This Saturday we introduce kata Jiin. Having many similarities to Jion, Jiin is most likely another kata inspired by the teachings of a Buddhist temple in China, and therefore is sometimes translated to mean “Temple Grounds”. Other interpret the meaning as “Love and Shadows”.
Trio Jion, Jiin and Jitte and considered to be a family, since they all begin in the “Ming salutation” posture (palm over fist). Consisting of 35 movements, there are not many frills or complexities in Jiin, although it is usually a kata reserved for grading senior levels 3rd or 4th Dan up.
The signature technique of Jiin is ‘Chudan uchi-uke doji ni gedan-barai’, which of course is a ‘simultaneous mid-level inside outward reception and downward sweep’. This technique is the first action of the kata and is repeated for a total of five times in Jiin.
More importantly four of these times are in zenkutsu-dachi with the uchi-uke being executed with rear arm. This is unique to this kata, yet has some relationship to Kanku Sho and Gojushiho Sho; albeit, their respective rear arm uchi-uke are to the side and, also, utilizing kokutsu-dachi.
This is a kata usually only practiced from Sandan level, as it requires a great deal of attention to detail, and flawless execution. The simplicity of its techniques belies the fact that they all allude to actual self defense applications hence the reference to “shadowing” in the name.
