Chinte (Shōtōkan)

About This Kata

Name Chinte [珍手]
Translation Rare Hand
Style Shotokan
History The name Chinte means ‘Rare Hand’, referencing the kata’s distinctively circular, open-handed, and unorthodox techniques. From the same family of kata as Chintō (Gankaku), it is believed to originate in Tomari-te. The kata is thought to have been imported to Okinawa by Chinese traders or emissaries and likely draws influence from Southern Chinese martial arts, especially White Crane, Tiger, and possibly systems such as Baguazhang. Funakoshi proposed renaming it Shoin but this name was never used. Although not among the original 15 Shotokan kata, it was later formalised by the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in the mid-20th century.
Lineage Shuri-te lineage → Gichin Funakoshi (Shōtōkan)

Incredible Hands (Shotokan Kata)