Orange County Karate Club

Isshinryu is comprised of 8 Karate (empty hand) Kata and 8 Kobudo (weapons) Kata. Because the Okinawan people where subjugated for most of their history they were not allowed to have weapons (swords, spears, etc.). The development of Okinawan Karate was born hundreds of years ago out of the necessity to defend themselves. Okinawan karate is by design defensive. Traditional Okinawan weapons are adaptations of common objects.