Karate Guy

I just wanted to thank everyone for the input. sensei8: I will definitely check out that link and their dojo. MatsuShinshii: Your exactly right! The search is going to be very difficult. I will take your advice and just get out and talk to people. JR 137: I also appreciate your input. It may just be time to write another chapter in my MA career. I would rather not stray away from a traditional art though. Studying 300 year old kata is what interested me in the MA's to begin with. I feel the need to add to what I have learned and pass on the traditions to the next generation as a sense of responsibility. But, your right, things do change with time. I just need to find something that feels like home and run with it. I definitely appreciate all the sage advice you all have given. If anyone else would like to chime in please feel free. Andy

Ironically, I'm not. At this point at least. I have posted in the "Karate" section of this forum that I'm looking for a specific type of school. Check out my post "looking for a school". I am in Tucson and having some difficulty finding what I'm looking for. If you have contacts here, I'm willing to check them out.

Hi all, My name is Andy I'm brand new to the forum. Here is a little background on my martial arts experience. I have studied in one school that taught a traditional Okinawan white crane style karate. The style consisted mainly Goju-Ryu but also had some Shorin-Ryu and Ueichi-Ryu influence as well. The instructor (a good friend of mine) really stressed the importance of kata, bunkai and the basics. Some of the kata in this system are very old. My Sensei teaches these kata as they were, or as close as he can get. He was/is old school and trained his karateka very hard. He is a very humble man and teaches his karateka to be the same. I studied with him for about 4 1/2 to 5 years and attained the rank of Ikkyu at the age of 23. Then, life happened as it does with most of us. I moved from Illinois to Tucson, Arizona. I got married, had kids, and now a full 18+ years later, I would like to start martial arts again. I am out of shape but fairly active. Some things I am not interested in include commercialized schools, tournaments, and 40 ranks to get to Shodan. That last one may be an exaggeration but you get my point. I'm not saying these things are bad, but they are just not for me or what I'm looking for. I am looking for a small school much like I studied. Traditional Okinawan kata and training methods. I am having some difficulty finding it in my area, so I figured I would ask. I appreciate any help. Arigato Gozaimasu Andy

I am new to this forum and just wanted to say hi to everyone. I'm glad to be here. I hope I can add something to the forum.