The Kata of Isshin-ryu

Chinto

        The next kata, Chinto, is considered an advanced kata and has the meaning of fighting to the East or to where the sun rises. It is also known as Gankaku by Shotokan meaning “crane standing on rock.” It was named after a Chinese sailor and martial artist, Chinto, who was shipwrecked on Okinawa . He was forced to hide from the Okinawan natives by day and raid their food supplies at night to survive. The king sent and outstanding swordsman, Matsumura, to arrest the sailor. Matsumura cornered Chinto in a cave, and a great fight ensued. Chinto was a master of Chinese Kempo and escaped from the swordsman. Matsumura was so impressed with the techniques that he sought out Chinto to become friends. Matsumura later devised the Chinto Kata and passed it down to Chotoku Kyan.

            Originating in the Okinawan Shorin-ryu style, Chinto is recognized by numerous kicks and one-legged stances. Chinto kata teaches stability and balance, countering while grappling, as well as grappling and throwing. It is designed for fighting on uneven terrain like a stairway, a hill, or a boat, and also narrow areas like hallways, paths or any confined area. The kata also teaches you to take advantage of the natural terrain and environment by keeping uphill above your opponent and keeping the sun or moon at your back. Chinto is still taught in the Shobayashi Shorin-ryu system, however, its name was changed to Gankaku by Master Gichin Funakoshi after he moved to Japan .

            Chinto is unique in that the entire kata is performed on a oblique line. Your weight distribution is constantly changing in order to obtain the best results and the most power from each technique. The first movements in Chinto consist of six different dachies; opened toe stance, natural stance, back stance, cat stance, Seisan stance, and Seiuchin stance. The flying double kick and a spinning block are introduced in this kata. It also introduces a counterattack from a posture other then a solid stance, such as a flying kick and a punch off one knee.

            Once again there are two kiais. The first is done on the initial front snap kick and the second is done on the last technique, a kneeling punch to the groin. There are middle open cross blocks, low blocks, middle blocks, downward closed blocks, double blocks, double groin blocks, double high blocks, open middle blocks, grabs, middle level tates, elbow shrikes, breaking techniques, double shuto strikes, ridge hand strikes, flying front kick and front snap kicks.

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