Shorin-Ryu is an Okinawan style of karate that is widely regarded as one of the oldest and most traditional. Its philosophy emphasizes defense and avoidance rather than aggressive attack, always bearing in mind the principles of non-violence and respect for the opponent.
History of Shorin-Ryu
Shorin-Ryu was developed on Okinawa, an island in Japan, in the early 20th century. It was founded by Chosin Chibana, who was trained in the Shuri-te style, an ancient Okinawan form of karate, by Anko Itosu, one of the greatest karate masters of the time.
Chosin Chibana began teaching karate in the 1920s, and in 1933 officially formed the Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Association, marking the formal birth of Shorin-Ryu.
Schools and key players
After Chibana’s death in 1969, several of his students continued to propagate the Shorin-Ryu style. Among them, Shugoro Nakazato and Katsuya Miyahira are probably the most famous. Nakazato founded the Shorinkan, while Miyahira founded the Shido-kan. Each organization has contributed to the worldwide propagation of Shorin-Ryu.
Shorin-Ryu features
Shorin-Ryu is known for its use of fast, fluid movements. Shorin-Ryu techniques emphasize speed and mobility to avoid attacks, rather than relying on brute force.
He uses a wide variety of open-hand techniques, punches, kicks, blocks, grapples and projections. Movements are generally short and quick, allowing you to react quickly and effectively to an attack.
Shorin-Ryu is also known for its use of traditional katas, or forms, which are predefined sequences of movements that simulate a fight against one or more opponents. These katas are essential for learning Shorin-Ryu techniques and for developing discipline, concentration and physical fitness.
In short, Shorin-Ryu is a style of karate that emphasizes speed, fluidity and defensive strategy. It offers a traditional, respectful approach to the art of karate, emphasizing respect, discipline and martial ethics.