Student4Life

Ryu, Point sparring can be very aggravating. To be efficient at point sparring you need a very good defense and quick well timed counters. To most of us, our natural instinct is to fight thru our opponent and land strikes that are going to cause the most damage. While this is not necessarily a good strategy in any fight it is even worse for those of us who point spar. I have been practicing Karate for almost 20 years. For ten of those I have practiced contact/knockdown karate. I still get aggravated when I point spar. Keep a cool head and let your opponent do the work. Work on using parries and common blocks and develop quick counters. Using defined blocks such as Gedan Barai, Uchi Uke, Soto Uke, and Jodan Uke not only takes more energy to execute than parries and common blocks but they also leave you open to combinations if you are not quick. If you really want some good pointers on point sparring you might want to ask in the Korean Martial Arts Forum. The TKD practitioners are known for their point sparring prowess. Hope this helped some! Good luck and if you have anymore questions please ask!

Master Uezu's videos are an incredible reference for learning basics and forms. You can find many of them on youtube. http://youtu.be/gS6IB_0Dx2k Here is a link for Seisan Kata. Also, The encyclopedia of "Isshin Ryu Karate" is an amazing reference. It was co authored by Master Joseph Jennings and Master Uezu.

Using resistance bands while practicing hand and foot techniques help my power immensely. Knuckle pushups will help with your forearms and wrists.I'm a BIG fan of using the strap on weights on my arms and legs while preforming kata, shadow boxing, or bag work as well.

[/qoute]Hi Student4life, actually they are both "non-okinawan" karate. Sojobo You're right. I should have said Japanese styles based in Okinawan Karate.

BTW if you want to be a good martial artist you better learn to love Kata. It's a major part f training in any Okinawan styles including Kyokushin. The Kata teaches you good technique and footwork essential to being proficient in kumite. If you walk into a Dojo be it Wado-ryu, Kyokushin or otherwise with the attitude of I don't need kata I just want to fight, you're going to have a very long and most likely painful road ahead of you

Hello Mr.Mango, Wado-ryu and Kyokushin are both Okinawan styles with roots in Shotokan. They both also incorporate a great deal of tai sabaki into their training. While they are both distinctly different I don't believe you would have any trouble at all transitioning from one to the other. Remember, you can still fight in knock down tournaments while training in Wado-Ryu. You get out of it what you put in. Most important thing is to start training and begin learning the basics. Having trained in Korean arts for years and a short time in Chinese Kung fu and now 7 years in Okinawan Isshinryu, imho Okinawan styles are very practical and powerful arts. Try the Wado-ryu school out. If they are a good Wado-ryu school you won't be disappointed.

I'd like to compete and place in Yudansha Kata and Kumite at a loacal level. I haven't competed since I was 17 (I'm 31 this year). Have a firm Grasp of the bunkai of all 8 open hand Isshinryu Kata. Lay the ground work for opening my own Dojo.

This is a great thread! I'm looking at opening my own Dojo within the next few years.

The patch was indeed designed by Advincula Sensei who is one of the most respected Isshinryu Karateka. Out of the original U.S. Marines who trained with Soke Shimabuku Advincula Sensei trained with him the longest. It is said they also shared a strong personal relationship as well. The patch was based on Soke Shimabuku's vision. The patch also originally had three stars. The 2 additional stars where added by Master Angi Uezu and only used in some Isshinryu organizations. The patches most commonly worn still have only three stars.

In my style there are 12 open hand Kata's. We start off with Tiger Forms taken from an American Kenpo style which are reminiscent of the first 4 Shotokan Kata or the Kicho Hyungs of TSD. Then the 8 traditional IsshinRyu open hand Katas Seisan Seiunchin Naihanchi Wansu Chinto Sanchin Kusanku Sunsu I some times question the Tiger forms. (I'm also a traditionalist.) I do see the benefit though for beginners. They teach basic stance and basic movement. As we are an "American Karate style based in Isshinryu" I have to except the non traditional aspects. When I open my Dojo in the next few years we will be strict Isshinryu. We teach the Kobudo Katas of Isshinryu at my present dojo as well. Tokomeni No Kun Urashi Shishi No Kun Kusan-Ku Sai Chantan Yara No Sai Bo Sai/kumite (Bo vs Sai) Bo Bo/kumite (Bo vs Bo) The only ones we don't teach are the Tonfa (tuifa) Kata which I am learning on my own. I studied Tang Soo Do for 12 years before I came to Isshinryu. I must say I love Isshinryu's Katas. they are straight forward and to the point. Little flair and the Bunkai makes sense. I also enjoy the 2 person weapon kumite in Isshinryu. It is a aspect seldom studied in other arts.

Congratulations to all!! I'm sure it's well deserved! I look forward to getting to know you all better!

Congratulations sojobo!

As I understand it, the oldest styles listed here would be Naha te, Shuri te, and Tomari te. I may be wrong but I thought they all sprang up in Okinawa at similar times. Don't hold me to it. This is just my understanding. I would have to agree with sensei8 that to properly answer this would take a time machine.

Thank you all.

Thank you both very much for your reply's. Hanshi, Thank you for your direction. I will send an email today. Again thank you both very much!

I am a senior instructor at the Dojo I attend and am very focused on traditional Isshinryu. I run my classes as traditional as I can focusing on charts, kata, bunkai and oyo, good snapping technique, and learning the history of Isshinryu. I would like to join a organization and have my rank and dojo "when I open one" recognized. I have no problems proving my knowledge even if I have to drive. I was just wondering if I have any options. I know I don't "need" to be a part of an organization but it would give me piece of mind. Thanks all!

Welcome to KF. You seem to have formulated a pretty deep opinion for someone who has not trained very long. I agree with you that some schools lack technique, but also as you said you get what you put into it. Perhaps you should seek out a Kyokushin Dojo. From what you say it is exactly what you're looking for. Conditioning, full contact training, straight forward technique. Anyhow, again welcome. Look forward to reading your posts!

Hello everyone. My name is Ross Conklin. I currently study and instruct at No Limits Martial Arts in Simpsonville SC. We teach Okinawan style karate rooted deeply in Isshinryu. I studied Tang Soo Do for about 12 years and reached 3rd Dan. After that I moved to Okinawan styles and have been there ever since. I currently hold the rank of San dan in Okinawan Karate. I look forward to meeting all of you and learning from you as well!