Isshinryu is an awesome style!

[isshinryu5toforever]

The required kata are:

Seisan

Seiuchin

Naihanchi

Wansu

Chinto

Kusanku

Sunsu

Sanchin (this would be the, you get beat with a stick kata that Joesteph referred to)

Weapons:

Tokomeni no Kun

Urashi-Bo

Shi Shi no kun

Kusanku Sai

Chatan Yara no Sai

Hama Higa no Tuifa and Kyan Sai are not part of everyone's curriculum.

Now, you can learn the motions in 32 hours, but there's not way you'd be good enough to pass a black belt test. Everyone has different standards, but even if you only need to learn the 8 empty hand katas to advance to shodan, I just don't see how it's possible in 32 lessons. This is my 18th year as a student of Isshinryu Karate, and I've never seen anyone get their black belt in less than 5 years, unless they were studying at a McDojo.

[KarateOx]

The only kata taught in the Isshinryu system are:

Seisan

Seiuchin

Naihanchi

Wansu

Chinto

Kusanku

Sunsu

Sanchin

Weapons:

Tokomeni no Kun

Urashi-Bo

Shi Shi no kun

Kusanku Sai

Chatan Yara no Sai

That's it folks. There are no more katas in the system. Of course I am talking about Tatsuo Shimabuko's Isshinryu Karate. As with most styles, additions are made per school. For example, coming up the ranks, we were taught Pion 1 and two, between the basics and Seisan kata. However, these were NOT Isshinryu kata. They were taught by Joel Jennings as a bridge between the basics and the kata. Same with the Nunchuku and tonfa katas. These are NOT Isshinryu kata. Anything any school adds is ok for the school. I see nothing wrong with this, if it helps the students learn, then it's all good. However, because a school adds it does not make it Isshinryu. I started training in Isshinryu in 1982, and didn't get my sho-dan until 1990. I got my ni-dan about 5 years later, and stopped accepting promotions. As someone on here said, the belt is really pointless. I'd rather get the knowledge then the acknowledgment, you know? I have been to many school in many places, and seen what they teach as Isshinryu, and it makes me shake my head. Additions are fine, but subtractions are not, and I have seen this as well.

Actually, if you want to get technical, there is only ONE Isshinryu kata, and that is Sunnsu, since all the others are modified versions from other styles. LOL. However, yes, there are only 13 kata in Isshinryu. 8 empty hand kata, and 5 weapon kata.

[KarateCroft]

I study Isshinryu and I can tell you that you cannot earn a black belt that quickly. You wouldn't even really be "earning" it IMHO. I am a brown belt and have been training for two years, however, I have put in much more training time in the dojo than most but I still have a ways to go to black belt. As we all know, in Karate, Isshinryu or any style of martial arts, your goal should not be one of getting the next belt. Also, we all know there are "McDojos" of black belt mills outs there handing Black belts out left and right.

There are 8 empty hand katas and 7 weapons katas as well as three weapons vs katas (bo vs bo, sai vs bo, etc.)

[barrypardue]

had a friend who said he studied it not sure though he didnt even know what a kata was

[sensei8]

had a friend who said he studied it not sure though he didnt even know what a kata was

Red flag!!

[Lupin1]

had a friend who said he studied it not sure though he didnt even know what a kata was

Unless he only studied it for a few days, that's surprising to hear. Isshinryu is very kata-focused.

[cheesefrysamurai]

Im taking goju and though I have the movements down, i wont master the sanchin kata alone in 32 hours

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