Shitō-Ryū Kata:  Jion (寺恩 or 慈恩)

 

Jion (寺恩, or alternatively 慈恩 "compassion and blessings") is considered to be an Itosu-kei kata, meaning that it was either created or primarily passed down by Itosu Ankō.  It has been long believed—or at least presumed—that the kata Jiin, Jion, and Jitte were a set or series, since they share a few common movements and their names all begin with the sound "ji."  However, the kanji making the "ji" sound in each of these names are different (慈 [compassion] in Jiin, 時 [temple] in Jion, and 十 [ten] in Jitte), so many 21st century researchers now doubt this theory.  Little is known of its origins, other than it is either from the Shuri-te  or Tomari-te lineage and is presumed to be quite ancient, although no documentation has been found to indicate that it predates Matsumura Sōkon, and some researchers believe it was created by Itosu Ankō.  Written as 寺恩, the name means "Temple Blessings," which is one popular interpretation.  The other popular version is 慈恩, which is the name of an ancient temple located in northern Japan, which seems an unlikely source for the name of an Okinawan karate kata.  For that reason, we currently interpret the meaning as "Temple Blessings" at the Seishin-Kan—a reference to tranquility, contemplation, mercy, and refuge offered by a temple.  The video presented below was filmed at the Jikishin-Kai hombu dōjō in San Diego, featuring David Bertrand Sensei.

Jion Description

After bowing and announcing the name of the kata ("Jion") ...

Yōi (cross open hands at groin level in musubi dachi) and kiyomeri kokyū (purification breaths)
Draw feet into heisoku dachi while hands perform kote mawashi at chest level   

  1 Step back with left foot into migi zenkutsu dachi with migi-te ue hasami uke (right hand jōdan)
  2 Step 45 degrees to left-front into hidari neko-ashi dachi with kakiwake uke
  3 Migi-ashi choku geri, landing in migi han-zenkutsu dachi with junzuki, followed by a gyaku-zuki and junzuki combination
  4 Pivot 90 degrees to the right into into migi neko-ashi dachi with kakiwake uke,
  5 Hidari-ashi choku geri, landing in hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with junzuki, followed by a chūdan gyaku-zuki and junzuki combination
  6 Shift left foot 45 degrees left into hidari zenkutsu dachi with hidari age uke and gyaku-zuki
  7 Step forward into migi zenkutsu dachi with migi age uke and chūdan gyaku-zuki
  8 Step forward into hidari zenkutsu dachi with hidari age uke, then immediately step forward into migi zenkutsu dachi with chūdan oizuki and kiai
  9 Turn 270 degrees left into hidari kōkutsu dachi with manji uke
  10 Shift into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi, drawing the right foot forward and perform gyaku-zuki
  11 Slide the left foot forward and pivot 180 degrees right into migi kōkutsu dachi with manji uke
  12 Shift into migi han-zenkutsu dachi, drawing the left foot forward and perform gyaku-zuki
  13 Step 90 degrees to the left into shiko dachi with hidari yoko gedan barai
  14 Step forward with the right foot,  turning 180 degrees right into shiko dachi with migi sukui uke
  15 Step forward with the left foot,  turning 180 degrees left into shiko dachi with hidari sukui uke
16 Step forward with the right foot,  turning 180 degrees right into shiko dachi with migi sukui uke
  17 Turn 270 degrees left into hidari kōkutsu dachi with hidari gedan barai
  18 Shift into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi, drawing the right foot forward and perform simultaneous hidari yoko uke and gyaku-zuki
  19 Slide the left foot forward and pivot 180 degrees right into migi kōkutsu dachi with migi gedan barai
  20 Shift into migi han-zenkutsu dachi, drawing the left foot forward and perform simultaneous migi yoko uke and gyaku-zuki
  21 Turn 90 degrees left whilst drawing the right foot into heisoku dachi with morote hikite
  22 Lunge forward into migi kōsa dachi with gedan kōsa uke, then immediately step back with left foot into migi zenkutsu dachi with morote yoko kentsui uchi at shoulder level
  23 Step forward into hidari neko-ashi dachi with morote yoko uke
  24 Step forward into migi neko-ashi dachi with jōdan kōsa uke, followed immediately by soete migi gedan barai, gyaku gedan barai with right hand poised to strike, and soete migi jōdan ura-ken uchi and kiai
  25 Turn 270 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with yoko uke
  26 Step forward into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with chūdan oizuki
  27 Turn 180 degrees right into migi neko-ashi dachi with yoko uke
    Step forward into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with chūdan oizuki
  28 Step 90 degrees to the left with the left foot into shiko dachi with hidari yoko gedan barai
  29 Step forward with the right foot,  turning 180 degrees right into shiko dachi with migi uchi kentsui uchi to jōdan
  30 Step forward with the left foot,  turning 180 degrees left into shiko dachi with hidari uchi kentsui uchi to jōdan
  31 Step forward with the right foot,  turning 180 degrees right into shiko dachi with migi uchi kentsui uchi to jōdan
  32 Pivoting on the right foot, turn 270 degrees left into heiko dachi with hidari morote yoko-zuki
  33 Step sideways to the right into heiko dachi with migi morote yoko-zuki (final kiai optional)

Zanshin yame by drawing right foot into heisoku dachi and performing kote mawashi at chest level
Naotte
Rei

Key Training Aspects of Jion

 
The Key

Jion is typically taught to students of Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō in prepartion for advancement to yonkyū, since it is considered to be an intermediate-to-advanced kata.  Jion presents students with some unfamiliar footwork they may find challenging.  With thirty-three movements, Jion is the longest kata students have encountered by this point in their training.

Important Note:  Kōsa dachi in movement #21 should be performed differently than it is depicted in this video.  The left knee should be pressed into the hollow of the right knee, so that the rear leg supports the front leg, and not with the knees spread apart as shown in the video.

 


Additional Information

MakimonoAs with each new kata, it is important to remind oneself of the adage: "Manabu no tame ni hyakkkai, jukuren no tame ni senkai, satori no tame ni manga okonau" (学ぶのために百回、熟練のために千回、悟りのために万回行う.).  A hundred times to learn, a thousand times for proficiency, ten thousand repetitions for complete understanding.   A related Okinawan saying is "ichi kata san nen" (一型三年):  one kata three years.  To become truly proficient-to be able to perform it correctly, and with the speed, power, timing, and bushi damashii (samurai spirit) necessary to make its techniques effective in a real self-defence situation will take a thousand repetitions, which equates to 100 days at ten repetitions a day.   And to fully understand and apply all of its principles, nuances, and variations will take 1,000 days (three years) at ten repetitions per day.

When performing bunkai (分解) and considering the ōyō (応用) of Jion, it will be necessary to apply one's accumulated knowledge and vivid imagination to visualise the potential uses for the techniques in the kata.  Consideration must be given to the possibility that some movements represent applications other than obvious blocks or strikes (gōhō), but may instead—or in addition—have jūhō applications.