Isshinryu Karate

Chinto Kata

From Shorin-Ryu, this kata is named after Master Chinto. It emphasizes the pivot, which is difficult to perform while holding perfect balance. This kata uses dynamic movements: kicking techniques including the flying kicks, and unitary techniques of offense and defense. (NAGAMINE Shoshin, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do, p 218.) Chotoku Kyan incorporated Chinto into Shorin-Ryu, and taught the kata to Shimabuku.
 
  • From musabi dache, step into hieko dache.
  • Look to diag left; RF steps backwards along diag into cat stance.
  • Both hands open to open hand position and move into a low guard position in front of thighs.
  • Both hands circle to cross in front: LH sweeps a small tight oval in front of L body; RH grandly sweeps all the way behind the body and over the head and crosses over LH.
  • Feet shift into nahanchi dache. Hands twirl at wrists such that LH is over RH. RH does inverted nukite strike to solar plexus.
  • LH backfist to temple.
  • Step-step along diag toward opponent; RF straight punch to ribs.
  • LF steps out into shika dache. Double block: LH comes to high side block; RH leg block.
  • Look over R shoulder.
  • Full turn pivoting on RF to come to LF forward seisan dache; LH leg block.
  • Again: RF back into neko ashe dache and hands circle to cross in front.
  • LF jumping straight kick; land in seisan dache.
  • Hands, still crossed, come to R side chamber; double block to groin. Block is done with fleshy part of fists (which are facing each other).
  • Look over R shoulder; half-turn forw pivot around RF into LF forward seisan dache; double block.
  • Half-turn back pivot around L foot into RF forward seisan dache; RH straight punch.
  • Half-moon step forward; LH straight punch; elbow smash.
  • Hands come to open hand guard.
  • While still looking NW, RF shifts into shika danche such that body is aligned on NW line: double shuto (RH to throat; LH to solar plexus).
  • Forward step in shika dache: same double shuto.
  • Look to cardinal left: double inverted shuto to throat.
  • Look to back diagonal: double punch straight down (thumbs to opponent).
  • Step into RF forward seisan dache (RF comes back) along left diag; open hand side block.
  • LH hammer smash into RH.
  • LH oppens; RH closes.
  • Pivot around LF to RF forward seisan dache: throw/re-enforced leg block.
  • RF backs up into kake dache; double block (RH leg block, LH side block)
  • RF snap kick; foot lands in front and body turns and drops into shika dache; double downward punch (thumbs to opponent). Torso is facing NE.
  • Shift to RF forward kake dache, facing SE; double head block.
  • Step out along diag to LF forward kumite dache; LH leg block, RH head block
  • Step forward; RH leg block, LH head block.
  • Tracking, pivot around RF to LF forward seisan dache and LH leg block.
  • Look over R shoulder; pivot around LF to LF forward kake dache. Double head block.
  • Look to L; step forward on NW diag to shika dache (torso facing SW). RH elbow smash; double downward punch.
  • Look to NW; move up to NW-facing, RF-forward kake dache. Double head block.
  • Step back into RF forward seisan dache: LF snap kick; set foot down in front into seisan dache.
  • Step to RF forward seisan; RH punch & kiai.
  • Look to L (SW); drop into shika dache. Double roundhouse punch.
  • Back in NW/SE-aligned, LF-forward kake dache.
  • RF snap kick; as set foot down, pivot to RF-forward kake dache (facing SE).
  • Double block: RH side block, LH leg block.
  • LF snap kick; set down into seisan dache.
  • LH open hand side block, RH smash into LH.
  • RF snap kick.
  • As RF comes down, drop/lunge, and LH straight punch & kiai.
  • End.