Traditional Isshinryu Karatedo Association



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  • Karate (空手) also Karate-do (空手道) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called te (手), "hand"; tii in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts. The primary purpose of Karate was for personal self-defense and protection.

    In 1922, the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration, and in 1924 the first university karate club in mainland Japan was established. By 1932 major Japanese universities had karate clubs. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from 唐手 ("Chinese hand" or "Tang dynasty hand") to 空手 ("empty hand") – both of which are pronounced karate in Japanese. This signified that the Japanese wished to cultivate Karate in their own way, eventually leading to much more structured system with more focus on self-perfection and character development.

    In 1945, after World War II, Okinawa became an important United States military site and Karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.

  • Isshinryu (一心流 Isshin-ryū) is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsu Shimabuku (島袋 龍夫) in 1956. Master Shimabuku created the style and synthesized elements from Shorin-ryu Karate, Goju-ryu Karate, and kobudo (weapon training), as well as drawing from his own personal experiences.

  • The Traditional Isshinryu Karatedo Association (originally named the ‘Okinawan Isshinryu Karate Association of Israel’) was founded in Haifa, Israel by Master James Keenan in June 1980, and was the first Isshinryu school to be established in the State of Israel. The Traditional Isshinryu Karatedo Association has had affiliated schools in the United States, Germany, and Israel.

  • Kata of Isshinryu Karate:

    Open hand kata:

    • Seisan (十三)

    • Seiunchin (制引戦)

    • Naihanchi (ナイハンチ)

    • Wansū (ワンシュー)

    • Chintō (鎮東)

    • Kusanku (クーシャンク)

    • Sunsu

    • Sanchin (三戦)

    Bo Kata:

    • Tokumine no Kun

    • Urashi no Kun

    • Shishi no Kun

    Sai Kata:

    • Kusanku Sai

    • Chatan Yara no Sai