What is Isshin-ryu Karate?

Isshin-ryu Karate was founded back in the 1950s by Tatsuo Shimabuku. At the time, Shimabuku had previously trained Goju-ryu as well as other styles and decided to experiment which eventually led to Isshin-ryu. Shimabuku was also born and raised on the Japanese island of Okinawa which means that his style can also be considered Okinawan Karate.

Having said this, Isshin-ryu is considered one of the lesser-known forms of Karate compared to the main styles. Perhaps this is due to its creation coming later compared to its predecessors but whatever the reason, the result is that Isshin-ryu never really caught on and isn’t as popular and the main stuff.

Nonetheless, Shimabuku’s legacy still lives on and these days it has a pretty solid reputation within the Karate community. One thing worth mentioning is that Isshin-ryu certainly has its quirks as well. These will be explained below.

What is the Isshin-ryu style of punching?

Perhaps the most unusual quirk of Isshin-ryu is its style of punching which uses a vertical fist. This sets the tone for a lot of the Isshin-ryu moves which can take some getting used to. Arguably, this is why practicing good kata is valuable with Isshin-Ryu, as it’s some of its techniques aren’t natural and can take time to get the hang of.

Regarding the vertical fist, this means punching with your thumb facing the top of the sky. In other words, imagine throwing a thumbs up gesture then placing your thumb on top of your index finger. This is how punching is done in Isshin-ryu. Obviously, most other forms of Karate teach punches with a horizontal fist which is used in boxing and other martial arts.

According to Tatsuo Shimabuku, he experimented for years with fist positions and found that this was the most effective way to throw a punch as it made the fist stronger than other variations. Sadly, this idea has never been scientifically tested, but it does make for an interesting theory.

Also, if you delve deeper into other martial arts then you may find that this punch has also been used at different times in disciplines such as Kung Fu too. These days though, Isshin-ryu is mostly credited with the vertical fist and it’s unusual to see in other fighting styles.

Does Isshin-ryu have sparring?

Generally speaking, most Isshin-ryu dojos will include sparring in their training, so it’s not just kata and you can pressure test your techniques in a more serious environment. Having said this, all dojos are different and it really depends on your luck. In other words, it’s up to the discretion of the teacher. At the same time, to generalize it’s fair to say that Isshin-ryu usually does have sparring and kumite. Just make sure you ask the gym before you sign a contract for clarity and to avoid any disappointment.

What moves are used in Isshin-ryu Karate?

As you would expect, Isshin-ryu is influenced by Goju-ryu and some other styles of Karate which may have something to do with the founder. With this said, there’s a fair degree of crossover. On the whole, though, it’s fair to say that Isshin-ryu uses its own style and is quite different compared to the majority of other Okinawan styles.

For instance, it will often teach unorthodox stances such as parallel feet and certain movements that aren’t typically found in other areas of Karate. Because of this, it’s fair to say that there’s a learning curve in Isshin-ryu which is sometimes harder to learn in the beginning compared to other styles. This doesn’t mean that Isshin-ryu is either better or worse though. Isshin-ryu focuses on 16 katas too, so it can be said to use a fairly low, concentrated number of moves.

Is Isshin-ryu Karate effective?

Overall, it’s fair to say that Isshin-ryu is an effective form of Karate and has a solid reputation. In other words, it’s not some kind of dodgy variation that was designed as a McDojo or cash grab. Having said this, it still has the same struggles that many forms of Karate have. Put differently, you may find the odd Isshin-ryu gym that neglects self defense or is very watered down. Whilst this is no more commonly found in Isshin-ryu than other forms of Karate, it sadly still goes on.

One good thing about Isshin-ryu though is that this isn’t that common. Because it’s quite a niche style of Karate, most gym owners and teachers do so out of merit rather than because of financial motives. Typically, if someone wanted to create a McDojo then they may open a Shotokan dojo or something with mass appeal. That’s not insulting Shotokan either, but the point is that Isshin-ryu is naturally quite obscure which means people are more likely to be drawn to it out of teaching rather than money.

In terms of self defense, you could say that Isshin-ryu is like most other forms of Karate. That is, as long as your teacher is good and teaches you the basics then it certainly does help and will improve your fighting skills.

How long does it take to get a black belt in Isshin-ryu Karate?

From experience, getting a black belt in Isshin-ryu takes no longer or quicker than earning a black belt in any other form of Karate. Roughly, this should take around 5 years of consistent training. Once again, it should be repeated that this differs from school to school. On dojo may have different standards compared to others which may mean promotions are done much quicker than at other places. Generally though, if you’re after a martial art that promotes quickly, then Isshin-ryu isn’t for you and you’re probably training for the wrong reasons.

There are a total of 7 belts in Isshin-ryu Karate. Like all forms of Karate, the starting belt is white belt, then yellow, green, brown and black. The first rank to achieve as an Isshin-ryu black belt is first dan and goes up to ninth. Technically, you can achieve the tenth dan too, so long as you’re a founder. So, realistically these days the highest rank you can get is to be a ninth dan black belt. As said though before, your goal shouldn’t be on ranks or a certain belt – really it should be based on your own personal progression and happiness.

What is the Isshin-ryu logo?

You may have noticed that the logo used in Isshin-ryu is pretty unique. Overall, it has various meanings and interpretations but it’s undeniably got quite an unusual look. Firstly, there’s a dragon in the sky which is symbolic as the founder Tatsuo Shimabuku literally means ‘dragon’. He changed his first name to Tatsuo later on in life and had a fascination with dragons. This is possibly the reason why one features on the logo as Shimabuku loved the mythical creature.

As seen, it also has three stars which represent the mind, body, and spirit. The woman is also doing a stance similar to those seen in Karate, with a clenched fist to promote fighting, whilst her open palm shows calm and peace.

If you’d like to learn more about Isshin-ryu Karate then check out this training manual book.