Okinawan karate: Shorin-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Genseiryu, Ryu-te, Ryuei-ryu, Shuri-ryu, Shorin-ryu Shidokan, Makiwara, Shorin-ryu Kyudokan, Matsubayashi-ryu, Shorin-ryu Kishaba Juku, Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame, Shobayashi Shorin-ryu

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 24. Chapters: Shorin-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Genseiryu, Ryu-te, Ryuei-ryu, Shuri-ryu, Shorin-ryu Shidokan, Makiwara, Shorin-ryu Kyudokan, Matsubayashi-ryu, Shorin-ryu Kishaba Juku, Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame, Shobayashi Shorin-ryu, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Hojo undo, Motobu-ryu, Toon-ryu, United Isshin-ryu Karate Association, Shorin-ryu Shorinkan, Shorin-ryu Seibukan, Shorei-ryu. Excerpt: Isshin-Ryu Isshin-ryu) is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku (¿¿ ¿¿) and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryu karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryu karate, Goju-ryu karate, and kobudo. The name means, literally, "one heart method". As of 1989 there are 336 branches of Isshin-ryu throughout the world, most of which are concentrated in the United States. The system is summed up in its kata, or formal practice methods, and the specific techniques used to punch (vertical fist) and kick (snapping kicks). In many of the various forms of the system, sixteen kata (eight empty-hand, three bo, two sai a bo-bo kumite kata, a bo-sai kumite kata and one tuifa kata) are agreed upon as composing Isshin-ryu. These Kata include original developments of the Master, and inherited kata from the parent styles. Megami ("the Goddess"), the symbol of Isshin-ryu designed by A. J. Advincula with the permission of Shimabuku. Tatsuo Shimabuku learned Seisan from his primary instructor, Chotoku Kyan. Previous to Kyan's instruction, the Seisan form was a staple of local traditions. This kata is sometimes the first introduced to students after the First and Second Charts of basics have been learned. This is in contrast to other Shorin systems where this kata is learned after other fundamental kata. The Goju-ryu curriculum includes a related version of Seisan, but Isshin-ryu Seisan was learned from Kyan, not Miyagi. This kata was brought into Isshinryu from Shimabuku's studies with the Goju-ryu Ryu founder, Chojun Miyagi. It is theorized by researchers that this kata is an original composed by Miyagi, based on his experiences in Fuzhou, China. The kata focuses on the stance "shiko-dachi", a low horse stance. The kata is broken into segments, each utilizing a specific breathing and muscle-tensing method. The kata has no obvious kicks, but one section contains hints of a rising knee strike. This kata is often studied for its grappling bunkai. Megami ("the Goddess"),