The name Jion suggests that it was introduced by someone connected with the Jion-ji temple. This kata has since developed from Tomari and is practiced in the Shotokan and Wado-Ryu styles. The meaning of the kata "temple sound" suggests calm movement, good spirit and harmony. The kata contains many basic moves and stances. Mastery of the Heian kata will improve it's performance. Jion is a truly representative kata of the Shotokan style. 

Moves are performed in the following stances: Musubi dachi (Rei), Zenkutsu dachi, Kokutsu dachi, Kiba dachi, Heisoku dachi, Kosa dachi.

Jion is number three of the Big Four Kata. The Big Four are Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, and Enpi. These four kata are considered the standard Shotokan kata by international inter-style competition organizations. 

Jion, Jiin, and Jitte are often grouped together as the Three Respect Kata. The reason for this is that Jion, Jitte, and Jiin begin and end with the performer holding his right fist under his left palm - a greeting of Chinese martial arts frequently seen in your typical low-budget Kung Fu movie. 

Jion is unique among the kata in a couple of regards. Jion is one of the few kata in karate in which block/counter combinations are executed while advancing forward. Jion introduces a set of techniques which are especially obvious in their combat effectiveness.

Directions

1.        Fist in Hand - Stand with both feet touching from ball to heel with the toes forward. The knees should be straight. The left hand should be over the right fist. The elbows should be at the sides of the body, and the tallest knuckle on the left hand should be directly in front of the chin. Do not bend the wrists and point the elbows out sideways. Instead, keep the elbows in pretty close to the sides of the body and the wrists straight.

2.        Double block - Step backward with the left foot so that it becomes the rear foot of a right front stance. At the same time, unfold the hands from their positioning and down block with the left hand as you inside block with the right hand. Folding or crossing of the arms does not precede these arm actions. Simply burst them into place, and focus the arm actions with action of planting the left foot.

3.        Wedge Block - Step to the left 45 degree angle with the left foot so that you are in another front stance. The first half of the step should be pretty fast. As you move the foot forward and touch it to the floor, decelerate considerably so that your weight settles into the stance gently. As the feet cross, bring the fists up in front of your eyes about one foot away. The palm sides should be facing inward, and the arms should be crossed at the wrists. Turn the wrists as you pull your elbows down to your sides to perform a wedge block. The action of bringing the hands up should be extremely fast, in time with the first part of the stepping motion.

4.        Kicking and Punching - Keeping your arms in the same position relative to your body, step forward and throw a right front snap kick to the middle level. As the foot touches the floor, a right middle level punch should be focusing. The punch is launched from the wedge block position of the arms. Do not pull back the right hand into a chambered position before throwing the punch. The timing for these two techniques is very quick with no pause between them. Pause after you throw the punch for just a moment.

5.        Double Punch - Throw two punches from your current position. Your hips should stay square to the front facing position. The first punch should be fast and snapped, the second punch is strong and thrusted.

6.        Repeat - Snap your head to the right 90 degrees and them step in that direction first quickly then slowly to perform a wedge block. Perform the exact mirror image of everything you just did from the wedge block to the double punch above. Pause after the last punch.

7.        Upper Block Reverse Punch - Pivot on your right foot to the left 45 degrees until you are in a left front stance again. During the first half of this pivot, draw the left arm back while you upper block with an open-handed covering action with the right hand. During the second half of the pivot, complete the upper block by blocking upward from the chambered position you are in. Draw the right arm back now. Your foot should land in time with the focus of the second blocking action. As soon as the upper block completes, bring the right hip forward by straightening the right leg to rotate the hips to front facing as you throw a right reverse punch to the middle level. All three motions should have very fast timing 1-2-3. Pause after the punch.

8.        Upper Block and Punch Again - Step forward with the right foot. As you step the feet together, you should draw back the right arm and be upper blocking with the left hand open in a knife hand as in the last sequence. As you complete the step, upper block with the right hand using a fist, and then reverse punch quickly on the left side performing the mirror image of the above technique.

9.        Upper Block and Stepping Punch - Step forward with the left foot again and upper block with the two motions as above. As soon as the block is finished, step again strongly and throw a middle level punch with a kiai.

10.      Double block - Turn 270 degrees while pivoting on the right foot. When you turn always stay straight up and down. Bring the left foot forward to the right as you turn on the right foot. Spin so that when you complete the step, you are now facing to your rear, but looking over your left shoulder. Without any pause, step out with the left foot into a back stance. The left arm is moved down into a downward block synchronized with the right arm being moved into an upper level inside block to the rear.

11.     Hook Punch - There are two ways to perform this technique. You can hook punch from the upraised position of the right arm, or you can lower it into a chambered position and then punch across your body. Either way, lift the left foot up and push with the right so that you shift to the left about one foot. Assume a horse riding stance facing to your right, but keep your head looking to the left 90 degree over your left shoulder. Punch across your body so that your finishing position has your right elbow even with the side of your body, your fist slightly lower than your elbow, and your whole right arm posture makes a nice, neat rectangle with your torso when viewed from above. This punch is middle level.

12.     Repeat, Repeat - Turn to the right 90 degrees by pivoting on the heels. Don't shift the feet anywhere when you do this motion other than to turn the right foot. Shift your torso to the left, but not the feet, as you assume the back stance facing the other way. Perform the double block and the hook punch as above.

13.     Down Block - Look left 90 degrees and step in that direction with the left foot into a left front stance. Fold the arms at the midpoint of the step and down block as the foot settles. Pause.

14.     Palm Heel Strikes - Step forward into a horse riding stance facing to the left so that your right side faces your imaginary opponent. Your head is still pointed in the same direction. Reach around widely from the chambered position your right hand was in instead of moving the hand directly from the hip. Don't perform this as a block, but rather as if you are striking someone in the midsection with the bottom corner of the palm heel of the right hand. Focus the technique in time with the step. Step forward twice more, repeating this technique.

15.     Double blocks again - Turn 270 degrees into a back stance. Follow the directions above.

16.     Double Hand Block - block to the left 45 degree angle with both arms in a double arm block posture. The left arm blocks like an inside block, and the right fist is pressed against the meaty portion of the forearm from the elbow toward the wrist, palm inward. As you block, bring the right foot up to the left and stand up with the feet together quickly. Do not chamber before throwing the block. Turn to the right 90 degrees and step with the right foot into a back stance and repeat the sequence in the mirror image of itself.

17.     Crossed Arms - Standing in place with the feet together, cross the arms at the wrists and bring them down with deceleration as you place the shoulders at 45 degrees and move the fists to your sides. Your arms should point outward and down at that angle.

18.     X-Block - Now raise your right knee strongly as you chamber both arms and lunge forward into downward  X-blocks. You should finish in the crossed leg stance with your knees bent. Don't bend forward - stay straight up and down.

19.     Sweep Up - move the left foot behind you leaving your body in place and your front knee bent so that you end up in a front stance. As you do that, quickly block to both sides.

20.     Double Inside Block - Step forward into a front stance with the left foot forward and inside block with both arms. The left arm should fold inside the right.

21.     Multiple techniques -  Step forward again and X-block to the high level with your hands in fists. The right fist should be inside the left fist. Immediately raise the left fist up so that the left arm takes the final position of an upper level rising block. The right arm should strikes straight out to head height.

Reverse arms by punching forward with the left fist at lower chest level quickly while you move the right fist so that it points to the right ear. The right elbow should collapse as the right fist comes back from the vertical backfist position.

Now bend the left elbow so that the left fist comes back as the right fist circles around performing an outside block. The left fist should be directly under the elbow of the right arm, and the left arm should be in the hook punch final position described above.

The entire sequence from the X-block forward should be 1--2-3-4.

22.     Inside block punch - Turn 270 degrees into a left front stance and perform an inside block. Step forward and punch. Turn 180 degrees and inside block. Step forward and punch.

23.     Down Block - Look left 90 degrees and step in that direction with the left foot into a left front stance. Fold the arms at the midpoint of the step and down block as the foot settles. Pause.

24.     Dropping Blocks - Now, stepping three times as you did with the palm heel strikes, you will execute dropping blocks. Only this time, instead of stepping, you will also raise and drop your feet. Pivot the hips to front, raise the knee as if you were going to perform a front snap kick, and then continue the pivoting action as you lower the leg. As you raise the knee, move the down block fist to cover the groin. Raise the right arm so that the elbow is nearly straight and the fist points upward, and then snap the arm back down immediately in sync with the knee's movements. When you complete the block the palm should be inward on the right fist. Repeat, and repeat again.

25.     Pull and Stab Slow - Turn 270° into a horse riding stance, and reach across your body with your right hand. Arc the hand up over the head and bring it down. Slowly and powerfully punch to the side with the left arm while drawing the right fist to a position directly in front of the right breast with the palm down.

26.     Pull and Stab Fast -Pivot 180 degrees so that you are looking over your right shoulder (don't move the feet), chambering the right fist at your hip as you reach over and across with the left arm. Perform this part of the motion very slowly, and then suddenly pull and punch with the right fist as you shift to the right six inches. Punch quickly and kiai.

27.     Finish - Stand up by lifting and moving the right foot to a position next to the left foot. Return your hands to the fist in hand position from the beginning.