View source for Shōrin-ryū

{{short description|Style of karate}}
{{Infobox martial art group
| logo              =
| logocaption       =
| logosize          =
| image             = Chibana.jpg
| imagecaption      = 
| imagesize         =
| name              = '''Shōrin-ryū<br />少林流'''
| aka               =
| date founded      = 1929
| country           = [[Ryūkyū Kingdom]]
| founder           = [[Chōshin Chibana]]
| head              =
| arts              = [[Karate]]
| ancestor_arts     = [[Okinawan martial arts]] ([[Shuri-te]], [[Tomari-te]])
| descendant_arts   = [[Shotokan]], [[Isshin-Ryu]], Shogen-Ryu, [[American Kenpo]]
| ancestor schools  = 
| descendant schools=
* [[Shorin-Ryu Koshinkan]]
* [[Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan]] 
* [[Shōrin-ryū Shōrinkan]] 
* [[Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan]] 
* [[Shorin-Ryu Reihokan]] 
* [[Matsubayashi-ryū]]
* [[Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryū]]
* [[Jyoshinmon Shōrin-ryū]]
* Yoshudokai Shorin-ryu
* Shubukan Shōrin-ryu
| notable pract     = ''(see [[#Notable practitioners|notable practitioners]])''
| website           =
}}
[[File:Shōrin-ryū.png|thumb|Shōrin-ryū]]

'''Shōrin-ryū''' (少林流)<ref name="bishop1">{{cite book | isbn=0-8048-3205-6 | title=Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques | first=Mark  | last=Bishop | date=15 October 1999 }}</ref><ref name="ihadojo1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/index.htm |title=Beikoku Shidokan Association, Iha Dojo |publisher=Ihadojo.com |access-date=2012-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126112113/http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/index.htm |archive-date=2012-11-26 }}</ref><ref name="wonder-okinawa1">{{cite web |url=http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/001/002/index.html |title=History of Okinawan Karate |publisher=Okinawa Prefectural Government |year=2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415164934/http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/001/002/index.html |archive-date=15 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="wonder-okinawa2">{{cite web |url=http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/006/003/index.html |title=Kata of Shuri-te Karate |publisher=Okinawa Prefectural Government |year=2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326080623/http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/006/003/index.html |archive-date=26 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="shorinryushorinkan1">{{cite web|url=http://www.shorinryushorinkan.com/chosin.htm|title=Okinawan Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Karate and Kobudo Dojo|publisher=Shorinryushorinkan.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306054032/http://www.shorinryushorinkan.com/chosin.htm|archive-date=March 6, 2016|access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref><ref name="oshukai1">{{cite web|author=Mateusz Staniszew |url=http://www.oshukai.com/index.php?m=12 |title=World Oshukai Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karate Do Kobudo Federation |publisher=Oshukai.com |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> is one of the major modern [[Okinawan martial arts]] and is one of the two styles of [[karate]] as mentioned in the 'Ten Precepts' of [[Ankō Itosu]]. Shorin-ryu diverged into many styles and it became an [[umbrella term]] to encompass all of the schools derived from it.

In Okinawa, it was less common naming their own schools systems as opposed to mainland Japan. So a bunch of schools founded in Okinawa considered themselves simply as shorin-ryu. It's pretty common to refer as shorin-ryu the style of the school founded by [[Choshin Chibana]] in 1933, which is also named Kobayashi-ryu to make a distinction from others 'shorin-ryu' schools. The characters 少林, meaning "sparse" or "scanty" and "forest" respectively and pronounced "shōrin" in Japanese, are also used in the Chinese and Japanese words for [[Shaolin Kung Fu|Shaolin]]. "[[Ryu (martial arts)|Ryū]]" means "school".  Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of [[Shuri-te]].<ref name="bishop1"/><ref name="ihadojo1"/><ref name="wonder-okinawa1"/><ref name="wonder-okinawa2"/><ref name="shorinryushorinkan1"/><ref name="oshukai1"/>

==History==
Chōshin Chibana was a top student of the great master of [[Shuri-te]], [[Ankō Itosu]]. Ankō Itosu was the top student of [[Matsumura Sōkon]], who was a renowned warrior in his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been called the [[Miyamoto Musashi]] of Okinawa and was dubbed ''[[Bushi (warrior)|bushi]]'', or warrior, by his king. However, while Sōkon is often referred to as the "founder" of Shuri-te, he did not invent all of its components. Chōshin Chibana never practiced kobudo. In 1933, Chōshin Chibana chose to name his style Shōrin-ryū in honor of its samurai roots and to differentiate it from other styles that were being modified from the original teachings of Ankō Itosu. Generally, Okinawan karate schools did not have individual names for styles like schools in Japan. Several branches of traditional Shōrin-ryū exist today in both Okinawa and the western world. While there is a more concentrated population of practitioners in its birthplace of Okinawa, Shōrin-ryū Karate has had many high ''[[Dan (rank)|dan]]'' grades outside Okinawa.

== Training ==
Shōrin-ryū is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural (narrow, high) [[Karate stances|stances]], and circular, rather than direct movements. Shōrin-ryū practitioners assert that correct motion, moving quickly to evade violence with fluid movements and flexible positions are important, and that a solid structure is vital for powerful blocks and strikes. Stances that are too deep generally make body movement difficult. Another feature in this system is how the student is taught to [[tsuki|punch]]. Generally, there is neither a horizontal nor vertical punch in Shōrin-ryū. Punches are slightly canted to the inside, with the largest knuckle of the forefinger (third from the tip) in vertical alignment with the second knuckle of the pinky finger. It is believed that this position is key in lining up the bones of the arm and creates a faster, more stable and powerful strike.

==Kata==
Some of the key [[kata]] in Shōrin-ryū are:<ref name="Qbook">{{cite book|last=Cummins|first=William|title=Shōrin-ryū: Okinawan karate question and answer book|year=1984|publisher=Person-to-Person Pub.|location=New York|isbn=9780804814263|edition=1st}}</ref><sup>p.&nbsp;30</sup>

These are Series not truly thought of as 'kata'

*Fukyu Gata (Popular)
**ichi
**ni
**san (in some schools)
*Kihon (Basics)
**shodan 
**nidan
**sandan
**yondan
**godan

<br />Shōrin-ryū Core Kata
*Naihanchi
**shodan
**nidan
**sandan
*Pinan
**shodan
**nidan
**sandan
**yondan
**godan
*Passai
**sho{{efn |name changed for Itosu no Passai in Shidokan and Shinshukan.}}
**dai{{efn |name changed for Matsumura no Passai in Shidokan and Shinshukan.}}
*Gojushiho
*Dai Ni Gojushiho
*Chinto
*Kusanku
**sho
**dai
*Jion

The following Kata are not taught in all Shōrin-ryū systems or dojo 
*Seisan
*Ananku
*[[Wankan]]
*Rohai
*Wanshu
*Gorin
*Koryu Passai
*Teesho
*Ryuko

The study of weapons generally only starts at dan-level, and weapon kata are not standardised across the style.<ref name="Qbook" /><sup>p.&nbsp;45.</sup>

==Branches==
* [[Shorin-Ryu Reihokan]] [[Naonobu Ahagon]]<ref>[http://www.reihokan.com Reihokan Karate]</ref>
* [[Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan]] normally called Shidōkan or Okinawan Shidōkan
* [[Shorinkan]]
* Shorinkan USA Lineage <ref>[http://obikarateschool.com/social/file/view/61/united-states-shorinkan-lineage-chart-original-7 North American Shorin-ryu Shorinkan]</ref>
* [[Shōrin-ryū Seibukan]]
* [[Matsubayashi-ryū]]
* [[Shōrin-ryū Kokau]]
* [[Shōrin-ryū Kyudōkan]] normally called Kyudōkan
* [[Shorin-Ryu Koshinkan]]
* Oshukai<ref>[http://www.oshukai.com/ World Oshukai Dento Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karate Do Kobudo Federation]</ref>
* Chubu Shōrin-ryū<ref name="bishop1"/>
* Shōrin-ryū (Shaolin)<ref name="bishop1"/> also known as Shobayashi.
* Ryukyu Shōrin-ryū<ref name="bishop1"/>
* [[Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū]]
* Yoshudokai Shorin Ryu<ref name="bishop1"/>

==Ranks==
In 1924, [[Gichin Funakoshi]], a contemporary of Chibana and also a disciple of [[Ankō Itosu]], adopted the [[Dan (rank)|Dan system]] from [[judo]] founder [[Kanō Jigorō]] using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors to promote Karate-Do among the Japanese. In 1960, this practice was also adopted in Okinawa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://umablackbelt.com/shorin.html |title=Shorin History |publisher=Umablackbelt.com |access-date=2012-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125070935/http://umablackbelt.com/shorin.html |archive-date=2012-11-25 }}</ref> The specific order of colors varies from organization to organization.

In a [[Kyū|Kyū/Dan]] system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (e.g., 7th Kyū) and progress is toward a lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade karateka are referred to as yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a black belt.

Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks gradually stress proper stances, balance, motion and coordination. Speed, timing, focus and power are examined at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of [[kihon]], [[kumite]], [[kata]], and [[bunkai]] (applications of technique).

== Notable practitioners ==
{{for|practitioners of Shōrin-ryū|Category:Shōrin-ryū practitioners}}
* '''[[Chosin Chibana]]''' (founder)
* [[Kentsu Yabu]]
* [[Joe Lewis (martial artist)]]
* [[Mike Stone (karate)]]
* [[Bill Wallace (martial artist)]]
* [[Jim Kelly (martial artist)]]
* [[Shūgorō Nakazato]]
* [[Kazuo Hoshiyama]]
* [[John Corcoran (martial arts)]]
* [[Tiffany van Soest]]
* [[Tadashi Yamashita]]
* [[Rina Takeda]]
* [[Yukio Sakaguchi]]
* [[Leo Howard]]
* [[Katsuya Miyahira]]
* [[Higa Yuchoku]]
* [[Ankichi Arakaki]]
* [[Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryū|Eizo Shimabukuro]]
* [[Ciriaco Cañete]]
* [[Robert John Burke]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Shōrin-ryū styles}}
{{Karate schools}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shorin-Ryu}}
[[Category:Shōrin-ryū| ]]
[[Category:Shōrin-ryū practitioners| ]]
[[Category:Japanese martial arts]]