Chito Ryu
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
Chito Ryu (千唐流 - "One thousand year-old style originating in the Chinese 'To' era") is a style of Karate founded by Dr. Chitose Tsuyoshi.
As a young man born and raised in Okinawa, Dr. Chitose grew up studying the pre-karate art of Tode (or "To-te") from many of the top masters of the period. He later moved to mainland Japan to practice medicine, where Chito-ryu evolved as he utilized his modern medical knowledge of anatomy and physiology to modify traditional techniques to make them both more effective against opponents as well as less detrimental to the bodies and joints of long-term practitioners.
Although generally classified as a Japanese karate style simply because O-Sensei Chitose formulated and founded Chito Ryu principally while living in Kumamoto, Japan, many modern practitioners feel it is more properly categorized as an Okinawan style given that its roots and techniques are firmly grounded in and derived from traditional Okinawan tode.
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Development & Influences
This section will primarily deal with O-Sensei's early training and instructors; the "middle-years" influences of his medical instruction and teaching with Funakoshi; then conclude with his continuing study of Okinawan and Chinese kata and techniques that continued to be folded into the style.
Signature Aspects of Chito-ryu
"Signature Aspects" would, of course, briefly review what makes Chito-ryu technically different from other karate styles. I'll certainly look to the Chitonet membership for suggestions in this area. a large part of many chito-ryu techniques is the emphasis on beginning and arriving at the start and finish of a technichue, as opposed to the motion of getting there, though there are exceptions to this.
Chito-derived and Influenced Styles
"Chito-derived & Influenced Styles" will give a nod to many of the great karate-ka who trained with or under O-Sensei and then went on to use his methods in styles of their own such as Ryusei, Yoshukai, Tsuruoka-ryu, Shintora-Kai and others which I know are represented in the Chitonet membership.
Showa
Showa is the code or "motto" of Chito-Ryu practitioners. Shown below are the English and phonetic Japanese versions.
Ware Ware Karate-Do O Shugyo Tsurumonewa Tsuneni Bushido Seishin o Wasurezu Wa to Nin o Motte Nashi Soshite Tsutomereba Kanarazu Tasu!
We who study Karate-Do Shall never forget the Spirit of the Warrior's way With Peace, Percevearence, and hard Work We shall reach our goals!
This code is often recited at the end of classes.
Chito-ryu Around the World
"Chito-ryu Around the World" is where I see more specific historical information on the "history" of Chito-ryu in varioius countries, how it progressed in Japan through the life of O-Sensei and then passed to his son as the 2nd Soke, how Tsuruoka brought it to Canada and Dometrich to the US and so forth.
External Links
Chito-ryu Organizations
United States Chito-ryu Federation
Canadian Chito Ryu Karate Do Association
Nova Scotia Chito Ryu Association
Hong Kong Chito Ryu Association
The Koshin-ha Chito-Ryu Association
Other Articles
http://www.elitechitoryu.ca
Bibliography
- Kempo Karate-Do — Universal Art of Self-Defense by Tsuyoshi Chitose, ISBN 0-9687791-0-7. The seminal textbook by the founder of Chito-Ryu Karatedo.
- The Endless Quest — The Autobiography of an American Karate Pioneer by William J. Dometrich, ISBN 0-9687791-1-5.
| Okinawan Martial Arts | |
|---|---|
| Karate | Okinawan Kobudo | Tegumi | |
