Shorin Ryuu

I was going to bring that book up and ICG as sounding somewhat similar to what you're describing...

I googled it, and only found it being quoted as sources of B.S., M.S. or Ph. D.'s in Martial Arts on sites of dubious reliability. I haven't been able to find any other information on it (where it is, address, phone number, etc.). Can you help me on this?

To offer just a very brief, simple explanation, I would say that "circular styles becoming more linear" just means your circles are tighter and more efficient. To the untrained eye, it looks more linear. As far as linear styles becoming more circular, it's probably more that the person is exposed to more advanced circular concepts as they train more. I would wager that their circles may become tighter once again. Something I've heard from various sources is you can use lines to make circles and circles to make lines, but you should avoid using circles to make circles...

Obviously that's not what he's talking about...nor is what he is talking about a specific technique (like stuffing a jab or a press block or other ones mentioned).

That's an interesting site. I guess I'm lucky since I can usually remember my dreams when I wake up (whether I try to or not). I even have multiple dreams a night and from time to time, I can continue a dream where I leave off. I've had some pretty good instances of staying very lucid for long periods of time. Back in my young days, whenever I had a nightmare (which was practically every night), I would trigger a tornado to come. Whenever it would suck me in, I would wake up. The strangest thing, but I guess it was my defense mechanism. I would be glad when it came, actually. Later (and now, I guess), I'd just kill something that would try to kill me. But that site is great. It really identifies all the things that trigger me in my dreams, such as lightswitches, clocks, reading, etc. I never really done that much research on lucid dreaming, so it was pretty much just willpower before. Thanks for the link! I'll try those tips too.

Yes, it is Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te. Tomari-Te was subsumed into Shuri-Te, more evident in styles like Shobayashi Shorin Ryu that follow the teachings of Kyan Chotoku. I disagree with Funakoshi's statement (in Karate-Do Kyohan, where most people get this from) that Shorei (Naha) styles are for larger people and Shorin (Shuri) styles are for smaller people. Both main branches have kata that can suit large or small people, and to be accurate, personality and body structure really have no bearing on the type of karate you take. The kata are all adaptable to suit your body type rather than choosing kata based on your body type. What's more, in Karate-Do Kyohan, Funakoshi classifies Tekki (Naihanchi), Jutte (Jitte), Hangetsu (Shuri Seisan) and Jion as Shorei kata when in fact none of these are actually Naha-Te kata. They are all kata you will find in Shorin Ryu styles rather than Naha-Te styles. For that matter, none of the kata mentioned in Karate-Do Kyohan are Naha-Te kata. A very generalized comparison of Shuri and Naha Te styles is that Shuri tends to emphasize more natural breathing while Naha Te emphasizes artificial breath control. Both Naha and Shuri employ hard and soft techniques. Naha Te also tends to be more "closer" to its Chinese origins, although you can identify Chinese concepts in both styles. As for one being a "close" and one being a "distance" style, I find such classification invalid. Both styles tend to be close range fighting with an emphasis of debilitating the opponent before, during and after a takedown, which I feel is the focus of both styles. Goju Ryu's emphasis on things like hojo undo may be a source of the perception that Naha styles are for bigger more muscular people, but it isn't uncommon for Shorin stylists to use the equipment as well (I do). That being said, sometimes Goju Ryu stylists will eschew the more finer, manipulative grappling of Shorin Ryu and go for the skillful manipulation of raw destructive power in their grappling. A Shorin Ryu stylist may strike something while grappling when a Goju Ryu stylist would just tear it up while grappling, for example. A gross generalization, so don't jump all over me. Perhaps the perception that Goju Ryu is more of a "close" style than Shorin Ryu comes from the fact that a lot of Goju Ryu masters look very frightening up close. Some of them can just lay hands on you and not even worry about technique, they'll just rip you up good...combine that with knowledge of technique, and it's even worse... Neither one is better than the other. In the old days, it wasn't uncommon for people to have trained both in Shuri and Naha styles, even to be masters in both. There have also been cross-influences both ways on the development of Shuri and Naha styles.

And you say I have trouble deciding between fantasty and reality! Yes, because there is a difference between tongue-in-cheek humor and outlandish claims.

It may be a case where they got a degree in philosophy, only they wrote their dissertation on martial arts philosophy.

We have all belts classes in my dojo. We may work together during drills and lower level kata, but a lot of the class involves splitting up into groups and working on things in that manner, with the instructor taking an individual or group through something specific and checking up on each group. Having 2 1/2 hour long classes helps facilitate this somewhat. My instructor also has the rule that you have to be 15 or older to join, so there is less of a "maturity" problem or need to cater to short attention spans. Then again, there is only white belt, brown belt, and then the dan ranks.

I think the answer to this really depends on how the focus is applied. There are those who use competition strictly as a training aid to better their karate. And there are those who use their karate strictly as a training aid to better their competition. Most people fall somewhere in between, although many fall towards focusing more on competition whether they realize it or not. As for me personally, I do not participate in competitions because I do not like training extensively within the rules geared for competition. I think in many cases, the "wrong person" may win in competitions. I have seen those who do competition and are able to make a clear distinction both in their training and in their minds between competition training and self-defense training. And some of these would defeat me quite handily in a "real fight". But those who make this distinction tend to be more of an exception rather than the rule. My stance on this is the same as free sparring. If used only as a tool, then it is acceptable. If it becomes a goal, then it is not.

Being able to be that person in the movie theater who critiques all the techniques in a kung fu movie based on their practicality. Hmm. Is that a good thing?

"Cross training" was common in the old days as well. The expectation that someone would only train under one teacher, at least in karate, is a very new thing. Perhaps 50-70 years old in most cases. Makes you wonder what it means by "traditional" karate, doesn't it? That being said, I don't think the student-teacher relationship is a small thing nor should it be taken lightly, but having more than one teacher, even at the same time, was fairly common back then. Nowadays, it will just depend on what your teachers prefer. If they get offended, it doesn't matter what really was the traditional way or not, they'll get offended.

I've managed to control most of my dreams fairly often as soon as I realize they are dreams. My biggest problem is many times, as soon as I start to do so, there is a tendency for my body to start to wake up. However, I can stave off the waking process with some effort (although more intense effort seems to have the opposite effect and makes me want to wake up more). Most of this really started because I was plagued with nightmares for most of my younger childhood. My father simply told me it was a matter of willpower. Since then, I've usually been able to control dreams if I realize them for what they are.

I think there is a dramatic difference between using sharp kama and sharp shuriken or kunai. When using kama, they are almost constantly in motion and passing near, around and across your body. The slightest mistake could result in extreme debilitating injury. The shuriken and kunai are used in a separate manner than the kama, and the risk of cutting yourself with them is much lower. I think the risks and inherent dangers of using sharp kama for kata practice outweigh any mental benefits you could gain, regardless of whether you are "still learning" or not.

I think we are in agreement, perhaps? I meant the dull pair for kata and the other for cutting practice. For example, I use my dull Murasaki kama for my kata and my Okinawan hardware store kama for practicing cuts on cardboard and things in my backyard. I agree that using sharp kama for kata practice, however realistic, is just extremely dangerous. If he were to buy hardware store kama, he should have them dulled for the pair he's going to do kata with.

Stick with it, and those anniversaries will keep coming!

I've heard this described as "Kan no Me" (Khan no May...for all those people about to pronounce it as Can no Mee). I agree with this line of thought (as do most of the people posting here, it seems).

Yeah, that's how you say them. There are no dipthongs or anything though. Just Shu go sha (the syllables are all the same length). I do believe shugosha is a more appropriate term for what you have in mind. Maybe you can ask mods or someone to change your name, if you really wanted to. I don't know the rules or even the capabilities regarding this matter.

I think the best thing you can do is order hardware store kama from Okinawa when you have the chance. It's what they all really use, anyway. I have a pair of Murasaki kama that are nice (the large size), but are slightly heavy. This is relative, as most other commercial kama tend to be even heavier, so it really isn't that bad. I also got used to it really quick so I can use them relatively quickly (I'm not the best as it is). I think the medium and small sizes are nice and light. The Murasaki kama come dulled. I don't know if that will affect your decision. My best advice is to get two pair of kama, one dull (or sharp and then dull them) and a sharp pair. Have one for kata, the other for practicing cuts on things like cardboard boxes. It doesn't hurt to get a weapon that is technically smaller than the suggested size (in my opinion, although I think I'm in the minority). The way you block with these small weapons, you don't want your body behind it anyway, as they won't stand up against a hard swing (you're parrying, not blocking), so if they don't technically reach your elbow, it's okay. You could probably call up Sensei Gordon Shell (owner of Murasaki) and give him your measurements. He'll either suggest a size he has in stock, or he'll actually custom make a size for you, usually. But when it comes down to it, Okinawan hardware store kama are probably the best...

This is a decent expression, and very appropriate...I must say that one of my two majors in undergrad was Foreign Area Studies (East Asia) and the Master's Degree I'm currently pursuing is in East Asian Security Studies, so I get to hear all the stock phrases.... The other thing you have to understand is how future leaders in any given field are chosen in Japan, as a cultural norm. I mentioned in my post in this thread that those overeager students represent potential that could be channeled. In Japan, what they tend to do is take those individuals that show signs of some rebelling against the order (not too much...those are considered unusable) and sort of mold them to become leaders that have some independent action while still staying within the confines of Confucian norms. While seniority and rank is of course based upon time in grade, the development of leaders does tend to follow this process. In this case, the nail that sticks out only barely isn't hammered down heavily, but gently, so not to discourage the subtle difference between it and its peers. In this way, there is "managed creativity" of sorts in leadership. This is a relative term, of course. Point being: Make sure you know when to hammer and how hard.

Hey there smitty. You certainly look familiar, eh? The best thing you can do to get "bang for your buck" is to not move straight back when you fight, as a general rule in kumite. There are a lot of things you can work on, but this will help to prevent you from stumbling back as they continue a massive drive forward. Instead, step to the side, or better yet, forward and to the side. When you block, it's better to move out of the way so even if your block fails, you're not there to get hit anyway.

I think people have to realize that traditional martial arts are merely mixed martial arts that survived over time. What distinguishes them from your run-of-the-mill mixed martial arts style is traditional styles are (should be) presented in a well-integrated format that takes all parts as a seamless whole. I've got nothing against mixed martial arts places or "new styles". However, I think in order for it to be worth your while, they have to combine everything into a workable, complementary whole. Anyone can take an assortment of techniques and put them together in a hodge-podge fashion. But what makes a style good is whether or not the principles are complementary to each other and in a logical format for transmission. This is much harder to do, although it isn't impossible.

Your name Hogosha means guardian, although I believe that has more connotations of guardian in the legal sense. I believe the word Shugosha has more martial or romantic overtones, like guardians of the temple, or guardians of the world order. That sort of thing.

If he was being penalized for doing something wrong, then why did they bother testing him at all?

Snazzed, I know you "get it", I just wanted to share this story... This reminds me of something my instructor told me the other day. Last month, he took a trip to Okinawa and just happened to see Morio Higaonna (of Goju Ryu fame) on the plane ride over, so they got to talking and my instructor along with the two people he brought with him were invited to watch a class. During the class, there was a student who apparently had trouble timing his "kiai" with a strike. Higaonna Sensei stopped him and made him work at simply stepping forward and punching with a kiai over and over, but he simply could not get it done correctly. Rather than "letting it go" and moving on to something else, Higaonna had the student practice it over and over until there was some improvement to be seen. I'm sure it was a frustrating experience for the student and the teacher, but never once did Higaonna show any impatience or frustration. I think this is the attitude we must adopt both as teachers and students in our training. Later on in the trip, they experienced much of the same thing at the dojo of our grandmaster. Mistakes were not simply glossed over, but they were identified and corrected. Part of this is because they know people don't want to go travel to Okinawa and be told how good they are, they want to go to Okinawa to be told what needs to be fixed. Even knowing this intellectually, there are rare times when I catch myself mildly dreading when my instructor will single me out and ask me to do a kata in front of him because I know he's studying my every move. At times like these, I know I need more improvement of the oft-quoted "self". I tell myself that it is far more important to perform well because you like performing well, not because you hate performing poorly, which is an important distinction. Performing poorly is only a condition that can exhibit areas that need improvement so you can perform well, and nothing more. But like many things in life, it is easier said than done. I consider myself much more intrinsically and self-motivated than most people, yet even still I have to grapple with these kinds of issues from time to time. As long as you keep the right attitude and approach to training, as trite and over-used as it sounds, things will be just fine.