Source 1: "Katas of Shorin ryu
Seibukan" by Kim Mitrunen & Tommi Prami
Chinto
is one of the treasures of Seibukan. This version of the kata is taught
only to Seibukan family members. It was favorite kata of Kyan Sensei,
and is undoubtedly a Sukunaihayshi kata. It is taught at a higher
level of student, usually in the Nidan class. This is partly due to the
fact that it is a very demanding kata to perform, and the bunkai is hard
to master. Ancient masters of Tomari were very fond of close combat
techniques, and you can see these techniques in the Chinto kata. Many of
the bunkai involve locking maneuvers, throws, all characteristic of
close combat type of techniques.
Source 2:
The composer of this kata is unknown, but we know the
form was a favorite of Kyan and Ara kaki. Chinto means "fighting to
the East" , and the embusen for the kata si performed in a straight
line< but in a diagonal from the opening stance. Most version of
Chinto derive from either: Matsumura of Shuri which use a straight
forward and back embusen, or Matsumura of Tomari, which use a side a
side to side embusen, or Chotoku Kyan whichi use a diagonal embusen. The
Kyan version of Chinto clearly traces it's origins back to the Tomari-te
kata of Matsumura. The Matsubayashi-ryu version of Chinto comes directly
from Kyan.
The kata is characterrized by dynamic movements using kicking techniques
including the flying front kick. Chinto contains may changes of direction
all along the same straight line pattern, and requires an advanced level
of skill and balance to perform properly. The signature movement where
the right arm moves in a backwards., circular movement is performed
three times during the kata. The verb "to invite: in japanese
provides insight into the application of this movement in the kata.
Indeed, many kata contain movements that suggest an invitation to the
opponent to attack.
Source
3: The kata of okinawa Ishin ryu karatedo by Joe Swift
This kata is said to have been taught to Matsumura Sokon by a Chinese
named Chinto, but this legend cannot be corroborated. According to a
1914 newspaper article by Funakoshi Gichin (1867-1957, founder of
Shotokan karatedo), based upon the talks of his teacher Asato Anko
(1827-1906), student of Matsumura Sokon):
"Those who received
instruction from a castaway from Annan in Fuzhou, include: Gusukuma and
Kanagusuku (Chinto), Matsumura and Oyadomari (Chinte), Yamasato (Jiin)
and Nakasato (Jitte) all of Tomari, who learned the kata separately. The
reason being that their teacher was in a hurry to return to his home
country." (sic, Shoto, 1914).
It is believed by this author that the "Matsumura" in the
above excerpt is a misspelling of Matsumora Kosaku, of Tomari. The fact
that Matsumora Kosaku, is evidence that Matsumora may have also been
taught this kata as well (Kinjo, 1999).
Now, what exactly is Chinto? There appears a form called Chen Tou in
Mandarin Chinese (Jpn. Chinto, lit. Sinking the Head) in Wu Zho Quan
(a.k.a. Ngo Cho Kuen, Five Ancestors Fist), which was a style popular in
the Quanzhou and Shamen (Amoy) districts of Fujian (Kinjo, 1999). Chen
Tou refers to sinking the boy and protecting the head. In the Okinawan
Chinto kata, this is the first technique, but in the Five Ancestors Fist
it is the last (Kinjo, 1999). However, this being said, this author has
yet to see the Chen Tou form to make a comparative analysis. It is,
however, worthy of further investigation.
There are 3 distinct "families" of Chinto in modern Okinawan
karate: Matsumura/Itosu lineage (performed front to back), Matsumora
Kosaku lineage (performed side to side), and Kyan Chotoku lineage
(performed on a 45 degree angle). Looking at technical content, we can
see that the Matsumora and Kyan versions are nearly identical, which is
only natural since Kyan learned this from Matsumora.
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