慈恩 - Jion

The name "Jion" refers to a Buddhist temple, symbolizing spirituality, discipline, and inner strength. This kata emphasizes the practitioner's connection between physical technique and mental focus, reflecting its holistic approach to martial arts training. Jion kata is characterized by its simplicity.

It typically consists of single technique or step combinations, and the overall pattern of the kata is straightforward. For those who have mastered Heian and Tekki kata, performing Jion is relatively easy. In Shotokan karate, Jion is part of the Big Four Kata. Alongside Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Dai, and Enpi, these kata are considered standard in Shotokan training.

Jion, Ji’in, and Jitte kata are often grouped together due to their shared characteristic of starting with the "Ming salutation" posture, known in karate as "Jiai no Kamae". This stance, where the left hand covers the right fist, is believed to have origins in ancient Chinese boxing and reflects deep martial arts traditions.