The Third Level of Kata

Isshinryu comes from Tatsuo-san's progress at the third level of kata. It is how we came to have the Isshinryu system as it was created through the practice of Goju-ryu, Shorin-ryu and Kobudo. In the third level there is a state of practice and training referred to as shinden. Shinden is kata whose origins are inspired by a spiritual vision. In this case Tatsuo-san had his dream where a goddess told him it was time to venture forth and create his own karate. This is what became and named Isshinryu. 

We practitioners who are skilled enough to enter the third level call Tatsuo-san's shinden our soden or our original kata as created and named by Tatsuo-san, the founder of Isshinryu. We must strive in our practice and training and teaching to achieve that third level of kata so we may be inspired to achieve a shinden of kata  that could be a new system or style that seems traditional to Okinawan karate progression. 

Then again ......