Isshin-ryu Karate
一心流空手道An Okinawan style founded in 1956 by Tatsuo Shimabuku. It is known for the vertical fist with the thumb on top and for blocks made with muscle, not forearm bone.
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About Isshin-ryu Karate
Isshin-ryu was founded on Okinawa in 1956 by Tatsuo Shimabuku (1908–1975). The name means "one-heart school" and reflects his aim of joining the best of the two lineages he had trained in: Shorin-ryu under Kyan Chotoku and Goju-ryu under Miyagi Chojun. The school is recognisable at a glance by two things. First, the vertical fist with the thumb laid on top, which Shimabuku introduced in place of the usual turned fist; the punch is shorter, faster and does not need the forearm rotation to complete. Second, blocks made with the muscled side of the forearm rather than the bone, on the reasoning that muscle takes impact better. Strikes snap and recover rather than pushing through. The kata syllabus is Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, Sanchin and Sunsu — the last being Shimabuku's own kata, assembled from the elements he considered most valuable. Kobudo with bo, sai and tonfa is part of the curriculum. The school's spread beyond Okinawa has a concrete cause: US Marines stationed on the island trained in it and taught it on returning home, so Isshin-ryu remains strongest in the United States. Its emblem is Mizu Gami, the water goddess figure from Shimabuku's dream.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.