Category: Kata Series

We practiced Jitte recently during our senior Saturday class. This kata series serves to extend karateka knowledge about this kata, including its history and development.

Jitte has 27 movements, and is practised as a defence against the bō, a tall, long staff-like weapon used in Okinawa and feudal Japan. It can be roughly translated as “10 techniques”, implying its intention in describing the practitioner fending-off ten adversaries.

The Shotokan style includes one of the few interpretations of the kata as defending against an attack from the bō. There are powerful open-hand techniques, and a multitude of “secret techniques” – techniques adapted from our kihon to describe defence against such a weapon.

Jitte forms part of the Jion kata group. Apart from its name describing the defence against 10 opponents, some believe that the kata is named as such due to its enbusen, or line of movement, mimicking that of a jitte, a specialised weapon used by samurai during the Edo period of Japan’s history.

Jion forms part of the “Jion Kata Group.” This kata group consists of Jion, Ji’in, and Jutte. It is a popular kata choice for competition, particularly because it is a kata that exhibits many of the traditional Shotokan stances:  zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kiba dachi (horse stance). It begins in the kamae of the left hand covering the right, reminiscent of Chinese boxing, from which it is believed the kata origniated.

Whilst little is known about Jion’s true history, it is believed that these katas began life in Chinese “Gung-fu”, moving towards the Japanese islands and further propagated in the Tomari region, where it was taught as part of the Tomari-te school (a branch of Okinawan martial arts taught in the Tomari village). The island of Okinawa is where modern karate began. These katas are referred to as the “Temple katas” because they are believed to have been practised in the Jion Temple, where martial arts were studied.

Meanings

“Jion” means “Mercy”; Ji’in translates as “Inverted Mercy”; and “Jutte” is “Ten Hands,” its mastery being that the practitioner should be able to face ten opponents.

Significance of Jion

Jion is a staple at competitions and examinations. Jion teaches a karateka rotational movements and directional shifts, characterized by its 45˚ movements at the opening, and linear segments that are broken by sharp 90˚ twists. It is an exceptionally basic, yet powerful kata, possessing a sense of grandeur. Nothing is hidden in the kata; it is honest, and should be practiced with such a spirit. The kata has a significant break-point midway through, where the karateka may, in a sense, recompose themselves in anticipation for the final movements of the kata. At this point, the kata seems to pause, setting-up for the explosive forward-momentum movements that drive the defense to its conclusion.

This is the first part of our Kata Series. Let us know which Shotokan katas you’d like to learn more about by leaving a comment below.

In preparation for our new Kata Series feature launching soon on this website, here’s an interesting question:

What is kata?

This quote from SKI founder and director, Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa, illustrates the essence of kata:

 

“Kata practice is not meant for demonstration, but to help us improve through its study our ability in Kumite and later make a practical application in a real encounter. […] the essence of kata is not beauty of the movement but efficiency in the movement. When the performer can communicate the impression of beauty and power and mainly if the same feeling can be projected if viewed from behind, he may claim mastery of the kata.”

– Hirokazu Kanazawa, March 1982

Our kata series launches tomorrow (Friday) with the first selection, Jion. Comment below to tell us which katas you’d like to learn more about.

Kata is an essential part of every karateka’s training. At SKKSA, we place special emphasis on the study of kata as it forms the platform on which our training is based. Without kata, the practice of karate lacks focus. And, after all, kata is as beautiful as poetry, as evidenced by practitioners that compete at the highest levels.

We’re excited to announce a celebration of kata on the SKKSA website. Called “Kata Series”, we will periodically publish a kata and its history and significance.

Karate is not only about learning to kick and punch and defend oneself; it’s about broadening the mind as well. We hope that through this new feature you will gain insight into the katas taught by SKKSA instructors.

Look out for the new feature publishing soon on skksa.co.za!

Get involved in this feature! Comment on this post to let us know which kata you’d like to learn more about.