Kruczek

Who is your instructor(s) armanox? Perhaps that isn't a bad idea to add some...I will see what I can do when I am back home in April.

Few things: "... now the Japanese call it 'kobayashi style' but that is incorrect - but that is all right because only people who do not know Okinawan karate will call it by that name. Since they do not know you must gently remind them or the Okinawan people will laugh at their ignorance. After all, it is funny, many foreign people call it kobayashi shorin-Ryu (小林小林流)- that is just like saying shorin shorin-ryu. It doesn't make much sense ..." Miyahira Katsuya Hanshi My dojo broke apart from his style about the time he really began teaching Suikendo. His lower stance approach for building a stronger core is, in my opinion, excellent and I teach that way still regardless of affiliation. When I learned, what was then called, Suiken Do Dai Ichi it fit your description of Suikendo Training. I have sparred with him a few times while I was younger, once without pads where he threw me on my butt and I will be the first to say he is truly an amazing karateka. What do you base your last comment on? I don't pretend to know more of the situation, but about a year or two ago Kyoshi Eddie Bethea hosted a seminar in which many higher ranking Yamashita students attended. This was when I was told there was a falling out. Could you tell a little bit about yourself? Also was "Nagazato" a typo?

I think the only purpose of a belt is to remind new students who can help them, and to help old teachers remember who needs help. I have always taken pride in a certificate, much like a diploma, but the belt is not relevant. I used to wear my black belt with pride that I worked my butt off for it - but the longer I have been a black belt the more I have realized it doesn't mean anything. I could announce myself as a blue belt to my new students and they would still ask the same question, "What do you know?" and I would still have the same answer, regardless of the belt I am wearing. I always loved the response from the karate kid: "Hey, what kind of belt do you have?" "Canvas. JC Penney, $3.98. You like?"

In the dojo I went through the ranks atv: White Gray^ Camouflage^ Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Purple w/ black stripe* Brown Brown w/ white stripe* Brown w/ black stripe* Black ^ These belts are only used for little dragons. * These belts have been under debate as unnecessary. My personal students are only recognized with: White Green Blue Brown Black

I hope you mean Kyu My sensei has a policy of, when he feels they are ready. Which is not only fine, but that is also they policy I use with my students. The problem is that he tests almost monthly I test ... a lot less. We teach the same curriculum and learned from nearly all the same teachers (except he is mine obviously)...so who is correct? Having federation or organizational time requirements, guarantees that black belt 1 has at least the same amount of time to get experience as black belt 2...and that is good.

Google is your best friend for this. I looked it up and found some stuff, personally never used those terms before, but after seeing the video I have a better idea of what you want. Also in the future, include your style or school/website so that others from that style can give you better suggestion.

When I teach, I teach them as independent arts. I teach bo, sai, nunchaku, tonfa, hanbo, along with teaching my students how to use every day items such as a broom, cane, pen, flashlight, etc.

There are three main types of Okinawan Karate. They are all derived from Naha-te Shuri-te and Tomari-te. These could also be broken into Hard or Soft styles as was mentioned. Japanese Karate is typically Hard style embracing more linear movements. My understanding is that this is because they were bigger than Okinawan in stature (this also applies to Uechi-Ryu). All Japanese Karate is branch of Okinawan karate - to my knowledge. Those that are native to Japan aren't technically Karate, they are Martial Arts. These websites listed here are EXCELLENT. I would emphasize however that all Karate is branched like a 100 year old tree. I started in Yamashita-Shorin Ryu which emphasized deep stances and bigger movements. Yamashita Sensei's instructor is the head of Shorinkan Shorin-Ryu and it is very small movements, and shallower stances. VERY different. So keep in mind very few styles even with the same name are alike.

I couldn't agree more, the problem is that there is very little Shorin-Ryu Bunkai on youtube, most of it is shotokan and/or shito-ryu. I believe the biggest divider among styles is not their kata as much as their application.

We have always gone off of the theory that if you are higher rank than you can teach someone. We tend to have 5th-1st Kyu teach 10th-6th Kyu while the black belts walk around and assist. At the black belt level we teach each other.

When I tested for my first degree, the head of the style came to our dojo and tested 5 of us (3 shodan tests and 2 nidan tests). The rule was ONLY he could test black belt ranks, but as I have been in longer and longer I have seen it done as killer said. 3rd will test up to 1st, 5th up to 3rd, 7th to 5th, and after 5th you are dealing with someone way up at the top. A side note, when I tested it was $150 for each shodan and $225 for each nidan, and that was to pay for travel expenses and such for the hanshi.

We do not, but now that I am off teaching on my own I may implement them, they seem extremely useful.

First off start all kumite off with your right foot in front. Learn to pivot to adjust to people trying to move to your left side. I had to judge a tournament where a blind lady entered for kumite. I didn't know what to say. I was opposed to allowing it but the head judge insisted that it wasn't our decision. She got beat...significantly, but she did a LOT better than I expected. She actually preformed her whole kata prior to this without me realizing she was blind. I initially thought she might have brain damage of some sort, but she just "knew" where the ring was and could preform her kata inside it. So practice and you will learn tricks from experience on how to fight with only one 'good' side.

Well when I was a kyu rank my dad would pick us up and we might go to the dinner inside the mall where the school was located at the time. There was also occasions when we would go get Chinese food afterward. I would normally wear my gi pants and a tshirt to these places, occasionally I would leave the gi top on if I had nothing else. The rule there, and my rule no, is NEVER wear your belt outside of the dojo. I have always put a heavy emphasis on "I practice karate" and nothing more, to wear your gi says that, to wear you belt tells people you are an instructor etc. I equate it to how officer hide their rank when there are reports of snipers. It is REALLY hard to hide that you do karate when you walk into a dojo, but you shouldn't let the whole world know your status because many people (more so on the teenage level) will pick fights because "o he doesn't know karate he just wears that black belt". Just my 2 cents

Does anyone know of Shorin-Ryu Bunkai Videos floating around on the net? I am not too concerned with Shorinkan, or Yamashita, or whatever, just as long as it is Shorin-Ryu (nothing personal to you Shotokan guys). Thanks a ton.

Greetings! Good to have you on the forum. Who is your current Sensei if you don't mind me asking? Keep in mind that it will be hard to continue Yamashita Shorin-Ryu in northern Japan, Shorinkan Shorin-Ryu is the closest style to his, since he once studied it. Best of luck on the move.

Classical - at best I can describe this as pre WWII when it was almost only in Japan. Traditional - Emphasis on doing kata like they were originally intended, less flashy, like a dance, with meaning that is often hidden. Modern - Kata needs to be almost self explanitory, litte or no hidden meaning. Often in modern karate katas are made up by Kyu Ranks and Lower ranking black belts.

Mon Wed Fri from 6-7 is class and I give private instruction after that up until about 7:45 or 8. Then saturday 10am till 11 and again 11-12 is normally when I give private instruction or weapons class, if there is a large amount of people staying after class.

I am not sure how big you are size wise, but holding 10 pound weights, wearing wrist weights, or I actauly fill milk jugs full of water. THEN do your katas. Practice with all the extra weight and then when you need to show them in front of people you do them without any weights. Also depending on your style using your hips to propel your arms may be key. Ask an instructor or sempai if you need to use your hips more.

The irony is that sensei yamashita uses the stance in many demos and demonstrations despite not teaching it.

Glad to hear Shizentai Dachi is being used. Thinking back to when I was younger I remember seeing Sensei use those stances, but we were always told (even at black belt level) to use Zenkutsu "Stances too high!!!" As for "recognize", they have a list of Official Kata and those are not taught. Gojushiho IS part of the curriculum, not sure what I was thinking when I wrote that. The others, and I double checked, are not taught.

Differences.... 1) Yamashita does not implement (or did not two years ago when I was a member of his organization) Shizentai Dachi (Natural Stance). In Pinan Shodan for example, the last few moves are Geidan Barrai (low block) then Jodan Uke (high block). In Yamashita System you do both moves from Zenkutsu Dachi (a "deeper" stance). In Shorinkan style you block low in Zenkutsu and then move forward into Shizentai dachi because it is quicker and you don't need any forward momentum to use the block correctly. 2) Shorinkan does not use, Kaki Dachi (crossed legged stance). They turn their body leaving a gap between their legs. I was told the reason is because it is easier on the knees, which is ideal as you age. I am a huge advocate of Matayoshi and believe he knew what he was doing. For this reason I think that Kaki Dachi provides a smaller profile, is quicker to transition into and is a better stance, but I can also respect the knee argument. 3) Shorinkan does not officially recognize Gojushiho, Gojushiho Dai Ni, Okan, J'ion or Hakatsuru - all of which are in the Yamashita Curriculum (although Hakatsuru was never required for anything). 4) Suibukan requires things like Kihon Kumite Waza and Basic Weapons for Black Belt, Shorinkan COMPLETELY separates Kobudo and Karate I will think about it tonight and see if I notice any other major differences.

...and then punch. I would consider it a valid defense - not the best one, but a valid defense.

How many of them can we really guarantee have gone totally unchanged for that amount of time? That definition would make Shotokan a non-traditional style - which I think all would agree it is. Bingo

yep...