Chinto Kata
This kata is said to have been taught to Matsumura Sokon by a Chinese name Chinto, but this legend cannot be corroborated. According to a 1914 newspaper article by Funakoshi Gichen (Founder of Shotokai Karate, 1967-1957, and Shotokan Karate Dojo - from which modern Shotokan style comes), based upon the talks of his teacher, Asato Anko (1827-1906), student of Matsumora Sokon):
Those who received instruction from a castaway from Annan
In Fushou, include: Gusukuma and Kanagusuku (Chinto),
Matsumura and Oyadomari (Chinte), Yamasato (Jiin) and Na-
Kasato (Jitte) all of Tomari (Okinawa), who learned the kata
Separately. The reason being that their teacher was in a hurry
To return to his home country.” (sic, Shoto, 1914).
I believe that the `Matsumura” in the above excerpt is a misspelling of Matsumora Kosaku, of Tomari, a well-known karate master. The fact that Matsumora Kosaku might have studied this kata, is evidenced by his being purported to know it and to have taught it himself (Kinjo, 1999).
Now, what exactly is Chinto? There appears a form called Chen Tou in Mandarin Chinese (in Japanese, Chinto, literally “Sinking the Head”) in Wu Zho Quan (a.k.a. Ngo Cho Kuen, “Five Ancestors' Fists”), which was a style popular in the Quanzhou and Shamen (Amoy) districts of Fujian (Kin-jo, 1999). Chen Tou refers to sinking the boy and protecting the head. In the Okinawan Chinto kata, this is the first technique, but in the Five Ancestors' Fists, it is the last (Kinjo, 1999). However, this being said, I have yet to see the Chen Tou form to make a comparative analysis. It is, however, worthy of further investigation.
There are 3 distinct “families” of Chinto in Modern Okinawan Karate: Matsumura/Itosu lineage (performed front to back), Matsumora Kosaku lin-eage (performed side to side), and Kyan Chotoku lineage (performed on a 45 degree angle). Looking at technical content, we can see that the Matsumora and Kyan versions are nearly identical, which is only natural since Kyan learned this from Matsumora. In our style, we do Chinto on the 45° angle.
KL= Kata line forward on 45 degrees to left of 2, 3, 4, 5, 46 & 47, RL=Reverse line position
1. Yasame (Hidari Seisan Dachi)
2. Kaiyudske
3. Rei
4. Open...
5. Announce, "Kata Chinto"
6. Look 45 degrees to left and take left Neko Ashi Dachi (KL) extending left hand forward and right arm backward
7. Chamber back into Hidari Neko Ashi Dachi with "X" sighting with hands
8. Catch punch, grasp sleeve (rt), Hidari Uraken Seiu Uchi
9. Migi Seiken Zuki
10. "Magami" pose
11. Pivot on rt. foot 360 degrees KL into Hidari Seisan with Hidari Gedan Barai Uke
12. Chamber back into Hidari Neko Ashi Dachi using "X" sighting with hands
13. Fake Migi Mae Geri and execute Hidari Mae Geri, coming down into Hidari Seisan, "X" sighting pushes down into Fisted X-block
14. Pivot on rt foot 180 degrees (RL) into Hidari Seisan with Fisted X-block downward.
15. Chamber rt foot back to Pivot 180 degrees (KL) into Migi Lunge Tsuki.
16. Advance into Hidari Lunge Tsuki
17. Execute Migi Empi Uchi
18. Double circular move into Kamae
19. Look back rt, chamber pivot 180 degrees (RL) to rt Seisan and perform double Shuto Uchi (one above the other: neck & rib)
20. Grab opponent, swing 180 degrees into Migi Seiuchin (KL), exaggerating the swing over the left shoulder, then throw forward (KL)
21. Rechamber into Migi Seisan with Morote Shuto Uchi to the clavicles.
22. Rechamber into Migi Seiuchin with Morote Seiken Zuki Uke down
23. Chamber to Migi Seisan with backhand strike to temple
24. Deliver Hidari Hammer Fist into palm (still Migi Seisan on KL)
25. Pivoting on left foot, chamber rt 180 degrees (RL) into Migi Seisan with Migi reenforced Migi Hammer Fist Uke
26. Wind rt foot behind left, (still RL) into Chinto Dachi with Hidari Samurai Haircut.
27. Wnwind into rt Seiuchin (RL) with Morote Tzuki down
28. Step forward into Migi Chinto Dachi with Right Double Chinese Block
29. Step forward into Hidari Seisan with opposite chinese blocks to #27
30. 360 degrees on rt foot (back to RL) into Hidari Seisan with Hidari Gedan Barai Uke
31. Withdraw rt foot to rear, 180 degrees to Chinto Dachi on Kata Line with Morote Ude Uke (like from Seisan Kata)
32. Step to Migi Seiuchin with Migi Empi Uchi
33. Morote Seiken Zuki Uke down
34. Migi Chinto Dachi with Morote Ude Uke
35. Chamber both hands
36. Execute Hidari Mae Geri to Hidari Seisan
37. Advance quickly to Migi Seisan lunge punch
38. Chamber left back to Seiuchin with Morote Kagi Tsuki to ribs
39. Wind rt leg behind left (Rt Chinto Dachi) (still KL) for Hidari Samurai Haircut
40. Chamber both hands, Migi Mae Geri to Migi Seisan, then...
41. Reverse stance by winding left foot backward 180 degrees into left foot behind rt foot Chinto Dachi with Migi Samurai Haircut (Now on RL)
42. Chamber both hands
43. Hidari Mae Geri into Hidari Seisan
44. Hidari Shuto Uchi against leg then lift up opponents right leg with left hand. Begin Kiai with leg lift. Smash leg with Right Tetsui Tsuki into left palm.
45. Step forward into deep Migi Zenkutsu Dachi with Hidari Seiken Tsuki to groin.
46. Lifting rt foot, spring up and reverse position 135 degrees to Kata Line Front Facing.
47. End Kata... Bow Out.
