Shotoseidoka

Also, no...as a traditional style the school will have some ground fighting, joint locks, take-downs, etc... And really, if I already do a round-house why whould I need to adapt a Maui Thai round house? As far as using focus mits...thats just good training for striking, nothing MMA about them. As other training goes, if they're coming to me to learn something I'm not going to spend a lot of time wearing them out...I'm not training them to be profesional fighters, but I will relay to them the importance of being fit for a healthier lifestyle.

I went through almost the same thing a few years back. I studied Shotokan for just over 12 years then joined the military. Since joining the military I've had to move quite a bit and spend a lot of time away from my home. This was and has been both a blessing and a curse. I've been able to explore other styles, teaching methods, differences in techniques, etc. However, my first Sensei was very strict and we trained very hard. Kata was an important part of our training but full contact sparing was the meat of the class. Now I'm in Okinawa, and it's much more different here than I expected it would be. While looking for a class that I liked I noticed that all dojos did some kumite but not at the level I was use to. Kata here is very important, especially the bunkai. Second to Kata is Tuite (joint locks and controlling techniques). The Dojo I decided to go with works a lot with Tuite self-defense, kata, and kobudo. As far as I can tell from my research, this is how most Okinawans trained, sparing was the least practiced portion. Because of these differences I had several disagreements with the Sensei's way of teaching. I decided that I couldn't keep it to my self and arranged a meeting with him so that I could express my concerns. He was grateful for the honesty and we worked it out to where he and I would stay after class once in a while and spar. So, my suggestion to you is, yes you should talk with your Sensei...especially since you say that your 'heart lies in karate' he deserves the honor of you being truthful with him. Now that being said, it may not change anything as far as tournaments go, but he may help you train in a more realistic way, or show you how the kata can be more than just kicking, punch, block (see other threads about that subject). Hope this helps...

I don't think I would call Funakoshi the father of modern karate. While his style is certainly the most ubiquitous, there are so many other vital Okinawan karate masters who were as important if not more so, such as Itosu, Myagi, Nagamine, etc. Further, if it wasn't for Motubu no one would probably have any idea who Funakoshi was. Karate is much bigger than just one person. Each time you do a kata, the influence of hundreds of people is being brought to life. Check the instructors not the style... I was very scrawny (5'10 140lbs)when I was training Shotokan (shorin-ryu) but was able to learn all the body mechanics needed to develop power in my techniques. It all depends on your instructor and how well he is able to pass the knowledge on to you so that you can be the best you can be. On another rant...Funakoshi is the closest person to the "father of modern Karate" that you can find. He was selected as the spokesperson of the four man team to go to mainland and 'sell' karate to the Japanese. He was chosen because of his education level in both the martial arts and philosophy. Funakoshi was very loyal to both Itosu and Azato and actually taought the Pinan kata the way they were taught to him by Itosu, Shotokan's future generations are the ones who changed the sequence and addapted the Japanese pronuncation. I'm not saying the other's aren't important to the propagation of karate because the are, but Funakoshi was lucky enough to be the 1st born son of his family which ment he received formal education and privilages that others did not receive, like Choki Mutobu. Unfortunately for CM he was not the first born and therefore did not receive any of the benifits of being in a higher class citizen than Funakoshi. These two outstanding martial artist were rivals because of this seperation between them, which is very unfortunae for us. If the two of them could have worked together karate today would be completely different, more complete, neh unstopable.

Karate, just like real Japanese Jiu Jitsu was a complete martial art with throws, joint locks, kicks, punches, ground wrestling, neck breaking, etc, etc. Hard to be a real martial art and not know what to do when you get thrown on the ground and jumped on top of. Do you have the Pinan katas in your system? If so, think of Pinan Godan, there is a sequence at the end where you are throwing someone on the ground and breaking their neck. It holds all the elements from striking to throwing to ground technique. Japanese karate is mostly a strikers art since the Japanese addapted karate to fit into their sport orinented mindeset. Okinawa karate is more of what you all are talking about when you say "complete fighing art". However, there are those of us who study an Okinawan style of karate, but to it's adaptation tot he business side of the werstern mindset, it to has taken on more of a striker only concept. Which is why so many serious karateka are trying to find out wat the original bunkai to their kata is. Because honestly why would we have so many kata to chose from if it was all just kick, punch, block? Tuite and throws are no doubt part of karate that IMO needs to be reintroduced bit by bit.

5. Kuro-obi because of the skill 4. Best of the Best; it made me want to plow through 10 slabs of concrete with a ridge hand, I'm up to 7. 3. Ip man 1 - Semi-historical 2. Bloodsport - I'm still trying to catch gold fish with my bare hand 1. Fist of Legend - I like the irony of a Japanese master giving a lesson to Kung-Fu master

Sai & tonfa, after my next dan testing I'll be starting kama and chucks

We'll, my bo, sai, and tonfa are always in my van ready at a moments notice. Next month I'll add nunchukus and kama....

I guess you've never been in Okinawa...many Uchinan-chu have small private sugarcane farms and the harvest it using kama. Also almost any papa-san will have one or two kama in the bed of his truck... Go to any D.I.Y store on Okinawa and you'll find a section of just kama of verious sizes, weights, and blade type. me, I follow the saying "when in rome.."

This figure 8, are we talking one hand or two? one hand I aggre it is a waste of time. Two hand, some good bo on bo techs are possible with it. A good bo kata to learn is Tokumine no kun: Not really a kata for beginners though...

If you read Funakoshi's "To-te Jittsu" he performs pinan shodan as heian shodan... Pinan is Okinawan while Heian is Japanese, both with the same Kanji and meaning...I've tried to find when Nidan became Shodan but can't find it. To the OP, don't worry about differences in the styles...if you are a serious Karateka, and I assume you are because you've made it to shodan and are looking to keep learning, then talk with the sensei. Let him know your experience level, if he makes you start out as a white belt so be it. Some times it can be a blessing in disguise. if it were me, I'd don a shiro-obi and take the take the class, learn everything the sensei has to teach, good or bad...this will just give you more tools if and when you decide to open your own school

This is a great topic with a lot of differnet views...mostly with one thing in common; 'karate needs to adapt'. I started karate before the 'McDojo' phase and have stuck with karate stricktly for 12yrs before trying different styles. During my time with the other arts I was able to see how they fit into my karate training. This was deepend once I started to studying Karate again in Okinawa, as there is a difference when practiced lets say in the states; where business gets in the way. A few of the other posters had mentioned that there needs to be more 'qualified' instructors. This I agree with more than anything as being on Okinawa, living amongst the people, training with them in both karate and local dance, I've come to know Karate as, probably the most original MMA. The Uchinan-chu (Okinawans) took what they thought to be the best techniques from all fighting styles in asia and added it to their art. As some of the others stated most schools today teach a watered down version...i think this is true for two reasons: 1. Addaption by the Main-land Japanese 2. Commercialization. 1. When Karate was introduced to Japan it had to adapt to the Japanese way, which at the time ment 'Sport'. Many of the highly effective techniques were quickly lost. 2. As Karate started to spread as a 'Sport' it became further watered down, as the combative techniques became a thing of the past. Meanwhile, back on little Okinawa...the teachers with the full knowledge of the more effective techniques of karate were starting to die out and with them their knowledge as they kept the tradition of only teaching their most dedicated/talented student these techniques and in turn their students did the same until we got to the point where we are now asking each other these questions...Why isn't Karate popular? What's the real meaning to Kata? etc... So, does karate need to addapt or as Karateka do we need to addapt? IMHO, it is us the practitioners. So, How do 'WE' fix this?? I suggest researching history (not just your style but it's lineage and sister styles), adding a little history lesson while doing warm-ups/cool-downs, remain as openminded as possible, and pass on what've you learned don't keep it to yourself.

You're right, Thai front kicks are more of a thrust...now to your other reply...TKD is Karate, since General Choi Hong Hi developed it after learning Karate during his college years in Japan, which most Japanese college karate clubs are either Shotokan (Shorin-ryu) or Goju-ryu. Both of these styles use a front snap and a front thrust kick. So was it karate? Some may say it was Kung-fu, depends on how you look at history, but I'd look at it from a training standpoint at which I'd agree with you...easily a TKD front kick.

Since I started learning more about Tuite techniques and seen how Sensei McCarthy and Javier Martinez have adapted tuite in to traditional kata...i can see some basic tuite in Taikyoku Shodan or Kihon Kata. It is nothing fancy by any means but the possibility is still there, especially considering the original source of Taikyoku being Funakoshi, who had extensive training and counsel with many of the greats of his time...but due to the Japanese nationalization of karate and turning it into a sport, the actual purpose and original bunkai is probably lost forever. We can only hope to gain a little of what they knew through research, open mindedness, and hard training.

Like all others it's a great experience for those who have an open mind, for some it can be a humbling experience. Also going from Shotokan to Japanese Jui-jitsu or BJJ will open up your mind for new and exciting bunkai in your kata.

I agree with Bushido_man96, definitely go out an watch at least a weeks worth of classes for each. Also many schools will let you try out a class or two. Do lots of research, with my experience students pick the Sensei not the school/style. But since your looking for good physical exertion, look into a BJJ class, doing ground fighting for 5+ minutes will really test your cardio. Good Luck and train hard