Karate
(Empty Hand)

Seisan is named after the famous Southern Chinese boxer. He lived on Okinawa from 1588 to 1600. He came to the island to teach boxing on orders from the king of China. Seisan was referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World by Okinawans because of his unusual power and ability.

Soshu Matsumora is the first instructor Seisan can be traced back to, in the 19th century. Matsumora was Kyan's instructor. Shimabuku learned the kata from him.

Angi Uezu (Shimabuku's son-in-law) explained once that the name Seisan means thirteen: sei means ten and san means three. This means that students face 13 opponents throughout the course of the kata.

Seisan kata emphasizes the straight forward Seisan stance, the mae geri and rapid techniques.

Seiuchin was named after the Southern Chinese boxing master of the same name. The kata probably came to Okinawa by Kanro Higashionna. His top student was Chojun Miyagi . The two masters went on to develop Goju-ryu. Shimabuku learned the kata from Miyagi.

The word seiuchin means lull in the storm or storm within a calm. Some people perform this kata "with tension".

Seiuchin is known for its strong, deep Shiko stance and its reinforced punches and blocks.

Naihanchi's origins are unknown, as is its creator. It is named after the city or district of Naha. There are three different versions of this kata. Soshu Matsumora taught this kata to Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan . Both of these Shorinryu masters taught Shimabuku.

Legend has it that Motobu practiced these three katas as many as 500 times daily.

This kata was designed to emulate a fight up against a wall. It is known for its Iron Horse stance.

This kata may have been brought to Okinawa in 1683 by a Chinese envoy named Wanshu. Shimabuku learned Wansu from one of his Shorinryu masters.

Wansu is known as the Dumping Kata because of the throw it contains.

This kata's origins are also unknown. It got its name from a master named Chinto. Shimabuku learned this kata from Kyan .

Chinto is known for its pivots and dynamic movements. Good balance is difficult but important in this kata.

This kata was developed by Okinawan practitioners after it was brought to the island in 1761 by a man named Kusanku. Shimabuku learned kusanku from Kyan . It was one of Kyan's favorite katas.

Most advanced offensive and defensive techniques are found in this kata. It is the longest and arguably most difficult kata of the style. Some say the kata takes more than a decade to master.

This kata was meant to represent a fight in the dark.

Kobudo
(Weapons)

Shimabuku learned this Kata from Chotoku Kyan and this was the only Bo Kata he taught. It is reported Kyan learned this Kata from Master Tokumine himself but others say Kyan learned this Kata from one of his students.  Prior to 1959, the Marines that trained on Okinawa were taught only two Kobudo Kata...Tokumine No Kun and Kusanku Sai. 

In 1959, Shimabuku began Kobudo training with Tiara Shinken of Ryukyu Kobudo. This is the first Kobudo Kata taught to the Isshin-ryu students from that lineage. One of the unique features of this Kata is that it teaches Bo thrusts with an inside grip (palms down, both thumbs facing inward). One of the purposes for this type of thrust is to prevent getting splinters in the hands when the Bo is used against weapons such as the sai, kama, or sword. 

This is possibly the longest Kata in all of Isshin-ryu. Many branches of Isshin-ryu incorrectly call this Kata Shi Shi No Kun No Dai. "Dai" means long version, and since Isshin-ryu only teaches one version of Shi Shi No Kun, the suffix "dai" is eliminated.

Master Shimabuku created this Kata from the techniques of Kusanku and added some Kyan No Sai techniques at the end. This Kata was originaly done with kicks, but after 1960, Shimabuku eliminated the kicks to put total emphasis on the Sai.

This is the only Sai kata in Isshin-ryu from the Ryukyu Kobudo lineage. There is also a Bo Kata created by, or named in honor of, Master Chatan Yara. This is also the only Isshin-ryu Kobudo Kata where an empty hand (karate) strike is used.

The main focus of this kata is a seven count striking pattern which is repeated several times throughout the Kata. In 1966, a film was made of Tatsuo Shimabuku performing Isshin-ryu Kata. The Japanese symbols of the Kata was misinterpreted and spelled "Cheifa", Shimabuku also forgot parts of the Kata.  These understandable mistakes have created a dillemma for those aiming to preserve Isshin-ryu as many Isshin-ryu practioners still practice and spell the Kata incorrectly.