What does Jion teach the student in your opinion?

Question

Jion is one of my favorite Kata's in Shotokan. What do you feel as a Sensei it teaches your students and students what do you feel it is teaching you?

Answer 1

This kata is popular to many of us who practice it and who teach it both for its fundamental significance and because of its symbolic implication, with the Yoi position being a profound symbolic gesture.

The origin of this kata is a topic very intersting and some love to debate. One thought and that I was taught by my Sensei of its origin describes its start in a Chinese Buddhist Temple called 'Jion', with the kata taking its name from the temple.

I have studied and read others believe it was created by someone deeply connected with the temple Jion. there are others , but this kata today, both for its philosophical and fundamental reasons, is a very important kata in the syllabus, and one of only two that have kept the same name since its origin.

Although the techniques are fairly basic and simple, and only taking about one minute to perform, this is a kata favoured by many instructors, for it teaches the student so much, which is evident since it is also practiced in the Wado-ryu.system

On the surface level Jion simply looks like a whole bunch of block and punch combinations, but there is much more to it. In addition to its excellent boxing techniques it has some Chin'na / Tori-te principles contained with in it including finger and wrist locks, arm bars and throws.

However, as with any karate kata the important part is not necessarily the techniques, but the proper use of footwork (tenshin) and distancing and timing (maai) when you use them

Answer 2

I do not study Shotokan but a close friend is a Yondan and I have analysed him executing it.

In the early part of the form I noticed a choking technique with a takedown.

Also arm locking with takedowns.

A neck break is obvious.

A sleeping chokehold

Arm break with palm thrust

Love the knee break and hammer fist.

Lots of deadly techniques.

Just my take on it as I remember.