Wastelander

Welcome to the forum!

The equipment is similar to the Olympic TKD body pad, although the headgear is more like the Kudo headgear. The organization doesn't ring any bells for me--they probably just named the organization after the competition format, since it was being called koshiki to begin with. I know Robert Trias of Shuri-Ryu had at least something to do with the koshiki competitions in the USA.

My old dojo allowed some people to do it--the head instructor won the first koshiki tournament in the US, back in the day. It seems to be a modern resurrection of the bogu kumite that was advocated for by the likes of Mabuni Kenwa and Nakamura Shigeru in the early 20th Century. From what I saw of it, koshiki does allow hard contact and throws, but it's still a rather restricted ruleset that focuses on modern tournament-style fighting methods, and they still pause the fight to assign points. That said, I don't believe there is a single overseeing organization that handles koshiki, so different groups may be doing it differently.

Well, I assume "Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA" would be an organization that teaches Ueshiro Ansei Sensei's brand of Matsubayashi-Ryu. If so, then I suppose I've heard of it--he was a rather well-known instructor under Nagamine Shoshin, if I remember correctly.

I started out blogging on Blogger about 7 years ago, and posted pretty regularly for a while. Then, I took a couple years off, and then started up a new blog on Blogger, which I kept up with better. Recently, I upgraded to using WordPress. Personally, I think blogging is a very healthy way of delving into your own thoughts on your training.

The Gracies actually did start the UFC, and they did it to showcase Jiu-Jitsu--that WAS the whole purpose of the tournament. Royce also won UFC 1, 2, 4, and fought to a draw in 5. That said, MMA has evolved quite a bit since those early tournaments, and Jiu-Jitsu does not hold the power it once did inside the cage. Honestly, wrestling is beating BJJ more often than not, these days, and striking is slowly becoming more dominant as fighters become more well-rounded. It may have started as a marketing tool for the Gracies, but it isn't anymore.

I love watching MMA, and I even participated in an MMA bout, once. Certainly, MMA is not a perfect representation of self defense, but there is still value in an arranged fight between trained opponents--especially in a venue where the ruleset is relatively open, and allows for many types of fighting, the way MMA does. The pressure testing aspect of it, if nothing else, is very valuable. Interestingly, the more MMA develops and evolves, the more old-school karate techniques I see showing up. I've written a variety of articles on the topic, and I routinely save animated GIFs of fighters using these techniques, even when they have no idea that those techniques exist in karate. Think of how popular shovel/oblique kicks and side kicks to the legs are becoming. Trapping and limb control are also showing up more and more often. I think the more fighters grow and evolve, the more we will see the more advanced aspects of traditional martial arts. The image is one I've seen thrown around Facebook an awful lot, but it's just marketing. Traditional schools are often worried that MMA schools will steal their students. There is definitely a difference between the training in traditional martial arts and the training in MMA, but the image is sensationalist and biased. I've met and spoken to a lot of very respectful, humble MMA fighters, and to say they aren't disciplined is ridiculous! Also, the MMA fighter pictured is Jeff Monson, who is quite intelligent and articulate. Besides, I don't know about anyone else, but my karate is pretty brutal.

I'll be honest--organization and planning are NOT my strong suits! I train at least a little bit every day, but it's pretty random. A kata here, a drill there, an exercise there, all scattered throughout the day. Sometimes, I will set aside a long block of time for training, but most of the time I just wing it and do what feels right, when it feels right. Efficient? Maybe not, but it works for me.

Wastelander, thank you for sharing that. Is bridge a more appropriate term for the chamber or are you referring to something different? Can you provide a youtube sample? Does this help at all?

Well, I suppose I can put in a word for Chibana Sensei, as my style comes from him. Our chamber would be closest to the "punch-style chamber" you mention, although it really tends to be more of a "bridge" than a "punch"

Well, if you're interested in Gojushiho, I prefer the Shidokan Shorin-Ryu version (even over the version I practice in the Shorinkan): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRMaXKtVy9Y Paiku should be relatively comfortable for you, as you're a Goju-Ryu stylist, and Ryuei-Ryu is a Naha-Te system, too. As a Shorin-Ryu guy, I have to plug Naihanchi, Passai, and Kusanku--they are the core of our system. Naihanchi is relatively consistent across most Shorin-Ryu styles, except for KishimotoDi. Passai and Kusanku have LOTS of versions, but most of them are good. I'm particularly partial to Tawada Passai and Chatan Yara Kusanku.

To the best of my knowledge, those techniques exist, in some form or another, in every karate style. They may call them something different, or do them slightly differently, but the general movement and idea is there. The trouble is that there are going to be lots of variations, so it's going to be hard to figure out exactly what you're looking for. If this is any help, "soto-uke" is "outside receiver," and "uchi-uke" is "inner receiver." The trouble is that some people name the technique based on the movement, and some name it based on the part of the body being used. If you're naming it after the movement, then "soto-uke" moves across the body toward the outside, and "uchi-uke" moves across the body toward the inside. If you're naming based on the part of the body, then that can be reversed, because "soto-uke" would use the outside of the arm, while "uchi-uke" would use the inside of the arm.

Well, there are many "minds" in grappling arts and in striking arts, so it's hard to say. Generally, grapplers wants to get in close, and strikers want to stay at a distance, so that can be pretty widely applied to your subject. For more specifics, you really have to consider how each school approaches their art. For example, I studied judo in two different dojo, and the mindset was quite different in each place, despite teaching the same art! Likewise, I've studied karate in two different styles/dojo, and visited many more, and the mindset is vastly different between all of them. For example, my first judo dojo taught very formal, precise judo--the kind you see in the demo videos from the first half of the 20th Century. They also spent every other class working newaza (groundwork). In my second judo dojo, they taught very dynamic, Olympic judo, with an emphasis on winning competitions, and in 2 years I was there for two classes where they did newaza practice. While both required you to get in close, and the emphasis was on throwing your opponent, after that the mindsets were totally different! At my first karate dojo, I developed strong basics and body mechanics, and learned to do long-range point sparring. At my current dojo, I've learned to explore the kata for practical self defense and fighting techniques, and I've learned how to apply karate up close and personal, and deal with an ugly fight. Those are two very different worlds.

Well, in looking it up, it would seem that Ron Van Clief created that kata, and the only videos I can find of it are tapes he is selling. Sorry!

Congratulations!

Recently, my Sensei and I recorded this video for the opening sequence of Gojushiho, as we practice it: In response, Leigh Simms shared his take on the Shotokan version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH4E_8-Lg9c I also recorded a video, myself, of an application for the spearhand sequences in Gojushiho: And Leigh had a Shotokan take on it, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU94EDb9Ev4 Then, of course, Iain Abernethy has his approach: Personally, I enjoy exploring and sharing a variety of application options for kata. While we can all follow certain guidelines, concepts, and principles, individuals can still see different ways of using the movements of kata. Also, I think these types of comparisons can really highlight both the similarities and differences between styles.

This forum is definitely a great place, and I'm happy to be a part of it! Congratulations on the landmark post count, and all it represents! And thank you for giving us this great community!

I use these: http://www.combatsports.com/csi/gloves-1/mma-sparring-gloves/combat-sports-mma-sparring-gloves-2.html They leave my hands open for grappling, but are more forgiving on my partners than 4oz MMA gloves. Of course, they are a bit bulkier, because of that, so they do make it harder to slide your hands through small spaces. Even so, I like them a lot! My Sensei has a lace-up pair that are the same, and he loves them, although lately he's been using the Shureido WKF approved gear too.

Okinawan systems don't generally use "osu/oss" because it's considered to be rude, but Japanese systems use it fairly often, because the culture is different. American and Chinese Goju are based off of Japanese Goju-Ryu, if I recall correctly. Peter Urban was a student of Yamaguchi Gogen of Goju Kai, and American Goju was Peter Urban's system. The man who founded Chinese Goju was a student of his. For those reasons, it makes sense that you would be hearing "osu/oss" a lot. When I visited a Goju Kai dojo a while back, they used it frequently. In the context of your system, it's not out of place. "Hai" just means "yes," or it can be more generally used to imply an appropriate affirmative response of some kind. There is no reason you couldn't use it in a dojo that also uses "osu/oss." As for the term senpai (often spelled "sempai" because of how it sounds), I wouldn't worry too much about it, either. Your dojo is a few generations removed from Japan, and it isn't really shocking that people who don't speak Japanese would say/spell Japanese words incorrectly. When I started training, I was taught plenty of incorrectly pronounced Japanese words! Over time, I researched more and corrected myself. As JR suggested, I wouldn't go around correcting people--at least, not until you're a more permanent fixture in the dojo. A beginner correcting people makes people think they are an over-confident know-it-all. An advanced student correcting people has some authority.

The best way to put in extra work and show initiative is to practice what you were taught in class at home, so that when you come back to class, you're better than when you left. Class is for learning new material, correcting mistakes, and working with partners. Improving on what you learned is for your own time

My first Sensei asked me to help a white belt kid on their first day, when I was a yellow belt. At the time, I was still very self conscious about teaching and nervous about public speaking, so it was very tough. Over time, he asked me to help more white belts, and as I went up in rank, I started helping higher ranks. Eventually, it just sort of evolved into teaching entire sections of classes, and then entire classes.

Congratulations!

Welcome to the forum! Honestly, unless someone here on KF has personal experience with that school, we won't be able to truly tell you if the school is a good one. Even then, everyone is going to have different criteria and a different perspective. You'll really have to go there, ask lots of questions, and watch some classes to see what you think, personally. As for preparing yourself to perform well when you start, the best thing you can do is lower your expectations for your performance! As strange as that sounds, the hardest thing for many new students is to come in thinking they are going to do great, and then they don't. That can make people give up to soon. All you can do is do your best! Go in with an open mind, try your best, and recognize your limits. Everything will get better in time. Your final question is one you'll have to ask the instructor at that school, since everyone is different. I've heard of schools that have you spar in your first lesson, and schools that don't let you spar until you've trained for a year! I don't have any clue what the average would be.

Karate has always been a rather blended art, so you can find techniques in karate that are reminiscent of a variety of different systems. Of course, when you consider that there are only so many ways to affect the human body with another human body, there are bound to be similarities, anyway. When looking at throws, there are some universal principles in play. Balance, momentum, and redirection are all key components. Despite that, Aikido and judo implement them differently. Karate tends to look at things differently, as well. I have seen some Aikido-esque techniques in karate, and I have seen some throws that were identical (or nearly) to what I learned in judo, and I have learned some throws that are more like what I have seen from Silat and Kali. Many of these methods can also be seen in Chinese shuai-jiao and chin-na. Look into all of these sources and compare the movements and principles to your kata, and you will find karate throws.

I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the video! I know MMA was a tough test for me, but since you've done it before, I imagine it will be a little less shocking . Still, I hope your karate training shines through!