Curriculum of Shito-Ryu

CURRICULUM OF SHITO-RYU - KYOJU YOKU

The original Shito-Ryu curriculum as devised by Kenwa Mabuni in the late 1920's is presented below. This curriculum remained unknown to the general public until 1995 when Kenzo Mabuni presented it to his newly acquired students during his month long stay in New York and Massachusetts. With the invaluable assistance of a Japanese student attending the University of New York at Albany, Sensei's Dudley Moon and Gary McGuinness translated the contents of the curriculum into English as accurately and meaningful as possible. This translation is contained below.

The Essential Curriculum of Shito Ryu Karate Do

A. Hand and Foot Weapons

0. Seiken
1. Dai Ken To
2. Sho Ken To
3. Kentsui
4. Uraken
5. Nukite
6. Shuto
7. Shotei
8. Ippon Ken
9. Shuho
10. Urashuto
11. Yubi Hasami
12. Hira Basami
13. Kote
14. Koken
15. Hiji
16. Hiza
17. Koshu
18. Soko
19. Josokute
20. Kasokute
21. Sokuto

Knuckle(fore) fist
Large knuckles of hand
Second knuckles of hand
Hammerfist
Backfist
Spearhand
Sword (knife) hand
Palm heel
One knuckle, one point fist
Mountain hand (back two knuckles of a peaked hand)
Inverted sword hand (ridge hand)
Thumb and forefinger scissors
Full hand scissors
Back of hand/forearm
Wrist
Elbow
Knee
Back of heel
Instep
Ball of foot
Heel
Outer edge of foot

B. Stances

1. Heisoku Dachi
2. Musubi Dachi
3. Namiheiko Dachi
4. Uchihachiji Dachi
5. Sotohachiji Dachi
6. Shiko Dachi
7. Heiko Dachi
8. Zenkutsu Dachi
9. Kokutsu Dachi
10. Nekoashi Dachi
11. Renoji Dachi
12. Kosa Dachi

Feet together, close-toed stance
Feet together, open-toed stance
Parallel stance
Inner figure eight stance
Outer figure eight stance
Sumo (side facing, square) stance
Forward parallel stance
Forward (bent leg) stance
Back (bent leg) stance
Cat feet stance
Tilted 'V' stance (standing cat stance)
Crossed leg stance

C. Thrusting Techniques

1. Seiken Tsuki
2. Tateken Tsuki
3. Uraken Tsuki
4. Hiraken Tsuki
5. Morote Tsuki
6. Age Tsuki
7. Furi Tsuki
8. Wa Zsuki
9. Ipponken
10. Nukite

Forefist thrust
Vertical forefist thrust
Inverted forefist thrust
Four knuckle thrust (leopard punch)
Two arm, two level thrust
Rising thrust
Round house thrust
Two arm, horizontal circle thrust
One knuckle thrust
Spear hand

D. Stiking Techniques

1. Shuto Uchi
2. Kentsui Uchi
3. Uraken Uchi
4. Urashuto
5. Shuho
6. Hijiate

Sword hand (knife edge) strike
Bottom fist strike (hammer fist)
Back knuckle strike
Inverted sword hand (ridge hand)
Mountain hand (back knuckles of a peaked hand)
Elbow smash

E. Leg Techniques

1. Soko Geri
2. Chudan Geri
3. Jodan Geri
4. Hiza Geri
5. Fumioroshi
6. Sokuto Geri
7. Yoko Geri
8. Mawashi Geri
9. Koshu Geri
10. Hizagaeshi
11. Josokutei
12. Kasokutei

Instep kick
Ball of foot forward, middle area kick
Ball of foot forward, upper area kick
Knee kick
Toe stomping kick
Side, knife edge, lower area (knee level) kick
Side, knife edge, middle area kick
Roundhouse, instep, middle area kick
Heel back rising kick
Knee sweeping across kick
Ball of the foot
Heel of the foot

F. Upper Level Blocking Techniques

1. Age Uke
2. Yoko Uchi
3. Uchiotoshi
4. Yoko Barai
5. Wa Uke
6. Tsuki Uke
7. Kosa Uke

8. Kote Uke
9. Sashite
10. Kara Uke
11. Ko Uke
12. Kuri Uke

Rising block
Forearm inward block
Inside out circle forearm drop block
Forearm outward side parry
Two arm circle block
Thrust block
Crossed arms block
a. closed hands, palms toward front
b. open hands, palms away from each other to side
Back of hand block
Inward sweeping palm block
Empty or Void block
Wrist block
Inside out, circle block with knife edge of hand

G. Middle Level Blocking Techniques

1. Yoko Uke
2. Harai Uke
3. Wa Uke
4. Kosa Uke
5. Ninoude
6. Shotei Barai
7. Gassho Uke
8. Ura Uke
9. Kensasae Uke
10. Kakete
11. Hiji Uke
12. Oura Uke
13. Yoko Uchi
14. Yoko Barai
15. Ukenagashi
16. Kote Uke
17. Ko Uke
18. Sukui Uke
19. Shuto Uke
20. Hijisasae Uke
21. Hirayuki
22. Kakiwake
23. Tsukidome

Forearm outward side block
Middle area downward parry
Two arm circular block
Crossed arms block (palms downward)
Back of forearm (hirakote) inward block
Palm heel block
Praying hands block
Inverted block (small circle with wrist)
Two hand outward block, open hand support at fist
Hooking hand block
Elbow block
Large circle inverted forearm block
Forearm inward block
Forearm outward side parry
Inward palm sweeping block
Back of hand block
Wrist block
Scooping block
Sword hand block
Two hand outward block, closed fist at elbow
Two hand knife edge pushing block
Wedge block
Withdrawing forearm block (after thrust)

H. Lower Level Blocking Techniques

1a. Harai Uke
1b. Gedan Barai
2. Shuto Barai
3. Ryote Sukui Uke
4. Katate Sukui Uke
5. Furisute
6. Wa Uke
7. Sukuidome
8. Kosa Uke
9. Hizagaeshi

Downward block (when standing)
Downward parry (when in deep stances)
Sword hand parry
Two hand scooping block
One hand scooping block
Scoop and throw block
Two arm circular block
Scoop and catch block
Crossed arms block
Knee sweeping across block

Special Training Concepts of Shito Ryu Karate

1. Tenshin Happo

Eight Directions of Response

		2. Hijiate Goho	Five Direction Elbow Strike Exercise
		3. Tenpo Gosoku no Ho	Five Methods of Body Shifting

Deasi
Hikiashi
Yoriashi
Mawariashi
Tobiashi

stepping straight in
stepping straight back
shuffling
spinning
jumping/springing

4. Uke no Gogenri

Five Methods of Defense

Rakka
Ryusui
Teni
Kusshin
Hangeki

pulling or moving the attack downward
moving the attack to the side
body shifting away from the attack
lowering the center of gravity
meeting the attack with a counterattack

5. Kumite

Engaging techniques with a partner

		Kihon Kumite	(Basic Kumite)
		Ippon Nihon Sanbon Hukushiki Kumite Kata	Single attack, one step Two predefined attacks, one step Three predefined attacks, one step Walking attacks Practicing applications of kata

		Oyo Kumite	(Application Kumite)
		Hokei Mawari Jiyu Ippon Jiyu	Four attackers Circle of attackers Free style, one step Free style


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