Chinte

Gankaku

Chinte is by far one of the least popular kata among Japanese males in Shotokan Karate. However, among female Japanese, Chinte has quite a following. The reasoning behind this is perhaps the origin of the kata. It is possible that Chinte originated as an Okinawan folk dance, and has since that time been copied by karate experts and has been modified to support fighting techniques.

Chinte is filled with techniques and movements that could be considered very indicative of Asian folk dance movements. There is a rumor that Chinte comes from a dance that describes to young women the things that they will have to know to survive in the world. Thus, many of the techniques are actually thought to be straight out of a folk dance in which a young woman does such things as show her baby to her friends, learn to discipline her children, and even stroke her husband's ego. The last three techniques of the kata are thought to be symbolic of a young wife bowing and backing away from her angry husband, allowing him to have his way, or at least, to think that he is having his way when really he has been fully manipulated and will now do as she wishes.

Whether or not there is a folk dance that Chinte comes from is the stuff of speculation.

珍手

Chinte – “Unusual Hands”

Chinte

This kata is thought to be paired with Gankaku. Gankaku was originally called Chinto. Chinte and Chinto are supposedly related to each other in that Chinte relates to young women and Chinto relates to older women. However, there is really nothing in the kata that supports this belief. There are two Chinto kata, and the Shotokan version of Chinto may not be the one that should be paired off with Chinte.

One place where Chinte is a unique kata is in the use of elbow strikes to the upper level. Chinte, unlike many other kata, contains these strikes, as well as many other unusual and rarely performed techniques. The scissors punch, the two finger punch, and other techniques help to give Chinte its name: Unusual Hands. Other translations include Weird Hands and Amazing Hands. No matter the translation, it is apparent that Chinte is unusual, weird, and amazing in the wide variety of techniques that are packaged with it.

The variety of strange techniques in Chinte is another reason that the kata is thought to be more appropriate for women. M any of the strikes are to areas that are not as vulnerable to a women so much as a man. Also, the two finger strike is indicative of using technical prowess rather than raw force, unlike most Shotokan Karate strikes. Therefore, many believe that the techniques of Chinte are better suited to a female with more need to take advantage of the Unusual Hands.

The last three techniques befuddle most who view them. In fact, there are many karate kata experts who despise the kata Chinte because of the hopping backward at the very end. What is the meaning of this motion? Some say it could be a young women acquiescing to her husband, father, or even her mother-in-law (most likely). Whatever the meaning of those last three hops, they bring the kata back to the starting place, and therefore cannot be avoided by kata competitors.

Hopping On

But the truth seems to be that at some point, someone added the three hops onto the kata to bring it back to the starting place. Other styles that practice this kata Chinte do not have the hops, and simply leave the kata finished in a different place.

Directions for Chinte

1. Closed Feet Stance - This kata begins with both feet together, touching from heel to big toe. If you move to this position straight from a bow, such as during practice in a class, then you will have to bring the balls of your feet together. If you are moving to this posture following the natural position, as in a tournament, then you will have to bring the right foot up to the left foot and start from there. Place the left fist in the center of the stomach with the knuckles pointing to the right side, palm side up. Place the right fist on top of the left one vertically cup and saucer style. 2. Over Hand Bottom Fist Strike - Look right. Raise the right fist up turning the palm side away from the body. Go straight up to your own height, and then start going over to the right side. When the right elbow reaches shoulder height, start unfolding it more to complete the strike. Finish with the right fist at shoulder height extended to the right side. Do not move the left hand during this technique. 3. Repeat - Bring the right fist back underneath the left, and then extend the left fist to the left side in the same fashion.

Chinte

Both of these techniques are performed with increasing tension and deceleration.

There is very little pause between the two techniques. 4. Double Sword Hand Block - Pivot on the right foot and step forward with the left foot so that you are in a new horse riding stance facing to the right of your previous position. At the same time that you turn into the new stance, raise both hands upward with the finger tips touching at the index and middle fingers. Raise the hands upward over your height with the elbows outward. Your thumbs should be tucked in.

Perform this motion quickly. 5. Vertical Sword Hand Block - Look right. Shift the right foot to the right about 1 foot, and change the stance to an unmovable stance. As you shift, fold for the vertical sword hand block by bringing the right hand underneath the left as the left reaches across the body. Block strongly and quickly. Without pausing, continue to the next technique. 6. Vertical Punch - So far, all of this kata is "Weird Hands." Reverse punch with the left fist into the palm of the right hand with a vertical punch. Rotate the hips fully to front, and change the stance to a front stance. 7. Vertical Sword Hand Block - Step forward into a new unmovable stance with the left foot forward and execute a vertical sword hand block again. 8. Vertical Punch - Punch with the right fist vertically into the open palm of the left hand. Rotate to front and stand in a front stance. Perform the block and punch as a pair again. 9. Vertical Sword Hand Block - Step forward into a new unmovable stance with the right foot forward and execute a vertical sword hand block again. 10. Vertical Elbow - Shift into a front stance again, but this time bring your left elbow up strongly to your own nose height. Keep the left fist near to the ear. Kiai on this technique. 11. Sword Hand Block - Pivot 180° to the left on the right foot into a new back stance.

At the same time, sword hand block strongly with the left hand. From the elbow strike, reach over the right shoulder with the left arm and straighten the right arm to fold for the block. Focus the block as you stop pivoting. Remember to reach with the fold in the direction you will block - not just any direction. 12. Sword Hand Block - Step forward and sword hand block again. with the right hand.

13. Front Snap Kick - Without moving the hands, raise the left leg and front snap kick, returning the foot to the place where it was resting before you kicked. Kick to the middle level and no higher. 14. Cross Block - As you withdraw the left leg from the kick, fold for a left side down block by reaching over the right shoulder with the left fist. Extend the right arm straight and downward. Unfold them so that the left arm executes a downward block and the right arm performs an inside block. Focus this double handed technique as you step the left foot back down strongly. The hips should be facing forward.

Chinte

15. Lower Level Inside Block - Step the left foot up to the right into a new close feet stance. As you step up, draw the left fist back to the waist. Turn the right fist over, straighten and lower the arm, and then block in an outside to inside fashion with the inside of the right wrist across the lower level. Continue swinging the arm around up and over the head, and then around and down from the outside inward. Focus the strike as a bottom fist strike performed like a lower level outside block. Stop the fist when it is in front of the right leg again.

The way this should be performed is debatable. In tournaments, trophies have been awarded by Nakayama's students to performers who do this and the next two motions quickly. However, Nakayama's Best Karate Volume 9 recommends that the techniques be performed with slow, increasing tension and deceleration. 16. Lower Level Inside Sword Hand Block - Step back with the right foot into a new horse riding stance facing the left side while looking over the left shoulder. The pivot is accompanied by a shifting action where both feet move to he rear about six inches. You should still be facing the direction you were in the last technique. As you step back, raise the right and left hands to the left side with the elbows straight.

Swing both arms, with open hands, around over the head from left to right, and then around and back to the left from the right on the lower side. When you finish, your open right hand is on your abdomen in a sword hand posture with the palm facing up as in any sword hand block. The left hand is also palm up, though, and it is in a position to down block to the left side with the inside of the left wrist. Some people like to put their draw hand lower on their abdomen, sometimes much lower, when they are performing low level sword hand blocks. There is nothing wrong with pointing both hands at the same point in space if you prefer to do this. 17. Lower Level Inside Sword Hand Block - Look to the right. Shift to the left with both feet about six inches as you repeat the large, circular, lower level sword hand block that you just performed to the right side. 18. Double Handed Inside Block - Look straight ahead. Shift to the left again about six inches. As you shift, fold the arms for the double inside block by putting the right arm under the left and then unfolding them. Focus the block at the end of the shifting action.

19. Double Handed Down Block - Step the right foot up to the left knee, as in

Gankaku, and hook it behind the leg. As you bring the foot up, reach with both arms, hands in fists, to the sides, then up, and then over the top of the head. Cross them in front of the chest, and then bring them downward and out to the sides in downblocks to the sides. This movement is fast and strong.

The timing for the last three techniques is 1-2-3. 20. One Knuckle Fist Strike - Step forward with the right foot into a new front stance.

Draw the left arm back, turn the hips to the side facing position, and swing the right arm, elbow straight, back, around, over the head, and then down to chest height in a one-knuckle fist (middle knuckle). 21. One Knuckle Fist Again - Rotate the hips forward in place as you bring the left hand out, back, over the top, and then down on top of the right hand in a one knuckle fist.

Chinte

22. Inside Block - Fold the right arm under the left, turn the hips to the side, and inside block in place with the right arm. The weird hand part here is that your index and middle fingers are extended. 23. Two Finger Punch - Step forward with the left foot and execute an upward rising high level two finger stab to the eyes with the index and middle fingers extended. 24. Two Finger Inside Block - Turn 180° to the rear by pivoting counter-clockwise on the right (rear) foot and assume a left leg front stance. Inside block with the two finger hand again. 25. Two Finger Punch - Step forward and punch as before with the upward rising action and the two fingers. 26. Palm Heel Strike - Pivot to the left 90° on rear/left foot. Step across to the left into a new right foot forward unmovable stance with the right foot. From the outside inward in a wide strike from the side strike with the palm heel to the middle level. 27. Palm Heels Together – Bring the left hand around the same way and strike with a palm heel into the other hand. When you finish, both hands will be palm heel together in front and in the centerline of your body. Best Karate indicates that you should be in an unmovable stance, but the performer, Oishi, is clearly in a front stance. Do the front stance. The print is a typo. 28. Scissor punch to the rear - From the previous position, bring both hands behind you while bending forward a bit to allow them to reach back in fists and double round punch to the rear quickly. 29. Scissors Punch – While the fists are extended behind you, quickly pivot to the rear on the right foot into a new unmovable stance. The left foot should move over to the left about 2.5 feet as you turn counter-clockwise. Bring both arms up and out from the body, and then punch inward with two round punches at chest level. 30. Vertical Sword Hand Block - Step forward into a new unmovable stance with the right foot forward and execute a vertical sword hand block again. 31. Vertical Punch - Punch with the left fist vertically into the open palm of the right hand. Rotate to front and stand in a front stance. Perform the block and punch as a pair again. 32. Vertical Sword Hand Block - Step forward into a new unmovable stance with the left foot forward and execute a vertical sword hand block again. 33. Vertical Punch - Punch with the right fist vertically into the open palm of the left hand. Rotate to front and stand in a front stance. Perform the block and punch as a pair again. Kiai on this technique. 34. Hop Backwards - To finish, draw the right foot back to the left in the closed feet stance, and perform the hand over fist posture with the right hand in the left fist in front of the chin. Now, hop backwards 3 times about 4 inches at a time. 1-2-3. Then you are finished.

Chinte