Our style of Karate-Doh is Chito-Ryu Karate-Doh. Translated Chi=1000, Tou=Okinawan for China, Ryu=way, or 1000 year old Chinese Style. The style was founded by Master Chitose Tsuyoshi, who based his style on his studies of Okinawan To-te and Shorin-Ryu Karate. One of the major parts of Chito-Ryu is knowlege of human anatomy, as Master Chitose was a medical doctor and develop his style to be very specific on what motions work best on different body parts. Also this medical knowlege lead him to make changes to the Karate and To-Te he had learned so that there were little to no ill effects on the body of the Karate student due to there participation in classes.
Like many other styles of Karate Chito-Ryu students learned the art through practicing Kihon (Idividual Motions), Kata (Forms) which makes a large part of the Chito-Ryu Curriculum, and Kumite (Sparring).
The Kata we study are :
Taki aku - First Cause. Teaches students some of the most inportant lessons in Karate : Block first and counter attack second from a solid stance.
Nami Ashi (Dojo Kata) - Returning Wave. Students learn combat using Horse Stance and using the feet and legs for blocking and kicking.
Pinan Katas- Peaceful Mind. We study 5 Pinan kata in our dojo. They give us the tools to defend ourselves against multiple opponents with different techniques. The term Peaceful mind is ment to be seen as, One gaining Peace of mind that they can defend themselves once these Kata are mastered.
Hangetsu - Half Moon . This Kata teaches the Hangetsu stance, as well as refining hip motion and fluidity. This Kata is one of the oldest Okinawan kata , and is the oldest studied in our Dojo.
Jutte, Jion, Ji'in - Ten Hands, Temple Ground, and Temple Sound. - These 3 kata make use of the imovable posture and quick stance changes. while they appear to be variations of each other, they each contain some unique Bunkai (applications) .
Gankaku (or Chinto) - Crane on a Rock - Teaches students the one leged stance Gankaku datchi and using momentem to bring kicks into the air with jumping techniques, as well as the one knee stance.
Wankan - Kings Crown . Teaches defence against mutiple opponents and using them against each other. Includes bone breaking techniques and throws.
Meikyo - Bright Mirror. Kata with stong Chinese influence. Using jumping turning techniques to increase power in the arms.
Sochin - Energetic Calmness. Okinawan Kata dirived from Dragon style Kung-Fu from the Okinawa Naha-Te School.
Seipai - 18 Hands- Kata teaches circular motions and advoidence techniques.
Matsukaze - Pine Wind. Used for training in rapid stance changes to make motins more efective in different, and changing situations.
Chinte - Rare Hand. Teaching techniques with the hands that are not contained in any other Kata as these can be dangerous, this kata is not taught to anyone who is not a Black Belt.
Rohai - White Heron. While sharing a name with a common Okinawan Kata this version was created by O'Sensei Chitose. It teaches spinning techniques to attack an opponent with speed and using one body part to attack opposite parts of the opponets body.
Sanshiryu - Way of 36 Hands. Using quick short stances, and wrist grab escapes. Also use of catching an opponents feet from the Deep Sumo Stance.
Kusanku - 93 Hands. Another Chitose Sensei creation that shares a name and opening movments only with other kata. In The Chito-Ryu version ground fighting and quick open hand attacks with quick foot work is used to stop an attacker. Also said to be a kata for training to fight in the dark of night.
Sanchin - Three Battles. Master Chitose incoperated this Goju-Ryu Kata of slow movment and muscle tention, conbined with isometric breathing techniques to develop a strong body with strong Sanchin Stance. Usually taking 7 minute to compleate at its higest level.