The Shito-ryu schools use a variety of Kata from the various Okinawan styles. However, the selection of Kata used is not uniform. For example, Ryuei-ryu Kata were only introduced into the Shito-ryu schools' repertoire in the late 1970s. The school of Kenei Mabuni, the eldest son of Kenwa Mabuni and Soke of Mabuni-ha-Shito-ryu, does not include Ryuei-ryu Kata. The Ryuei-ryu Kata are not part of Kenwa Mabuni's original Shito-ryu.

Anker History of Shito-Ryu Until 1922, karate was a secret art in Okinawa, passed on only to family members and select students. In Shuri, the capital at the time, Sokon Matsumura taught Shorin Ryu. One of his students was Yasutsune Itosu, who later introduced karate to elementary schools, thus breaking the secrecy. Another master from Shuri was Gichin Funakoshi, who studied with Anko Azato and Itosu and brought karate to Japan in 1922. Kosaku Matsumora taught in Tomari, a port city near Shuri. Today, the techniques and Kata from Tomari are incorporated into the Shorin Ryu schools in Shuri. However, no distinct Tomari schools are known. Kanryo Higashionna taught a form of karate in Naha that was significantly different from the art practiced in Tomari and Shuri. Kenri Nakaima, the founder of Ruyei-Ryu, also came from Naha. And the Aragaki school was located in Niigaki. Gichin Funakoshi studied Shuri-te under Ankao Azato, but also apparently learned the Kata of Tomari-te before moving to Tokyo and laying the foundation for what is now Shotokan. Funakoshi signed his calligraphy with Shoto, and "Kan" means "house." Chojun Miyagi learned Naha-te from Kanryo Higashionna, went to Osaka, and founded Goju-ryu. Goju means hard and soft; ryu can be translated as direction or style. Kenwa Mabuni learned Shuri-te and Tomari-te from Yasutsune Itosu and Naha-te from Kanryo Higashionna. He also learned the Kata of the Aragaki school and the white crane Kata such as Nipaipo, Haufa, Happoren, and Hakutsuru from the Chinese Go Kenki. Kenwa Mabuni also went to Osaka and founded Shito-ryu there. Shito refers to the nicknames of Itosu (Shishu) and Higashionna (Toonna). The name of the style is thus a tribute to these two masters. It is said that there was a friendship between Kenwa Mabuni and Chojun Miyagi, but Gichin Funakoshi was also a frequent guest of Kenwa Mabuni in his dojo. Among all masters, Mabuni was known for his immense knowledge of Kata. There was probably no other who studied the various Kata with comparable passion and, in addition, developed at least eight of his own. As if that weren't enough, Kenwa Mabuni also studied Kobudo and was one of Shinken Taira's teachers. He is a master who is responsible for the publication, dissemination, and thus "saved" of many old Kobudo Kata. When Kenwa Mabuni died in 1956, the division of Shito-ryu began. Not only did his two sons, Kenzo and Kenei Mabuni, found their own schools, but other Shito-ryu masters also went their own way, modifying the original Shito-ryu as they saw fit or adding elements like those of Ryuei-ryu. Well-known schools today include: Mabuni-ha-Shito-Ryu Seito-Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai Tani-ha-Shito-Ryu Hayashi-ha-Shito-Ryu Hokushin-Shito-Ryu Sukunashi-ha-Shito-Ryu The foundation of Shito-ryu is the authentic Okinawan karate of the Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Naha-te schools of the Aragaki school, and the White Crane school of Go Kenki. This makes Shito-ryu the most comprehensive and versatile karate style of all. With over 60 Kata, Shito-ryu uses more Kata than Shotokan, Goju-ryu, and Wado-ryu combined. Whether it makes sense for a karate style to use so many Kata is, of course, debatable. On the other hand, no one has to master all of these Kata. On the contrary, Shito-ryu offers the practitioner the opportunity to focus on the aspect of karate they find most suitable for them. Given the past, when there was lively contact and exchange between the schools, especially between Mabuni, Miyagi, and Funakoshi, it is a great shame that this was no longer practiced, or only practiced to a limited extent, when karate first began to spread. Just as you can visit foreign countries, you can also attend courses that are open to a particular style without immediately adopting their “nationality.” However, it becomes problematic when Shito-ryu Kata are only superficially learned from other styles and then used in competitions. This very often leads to an incorrect presentation of Shito-ryu kihon, which cannot be recognized by spectators and referees who are not familiar with the peculiarities of Shito-ryu. If this happens repeatedly, this incorrect Shito-ryu will be viewed as the correct one, which can in no way be in the interest of Shito- ryu. This can only be prevented, however, if the athletes in question make a serious effort to learn the authentic Shito-ryu kihon instead of simply practicing the Kata sequences. This naturally applies to other styles, such as Goju-ryu or Shotokan.

Shito-Ryu

Kihon Kata Ichi Kihon Kata Ni Kihon Kata San Kihon Kata Yon Ten no Kata Chi no Kata Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan

Ananko Bassai Dai Bassai Sho Bassai Matsumura Bassai Tomari Chinte Chinto Chinto Tomari Jiin Jion Jitte Kosokun Dai Kosokun Sho Kushanku Matsukaze Naifanchin Shodan Naifanchin Nidan Naifanchin Sandan Rohai Matsumora Rohai Matsumura Rohai Shodan Rohai Nidan Rohai Sandan Seishan Wanshu Wanshu Tomari

Kururunfa Saifa Sanchin Sanseiru Seienchin Seipai Seisan Shisochin Suparimpei Tensho

Gojushiho Niseishi Sochin Unshu

Nipaipo Hakkaku Hakucho Hakufa Hakutsuru Happoren Haufa Shinpa

Aoyagi Happo Sho Juroku Kensho Kenshu Myojo Shinsei Shiho Kosokun

Anan Heiku Pachu Paiho Paiku