruction, the Seisan form was a staple of local traditions.
This kata is sometimes the first introduced to students after the First and Second Charts of basics have been learned. This is in contrast to other Shorin systems where this kata is learned after other fundamental kata.
The Gojū-ryū curriculum includes a related version of Seisan, but Isshin-ryū Seisan was learned from Kyan, not Miyagi.

Seiunchin (制引戦)

The Seiunchin kata was brought into Isshin-ryū from Shimabuku's studies with the Gojū-ryū founder, Chojun Miyagi. It is theorized by some Isshin-ryu researchers that this kata is an original composed by Miyagi, based on his experiences in Fuzhou, China. However, since this kata was also taught by Miyagi's teacher, Kanryo Higaonna, and is included in other naha-te descended styles such as Shito-ryu, it is more likely that it was Higaonna who brought the kata back to Okinawa after his earlier studies in Fuzhou.
The kata focuses on the stance "shiko-dachi", a low horse stance at which the knees are bent at obtuse angles and the feet are angled away from the direction the body is facing at 45-degree angles. The kata is broken into segments, each utilizing a specific breathing and muscle-tensing method. The kata has no obvious kicks, but one section contains hints of a rising knee strike.

Naihanchi (ナイハンチ)

comes to Isshin Ryu from studies with both Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. It is also considered one of the staples of Ryukyu Ti, and is prevalent in most forms of Karate. The Isshin Ryu version is influenced heavily by the kumite of Motobu, with the exception of the turned-in toes.
The kata is also noted for its use of the "Nami ashi", the returning wave kick. The kick has many different potentials for application, including the sweeping or redirecting of a low kick, a kick or knee to the inside of an opponent's thigh, knee, tibia, and ankle. It also has the movement training potential for the basics of the sequential summation of movement. Some interpret the move as a low "yoko-geri" from naihanchi-dachi to the opponent's farthest ankle, inside-calf, or knee, and returning the kick to the body around the opponent's nearest leg across one's body to the hip and back down to naihanchi-stance.
A popular interpretation of the kata concerns its position: the entire sequence of moves in the kata is to be executed as if one is standing up against a wall and one's opponents are to his left, right, and straight ahead. It is because of this that the kata is usually taught with the back straight and the heels and back placed firmly either on a straight edge such as a board or a wall, or on top of a long piece of tape.
The main stance of naihanchi is a slight variant from the Isshin Ryu stance "kiba-dachi", in which both feet are shoulder-width apart facing forward. "Naihanchi-dachi," as it's called, takes kiba-dachi and turns the balls of the feet and turns them inward and accentuates the continuous bend at the knees Isshin Ryu Karateka are taught from initiation.

Wansū (ワンシュー)

Also coming from Kyan, Wanshū has several iterations on the island of Ryukyu. Popular history has the kata coming from a Chinese political visitor who, during his duties, taught his fighting method in the open.
Isshin Ryu's version of this form is unique for its inclusion of two side kicks - techniques seen in the system previously only in the Chart Two exercises. Current research hints at this change being made by Shimabuku Tatsuo himself.
For technical content, the form tends to focus on the slipping and in-close evasion and redirection of attack. It also contains a unique movement often described as a fireman's carry throw, or dump. Because of this, many schools during the 1960s and 1970s nicknamed this kata "the dumping form". Also, depending on the lineage, Wansu is one of two kata in Isshin Ryu which use the "zenkutsu dachi", the longer front stance seen in other forms of karate.

Chinto

As with most of the kata in Isshin Ryu, Chinto comes from the teaching of Kyan.
The kata differs from others in that its embusen is a line placed on a 45-degree angle from the starting position, in the Kyan-style tradition. The footwork is indicative of a slipping, deflecting, and a whipping, relaxed body motion. Some karate instructors consider the previously learned forms of the system, Naihanchi and Wansu, to be preparatory and basic training forms, culminating in the kata Chinto.

Kusanku (クーシャンク)

Of the eight weaponless kata in Isshin-Ryu, five come from the teaching of Chotoku Kyan. Kusanku is one of these.
Kusanku is often referred to as a "night-fighting" kata, or a form which teaches fighting at night. The kata is set up in such a manner as to allow continual study of application potential from basic standing grappling and close striking in the beginning, to more aggressive and proactive techniques near the end. Its techniques may be utilized in places with low levels of light but is not exclusively a night fighting form.
Depending on the lineage, Kusanku is the second of two kata which contain the zenkutsu-dachi in Isshin-Ryu.

Sunsu

This kata was designed by the founder of Isshin-Ryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo, in approximately 1947. It incorporates several movements from other kata in the Isshin-Ryu syllabus, as well as from kata from other instructors, in addition to techniques and concepts Shimabuku favored. It was used as a dojo kata and as a personal project of the founder, prior to the naming of Isshin Ryu in 1956. Sunsu is rarely found outside of Isshin Ryu dojo.
The Okinawa Prefecture Karate Kobudo Rengokai has recognized Sunsu as a kata of Okinawa. This represents an acceptance of Isshin-Ryu as a traditional Ryukyu martial art.

Sanchin (三戦)

Coming from Miyagi Chojun, Sanchin has its origins in the Gojū-ryū system. Along with Seiunchin, this is one of two Gojū-ryū katas in Isshin-ryū. Previous to the instruction of Miyagi, the kata was practiced with open hands, turns, and natural breathing methods. With the founding of Gojū-ryū, this form was practiced with closed fists, no turns, and a controlled, almost hard inhalation and exhalation.
Touted primarily for its physical training aspects, Sanchin also contains many applicable martial techniques.
Shimabuku also thought very highly of the form, saying once, "Sanchin is for health. Without health, how can one have karate?"

Bō Kata

Tokumine no Kun (sometimes referred to as Tokumeni no Kun)

This bō form comes to the Isshin Ryu system from Shimabuku's time with Chōtoku Kyan. Kyan is to have learned the form either from Tokumine himself, or from Tokumine's landlord after the aforementioned had passed on. Shimabuku Tatsuo also commented that this was his favorite kata.

Urashi no Kun (sometimes referred to as [Urasoe] no Kun)

The form Urashi no Kun was taught to Shimabuku by his kobudō instructor, Shinken Taira. Taira is the founder of the Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkokai, whose goal is the preservation of Okinawa's weapons forms.

Shishi no Kun (sometimes referred to as Sueyoshi no Kun)

Shimabuku learned this form from Shinken Taira who learned it from Kenwa Mabuni.
The kata itself uses the bo in a horizontal manner, different from other cudgel traditions.

Sai Kata

Kusanku Sai

This form is a product of Shimabuku's own research into the art of kobudō, the coverall for Okinawa's weapons studies.
The kata was built as an introduction to Sai practice, with the weapon movements replacing the empty-hand applications.
The form is taught one of two ways: with or without kicks. Initially, the kata was taught with kicks as it is a karate-based kata. Later, after 1960, the kicks were removed because Shimabuku wished to emphasize the weapon more so.

Chatan Yara no Sai

Chatan Yara is taught as the second Sai kata in the Isshin Ryu system, coming from Shimabuku's instruction with Shinken Taira.
The form focuses on the development of the "sequential summation of movement", which is the scientific term for full-body whipping motion. This is exemplified by the emphasis on whipping strikes, which make up a vast majority of the offensive movements in the form.

Kyan no Sai

This form comes either from Shimabuku's studies of Sai methodology with Kyan, his primary karate instructor, or was possibly a form taught in its entirety. Shimabuku was teaching this kata in 1951 but by 1959 he had dropped in favor of Kusanku.

Tonfa Kata

Hamahiga no Tuifa

This form is from Shimabuku's studies with Shinken Taira. It is the only Tonfa kata in the Isshinryu system. As do many Okinawans, Shimabuku always referred to the weapon, and thus the kata also, as tuifa.
Some Isshin-Ryu schools teach the kata in a different order. However, Shimabuku Tatsuo taught the kata in the above order.

Other curriculum

Upper Body Basics

Developed by Tatsuo Shimabuku and one of his Okinawan students Eiko Kaneshi, the first chart of basic techniques is unique to the Isshin Ryu system.
Though the technical content and number of techniques varies by lineage, the first Chart One was simply a collection of 15 upper-body dominant techniques Shimabuku felt were necessary for proper development.