Kata of Chito-Ryu Karate

Compared to many other styles, Chito-ryu has relatively few kata. O Sensei learned a great number of kata over his life from many different teachers. When he decided to design his own system, however, he chose to bring into it only kata which would promote the principles he had decided should form the basis for proper training. He also removed techniques from some kata, where these techniques were repeated several times. For this reason, many of the Chito-ryu kata are shorter than similar ones in other styles.

The sequence you learn kata in Chito-ryu is not an accident. It is structured so that you first learn basic techniques and principles, and then move on to more advanced skills. In this way you are building skills while you are practicing one kata, that are based on previous kata and at the same time you are preparing yourself for the more difficult techniques you will learn in the next kata. To make the kata easier to learn it will normally contain some techniques and principles found in the previous kata you were taught.

The kata in Chito-ryu are distinguished first and foremost by being very different from each other when compared to the curriculum of other styles. In Chito-ryu a progression is in place where your technical skills improve as you practice, get better, and move to more advanced kata. Typically the lower kata contains techniques that are forceful and that use fists, while the higher kata are more based on soft and flowing techniques using open hands.

A problem when comparing kata from different ryu, is the understanding of what the Japanese word "kata" really means. It is common to understand kata as set pattern of karate techniques, and if this pattern is changed, it is not the same kata any more. However, this might not be a very insightful interpretation of how the word kata can be used. On a slightly deeper level of understanding, one can say that the word kata represents one or more principles of how to deal with an opponent, or one or more training doctrines to prepare for this. In this way we can say that a particular kata represents a certain model or strategy of how to deal with the problems of facing a hostile situation - for example evasion by dropping down (Kusanku), counterattacking by strong defense (Seisan) or attacking before the attacker has completed his attack (Ryushan).

With the latter understanding in mind, we can see that one kata can have different forms or combinations of techniques depending on the style and still represent the same principles. It is then our challenge to grasp the models that are present in each kata and express these when we perform the techniques of the kata.

When practicing kata in this manner, kata becomes more meaningful in relation to application and self-defense. You can apply the strategies from different kata into the practice of bunkai and kumite. Training bunkai should be a laboratory situation for you to test which strategy works best in certain situations and against certain opponents and how you must apply your strategies to make them work.

It must be understood that the above interpretation of kata can be applies to other dogma in the study of karate. For example dachi - do you think that seisan-dachi is a fixed, predetermined way to place your feet on the floor. Or could it be better understood as a principle of how to use your body in order to achieve maximum mobility and strength in your waza?

In Chito-ryu each kata has its own characteristics and its own history. On the next page is a little information about the background of the Chito-ryu kata.

Origins of Chito-Ryu Kata
Soke Cup 2007 - Bergen, Norway