Shōrin-ryū (少林流)[1][2][3][4][5][6] is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts and is one of the oldest styles of karate.

[1][2][3][4][5][6] Chōshin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Ankō Itosu.

Shōrin-ryū practitioners assert that correct motion, moving quickly to evade violence with fluid movements and flexible positions are important, and that a solid structure is vital for powerful blocks and strikes.

It is believed that this position is key in lining up the bones of the arm and creates a faster, more stable and powerful strike.

In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi, a contemporary of Chibana and also a disciple of Ankō Itosu, adopted the Dan system from judo founder Kanō Jigorō using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors to promote Karate-Do among the Japanese.

Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique).