Jiin is another of the 'temple' forms (along with Jion and Jitte) and its name means 'temple ground'. As with the others in the series, the pattern opens with with left hand placed over the clenched right fist, making it a member of the Tomari te school with origins almost certainly in China. Unlike Jion and Jitte however, this kata entered the Shotokan syllabus at a later date. In Funakoshi's master text Karate Do Kyohan there is no mention of this kata. When it was taught Funakoshi tried to change the name to Shokyo but it didn't stick.
Like many of the Shotokan forms this varies from the original as taught on Okinawa and movements at the end of this kata are missing as compared to the purer Shorin ryu version. In the original there is an upward block / lunge punch combination executed first to the practitioner's left and then repeated again 180 degrees to his right.
