Isshinryu Katas

Sei-Ich is a beginner kata that not all Isshinryu schools teach. It essentially is a simplified version of Seisan.

Click here for a step by step breakdown of Sei-ich kata.

Sei-Ni

Sei-Ni is also a beginner kata not taught by all Isshinryu schools. It is more complex than Sei-Ich and contains many moves found in Seisan.

Seisan

Seisan is named after the famous Southern Chinese boxer. He lived on Okinawa from 1588 to 1600. He came to the island to teach boxing on orders from the king of China. Seisan was referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World by Okinawans because of his unusual power and ability.

Soshu Matsumora is the first instructor Seisan can be traced back to, in the 19th century. Matsumora was Kyan's instructor. Shimabuku learned the kata from him.

Angi Uezu (Shimabuku's son-in-law) explained once that the name Seisan means thirteen: sei means ten and san means three. This means that students face 13 opponents throughout the course of the kata.

Seisan kata emphasizes the straight forward Seisan stance, the mae geri and rapid techniques.

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Seiuchin

Seiuchin was named after the Southern Chinese boxing master of the same name. The kata probably came to Okinawa by Kanro Higashionna. His top student was Chojun Miyagi. The two masters went on to develop Goju-ryu. Shimabuku learned the kata from Miyagi.

The word seiuchin means lull in the storm or storm within a calm. Some people perform this kata "with tension".

Seiuchin is known for its strong, deep Shiko stance and its reinforced punches and blocks.

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Naihanchi

Naihanchi's origins are unknown, as is its creator. It is named after the city or district of Naha. There are three different versions of this kata. Soshu Matsumora taught this kata to Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan. Both of these Shorinryu masters taught Shimabuku.

Legend has it that Motobu practiced these three katas as many as 500 times daily.

This kata was designed to emulate a fight up against a wall. It is known for its Iron Horse stance.

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Wansu

This kata may have been brought to Okinawa in 1683 by a Chinese envoy named Wanshu. Shimabuku learned Wansu from one of his Shorinryu masters.

Wansu is known as the Dumping Kata because of the throw it contains.

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Chinto

This kata's origins are also unknown. It got its name from a master named Chinto. Shimabuku learned this kata from Kyan.

Chinto is known for its pivots and dynamic movements. Good balance is difficult but important in this kata.

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Kusanku

This kata was developed by Okinawan practitioners after it was brought to the island in 1761 by a man named Kusanku. Shimabuku learned kusanku from Kyan. It was one of Kyan's favorite katas.

Most advanced offensive and defensive techniques are found in this kata. It is the longest and arguably most difficult kata of the style. Some say the kata takes more than a decade to master.

This kata was meant to represent a fight in the dark.

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Sansu

The word sansu means strong man or iron man. Sansu was Tatsuo Shimabuku's nickname. Shimabuku created the kata himself. It contains the moves Shimabuku thought were the best from all the other Isshinryu katas. Those who do not think that Kusanku is the most difficult kata, believe that Sansu is harder.

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Sanchin

Sanchin means three wars. When performing this kata, the karate-ka must battle three internal wars. These wars are with their breathing, stance and sight. Shimabuku learned the kata from Master Miyagi.

This kata emphasizes strong technique and breathing control. It uses the Sanchin stance.

Please check back often as we will work on writing step by steps for each of the Isshinryu katas!

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