Isshinryu is a relatively new style of
Karate, created by
Tatsuo Shimabuku in
1956. Its differences from
mainstream karate spring from the eight Codes of Karate, created by Shimabuku, which are still strictly followed:
1. A person's
heart is the same as
Heaven and Earth
2. The
blood circulating is similar to the motion of the
moon and the
sun.
3. A manner of
drinking and
spitting is either
hard or
soft.
4. A persons
unbalance is the same as a
weight.
5. The
body should be able to
change directions at any time.
6.
Strike when
opportunity presents itself.
7. The
eye must
see all sides.
8. The
ear must
listen in all directions.
All this leads to a fighting style that is more streamlined and effective for
self defense that most other
Do, or fighting
art oriented styles of karate.