​Shotokan Karate Academy

The name Ji’in (慈陰) literally can have two different meanings, since the name is often written using different characters by different Japanese instructors. One name means "Temple Grounds."  The other possibility is the name meaning "Mercy and Kindness" or "Love and Shadow” if other characters are used. Using the character for temple as the first character separates the name from the name of "Jion". However, the character for mercy is the same as in “Jion”.

Gichin Funakoshi named the kata “Shokyo” which translates as "Pine Shadow," but this name was never adopted by his students.

Begins with the same characteristic (kamae) of the left hand covering the right, which apparently has roots in ancient Chinese boxing and is called "Ming salutation" posture (palm over fist).  In Karate we call this posture “Jiai no Kamae”.

In modern Shotokan it is not well known, probably because it belongs to Tomari-Te and since Itosu did not make any major changes, master Funakoshi did not teach it extensively to his students. It is believed that for the same reason it was excluded from Masatoshi Nakayama’s “Best Karate” books and consequently should not be considered as one of JKA katas but it is one of 26 katas of Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF).

"Ji’in", "Jion" and "Jitte" are having many similarities and they are most likely to be inspired by the teaching of a Buddhist temple in China. These kata are intermediate kata and should be practiced before the more advanced ones.

"Ji’in" could technically be called a "Jion Sho" or "Little Jion". It is half as long, and it has many of the same movements in it, although they are compressed to such an extent that the kata is actually somewhat more complex and difficult. For example, where Jion gives simple stepping techniques, "Ji'in" contains many twists and turns that are difficult for intermediate students. "Ji’in" contains several combinations which are more stationary, meaning that the performer stays in place, and this is usually a good indicator of the difficulty of a kata.

"Ji’in" also has a unique relationship with "Jitte". There are quite a few places in "Ji’in" where techniques from "Jitte" are expanded upon and explained with more complex design and engineering.

Notes:

• Ji’in has 2 parts:

  • “Ji” : Temple, Love, Mercy

  • “In” : Ground, Sanctuary, Shadow

• Ji'in means: "Temple Grounds" , “Temple Shadow”, "Mercy and Kindness" or "Love and Shadow”

• Ji’in root: “Tomari-Te” school of kata in Okinawa

• Level: Intermidiate