Chinto

The following is a description of how this Chito Ryu kata is performed at Grand River Karate and 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.

Begin with the standard Chito Ryu kata opening, ending in kiba dachi ("horse" or straddle stance).

  1. Bring your left foot in, then forward into a wide, low, right back stance (left foot is as in cat stance), with your right fist under your left fist at your right hip.
  2. Slowly bring your left hand up in an overhand arc in shuto towards the North until your fingertips are level with your shoulder.
  3. Sharply drop your left foot flat to floor, while simultaneously raising your right heel off the floor (as in cat stance) and striking directly to your rear with a right nukite.
  4. Slowly bring your right hand up in an overhand arc in shuto towards the North until your arms form an open-hand cross block, turning your hips to the front as you move.
  5. As your arms touch, pull both your hands and your left leg back into chamber position, then, using a stomping left step, slide North into kiba dachi, hips facing East while looking and punching to your North opponent's middle.
  6. Sharply shift from kiba dachi into a reverse front stance, without lifting your feet, look South, with your left hand in an upper vertical block, and your right hand in a low block.
  7. Pivot 180 degrees on your right foot by swinging your left foot around into left front stance. End facing North, with your left hand in a low block.
  8. Shuffle back a half-step, followed by a left low closed-hand cross-block (starting from your right shoulder, ending in low block position over your left knee, right hand over left). Re-chamber your hands and do a high closed-hand cross-block, followed by double inner-arm block, with your hands ending up level with your hips, away from your body.
  9. Perform a jumping front kick (jump up with your right foot and kick with your left). Kiai on the kick and continue it through the next move.
  10. As you land in a left front stance, do a closed-hand cross-block (as in step 8).
  11. Immediately pivot on your right foot 180 degrees to the South into a left front stance and perform another low left closed-hand cross-block.
  12. Shift your left foot into kiba dachi, facing West, and perform a left-hand bow and arrow punch (left hand moves in arc across your body about chest height) with your right hand in chamber. Snap your left hand back to chamber position while your right hand punches straight out from your right side to the North. Look towards the North.
  13. Do a full step to your right and turning clockwise into kiba dachi to face East, punch with your left hand to the North again.
  14. Open your hand into a vertical shuto, palm facing East.
  15. Bring your left hand around to the East (behind your opponent's head). Pull your left hand in and perform a right elbow strike to your opponent's head.
  16. Trap your opponent's arms against your upper thighs with a sharp double palm-block (left hand to left leg, right hand to right leg). In performance, this looks like slapping your thighs.
  17. Perform a double inside middle block with your left hand in a fist and your right in a claw-hand, palms facing forward in both cases.
  18. Bring your right hand to your left elbow.
  19. Bring your left hand to your right elbow.
  20. Perform a double palm-block, as in step 16, above.
  21. Move into a "crowfoot" or hooked-leg stance, with your right foot behind your left, left hand performing a high block to the East, your right hand performing a middle block to the South.
  22. Step with your left foot back into kiba dachi. Perform a double palm-block, as in step 16, above.
  23. Twist clockwise into a hooked stance, facing South, with your left hand performing middle block to the South, and your right hand a high block to the West.
  24. Shift into sanchin dachi, right leg slightly forward, facing South, hands in fists on your hips.
  25. Perform a left front kick, stepping through.
  26. Perform a right front kick, stepping through.
  27. Turning counter-clockwise, perform a right-hand bow and arrow punch. (Right hand moves in a chest-high arc with left hand in chamber, right hand returns to chamber while left hand punches straight out from left side.) Land in a left front stance.
  28. Open your left hand so that palm is down.
  29. Slowly turn your left hand so that thumb side is up (with tension, breathing out).
  30. Perform a right crescent kick to your left hand, immediately turning over in the air. Land flat on both hands and feet, right foot close to the middle of your body, with your right knee bent and your left leg stretched out. Stay as close to the ground as possible.
  31. Look East, then West, then North. Stand up into left back stance (your right foot will be in front from the jump) facing North and block to the front with a right hand shuto block.
  32. Step forward with your left foot into a right back stance, striking with a left shuto strike.
  33. Punch with a right-hand reverse punch in left front stance.
  34. Turn your right hand over into a vertical shuto. Thrust your left hand forward in a vertical shuto, grab your opponent's head and turn 90 degrees clockwise into a front stance, facing East, turning your hands, palms open, as if holding a ball, so that your left hand is on top, about shoulder level. Kiai, continuing through the next step.
  35. Snap back into a left front stance, facing North, with your right hand now on top.
  36. Bring your right foot forward, feet together, knees bent.
  37. Close.