Jion
From the Temple of Jion
Kata History
The name Jion suggests that it was introduced by someone connected with the Jion-ji temple which was named after the Buddhist saint. This kata has since developed from Tomari and is practised in the Shotokan and Wado-Ryu styles.
The meaning of the kata "temple sound" suggests calm movement, good spirit and harmony.
The kata contains many basic moves and stances. Mastery of the Heian kata will improve it's performance. Jion is a truly representative kata of the Shotokan style.
The Moves
This kata has many basic moves and some interesting points. The second kiai in the kata is the only prolonged kiai in the Shotokan kata set, being performed during a slow move and lasting for some 2-3 seconds (for as long as there is arm movement during the final yumi zuki).
Moves are performed in the following stances: Musubi dachi (Rei), Zenkutsu dachi, Kokutsu dachi, Kiba dachi, Heisoku dachi, Kosa dachi.
The Kata contains 46 moves which take around 60 seconds to complete at high speed.
| Count | Move | Stance |
| Rei | Musubi Dachi | |
| Yoi | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
| Kata Yoi (Jiai no kamae) | Heisoku dachi | |
| 1 | Kosa Uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 2 | Kakiwake uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 3 | Migi jodan mae geri | |
| 4 | Migi chudan zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 5 | Hidari chudan gyaku zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 6 | Migi chudan zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 7 | Kakiwake uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 8 | Hidari jodan mae geri | |
| 9 | Hidari chudan zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 10 | Migi chudan gyaku zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 11 | Hidari chudan zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 12 | Hidari jodan age uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 13 | Migi chudan gyaku zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 14 | Migi jodan age uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 15 | Hidari chudan gyaku zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 16 | Hidari jodan age uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 17 | Migi chudan oi zuki (KIAI) | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 18 | Manji uke | Kokutsu dachi |
| 19 | Migi chudan kage zuki | Kiba dachi |
| 20 | Manji uke | Kokutsu dachi |
| 21 | Hidari chudan kage zuki | Kiba dachi |
| 22 | Hidari gedan barai | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 23 | Migi teisho uchi | Kiba dachi |
| 24 | Hidari teisho uchi | Kiba dachi |
| 25 | Migi Teisho uchi | Kiba dachi |
| 26 | Manji uke | Kokutsu dachi |
| 27 | Hidari jodan morote uke | Heisoku dachi |
| 28 | Manji uke | Kokutsu dachi |
| 29 | Migi jodan morote uke | Heisoku dachi |
| 30 | Ryowan gamae | Heisoku dachi |
| 31 | Gedan juji uke | Kosa dachi |
| 32 | Ryowan gedan kakiwake | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 33 | Sowan uchi uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 34 | Jodan juji uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 35 | Migi ura zuki hidari age uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| Migi jodan nagashi uke | Zenkutsu dachi | |
| 36 | Migi jodan ura zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 37 | Hidari chudan uchi uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 38 | Migi chudan oi zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 39 | Migi chudan uchi uke | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 40 | Hidari chudan oi zuki | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 41 | Hidari gedan barai | Zenkutsu dachi |
| 42 | Migi otoshi uke doji fumikomi | Kiba dachi |
| 43 | Hidari otoshi uke doji fumikomi | Kiba dachi |
| 44 | Migi otoshi uke doji fumikomi | Kiba dachi |
| Migi jodan tsukami uke | ||
| 45 | Hidari yumi zuki | Kiba dachi |
| Hidari jodan tsukami uke | Kiba dachi | |
| 46 | Migi yumi zuki (KIAI) | Kiba dachi |
| Yame (Jiai no kamae) | Heisoku dachi | |
| Yame | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
| Rei | Musubi Dachi |