Shi Ho Hai

This Chito Ryu kata is performed at Grand River Karate. The following should not be taken as describing all relevant details in the kata. Your sensei will instruct you in the finer points.

N.B. The compass directions relate to "North" as being the direction faced when starting the kata.

Yoi. Assume the standard Chito Ryu kata opening position:

  1. Bow and move to shizen-tai (natural stance).
  2. Perform migi ashi nami-gaeshi ("returning wave" groin block sole kick, using the right leg) and land in kiba dachi ("horse" or straddle stance) facing North, while executing horan no kamae (the "egg in the nest" hidden fist) head-to-groin block.
  1. Perform migi ashi nami-gaeshi, pivoting counter-clockwise on the left foot and land in kiba dachi facing West while executing migi chudan tsuki (right middle straight punch), pulling hand hidari ken hidari koshi (left fist at left side, chambered position), with kiai (yell).
  2. Pivot counter-clockwise on the right foot while performing hidari ashi nami-gaeshi and land in kiba dachi facing South while executing hidari chudan tsuki (left middle straight punch) and migi ken migi koshi (right fist at right side, chambered position), with kiai.
  3. Pivot counter-clockwise on the left foot while performing migi ashi nami-gaeshi and land in kiba dachi facing East while executing migi chudan tsuki and hidari ken hidari koshi, with kiai.
  4. Pivot counter-clockwise on the right foot while performing hidari ashi nami-gaeshi and land in kiba dachi facing North while executing hidari chudan tsuki and migi ken migi koshi, with kiai. This should return you to your starting position.
  5. Bring the right leg back behind the left leg into hidari ashi mae kosa dachi (left foot in front, cross-legged stance) while performing migi uchi uke (right inside middle `block) facing East.
  6. Perform migi chudan mae geri (right middle front kick) and land in hidari kokutsu dachi (left back stance) with the hips facing Northeast.
  7. Punch across the body to the East with hidari chudan tsuki (left middle punch).
  8. Simultaneously shift to kiba dachi, hips facing North while punching to the East with migi chudan yoko zuki (right side middle punch).
  9. Bring the left leg back behind the right leg into migi ashi mae kosa dachi (right foot in front, cross-legged stance) while performing hidari uchi uke (left inside middle block) facing West.
  10. Perform hidari chudan mae geri (left middle front kick) and land in migi kokutsu dachi (right back stance) with the hips facing Northwest.
  11. Punch across the body to the West with migi chudan tsuki (right middle punch).
  12. Simultaneously shift to kiba dachi, hips facing North while punching to the West with hidari chudan yoko zuki (left side middle punch).
  13. Block the groin area with migi hittsui uke (right front knee block) while performing migi gedan barai (right low sweeping block), with left fist hidari ken hidari koshi.
  14. Perform migi yoko geri (right side kick), covering your ribs with a chambered right fist, and land in kiba dachi, hips facing North, with ryo ken ryo kamae (both fists chambered "ready" position).
  15. Block the groin area with hidari hittsui uke (left front knee block) while performing hidari gedan barai (left low block), with right fist migi ken migi koshi.
  16. Perform hidari yoko geri (left side kick), covering your ribs with a chambered left fist, and land in kiba dachi, hips facing North, with ryo ken ryo kamae.
  17. Pivot clockwise on the left foot to face East and land in shiko dachi (square or sumo stance), blocking to the rear (South) with migi uchi uke and punching across your body with hidari chudan tsuki.
  18. Drop into a low kiba dachi and do migi gedan tsuki (right low or groin punch) with kiai. Hold for a moment.
  19. Bring the right foot in and pivot clockwise on the left foot to face West. Land in shiko dachi (square or sumo stance), blocking to the North with migi uchi uke and punching across your body with hidari chudan tsuki.
  20. Drop into a low kiba dachi and do migi gedan tsuki (right low or groin punch) with kiai. Hold for a moment.
  21. Pivot on the left foot and turn clockwise back into shizen-tai (natural stance).
  22. Yame. (Close and bow out.)

Embusen