Ship Soo

This article pertains to the form Jit-te. For the weapon jitte, see Taekwondo Weapons Training.

This form is a traditional taekwondo form, meaning it pre-dates contemporary forms (such as those used by the ITF, ATA, and WT). In other words, this is a form used during the 1950s within the Nine Kwans that eventually came together to form taekwondo.

  • Older forms such as this one were often based on forms from other martial arts.
  • The details and names of these older forms tend to vary more widely from school to school as well.

The version shown here is just one version; the reader should recognize that there will be variations among schools.

Ji-in, Ji-on, and Jit-te (or Ship Soo) form a group of kata used in Shotokan Karate and other karate styles, beginning with the same characteristic kamae of the left hand covering the right, which apparently has roots in ancient Chinese boxing. Their origin is thought to be from the Tomari-te school, however Hirokazu Kanazawa speculates that the Jion kata were devised in the Jionji 慈恩寺, the Jion temple, where martial arts were famously practiced. From there, Kanazawa believes the Jion kata were spread into the Tomari region.

Ji-in - Ji'in 慈陰 ("Inverted Mercy") is important for the execution of many simultaneous techniques and the often-repeated stances, enabling swift changes of direction while maintaining balance, power and steps of equal length. It has, however, been removed from the Japan Karate Association teaching and grading syllabus.

Ji-on - Ji-On 慈恩 ("Mercy") is a representative kata in the Shotokan system because of the importance of the perfection of the basic stances it contains, notably zenkutsu dachi and kiba dachi (horse stance). Also practiced in some Shito Ryu organizations, emphasis is also placed on kokutsu dachi, the kata is noticeably shorter than its Shotokan counterpart.

Jit-te - The mastery of Jit-te (Jutte 十手 "Ten Hands") should in theory enable one to face ten adversaries. Some claim that the name is derived from the position of the raised fists, resembling a type of sai known as a jutte, which occurs a number of times in the kata. This rather short kata of only 24 movements contains a number of defences that can be implemented against the bo staff. Sometimes spelled Jitte; also known in some styles as Sip Soo.

 

Video

 

Diagram

This diagram is copyright John B. Correljé and is used with permission. Terms and conditions are available at http://sites.google.com/site/tangsoodochonkyong Sip-soo.jpg

Written Instructions

  • Joonbee
  • 1. As one long breath is exhaled: left foot steps back into deep right Front Stance, simultaneously, right palmheel presses down then slowly scoops inward and rises inside to out as left palm heel slowly presses down.
  • 2. As one long breath is exhaled: left foot steps forward 45° counterclockwise into deep left Front Stance , simultaneously, left palm heel slowly scoops inward and rises inside to out as right palm heel slowly presses down.
  • 3. Without stepping, left knifehand moves toward right biceps. Eyes follow hand.
  • 4. Left knifehand remains at biceps. Right hip moves 135° clockwise into right Back Stance, simultaneously, right palm heel circles clockwise to mid-level. Right Palmheel Uppercut as left fist chambers.
  • 5. Right foot steps 90° counterclockwise into right Back Stance. Right Palmheel Uppercut as left fist chambers.
  • 6. Left foot steps forward into left Back Stance. Left Palmheel Uppercut as right fist chambers.
  • 7. Right foot steps forward into right Back Stance. Right Palmheel Uppercut as left fist chambers.
  • 8. Turn 90° counterclockwise. Right foot crosses over left foot simultaneous with High X-Block (right wrist over left).
  • 9. Leftook 90° counterclockwise. Left foot steps left into left-facing Horse Stance, simultaneous with right and left Low Blocks to respective sides.
  • 10. Jump left, landing into left-facing Horse Stance. Right and left fists circle outward into Mountain Block.
  • 11. Leftook 180° clockwise. extend right arm. Left foot steps 180° clockwise into left-facing Horse Stance simultaneous with left inward mountain block.
  • 12. Continue to look in same direction. extend left arm. Right foot steps 180° counterclockwise into right-facing Horse Stance simultaneous with right inward mountain block.
  • 13. Continue to look in same direction. extend right arm. Left foot steps 180° clockwise into left-facing Horse Stance simultaneous with left inward mountain block.
  • 14. Without stepping, look 90° clockwise. high fist X-Block (right wrist over left). X-Block slowly descends to mid-level (arms extended). Right and left arms snap to Low Blocks to respective sides.
  • 15. Right foot kicks across and in front of left knee, simultaneously, chamber both fists at left hip, landing 90° clockwise into right Front Stance. Left high open hand (palm out and thumb down) simultaneous with right low open hand (palm up and thumb forward).
  • 16. Left foot kicks across and in front of right knee, simultaneously, chamber both fists at right hip, landing forward into left Front Stance. Right high open hand (palm out and thumb down) simultaneous with left low open hand (palm up and thumb forward).
  • 17. Right foot kicks across and in front of left knee, simultaneously, chamber both fists at left hip, landing forward into right Front Stance. Left high open hand (palm out and thumb down) simultaneous with right low open hand (palm up and thumb forward).
  • 18. Pivot 270° counterclockwise into left Back Stance. Right Low Fingertip Thrust simultaneous with left horizontal forearm block. Left Low Block simultaneous with right Half Mountain Block.
  • 19. Turn 180° clockwise into right Back Stance. Left spearhand groin grab (palm up) simultaneous with right horizontal forearm block. Right Low Block simultaneous with left Half Mountain Block.
  • 20. Left foot steps 90° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left High Block.
  • 21. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right High Block.
  • 22. Pivot 180° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left High Block.
  • 23. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right High Block with Kihap.
  • 24. Pivot 180° counterclockwise moving the left foot to right foot.
  • End.

See also: http://www.trinityshotokan.com/documents/jitte.html