I-Self

First my Machimura brother: Thank you, and you probably knew that stuff anyway. I train with Charles Tatum one pf the people who Kuda stated was truly qualified to teach his style (the other being Greg Ohl and our sensei). Our sensei is Sensei Ron Lindsey. He was president of Yuichi Kuda Shinshii's organization. He would beg to differ with you as would I. I have seen both and although very similar they are also different. Nakamura's teachings did influence some things about Kuda's principles. That is why the style is delineated from the orhtodox karatejutsu taught by Lindsey and a few others. Still, you may learn things the way I've learned them. I could be wrong. I'd have to train with you to know for sure. Anyway, it is a good style and Kuda's people were always known for their kumite skills. Props. Hey step off or get stepped on! Just jokin'! Yeah Joe Lewis helped to create kickboxing. Talk about brutish and a little being too much! But for the reals, I speak about Matsubayashi from experience. I started in Shorinkan (Kobayashi) in SE Asia. When I got to where I am now, I went searching for a good Shorin Ryu dojo. I found one that was cool, and it happened to be a school under Eihachi Ota's org.. There was a lot of calisthenics and sparring (with no face contact which was new to me), and also kata. I was ranked a 1st kyu in Matsubayashi when I moved on to my present style. I was pretty familiar with it, the Shorinkan way and now the Matsumura Seito way. They are all very different in an alike way. What I experienced at the Matsubayashi dojo was odd to me. The kumite was half-hearted and none of its "players" was really that impressive. Everyone seemed slow to me for Shorin stylists, especially their hand techniques. They always jocked the Shuri Ryu cats they trained with. That was ridiculous to me. They made the weaker kids fight and get a beatdown just because the BBs and senior students were sadistic and a-holes who couldn't do shite themselves. I took it out on the higher ranks when it came to my kumite and SD when testing for Brown. The yudansha I saw there couldn't hold a candle to even the purple belts I had in my Kobayashi class. That is my evaluation. I definitely left that school with a bad taste in my mouth, and a desire to discontinue any karate as I was discouraged by what Americans thought a karate-ka was supposed to be. From day one the sensei (who never taught) tried to get me to compete. That was their focus (trophies in the window), although he did stress kata a lot. The thing is what good is kata if it has lost its depth? The motions were correct, but I alreaday had something to compare it to. When I moved on to Matsumura Orthodox I found that even what I thought I knew as karate was inefficient and too dramatic. "Schoolboys" karate is the norm here, Europe, Asia, Japan and Okinawa. Nagamine's style does fit in that category (to many of the old school sensei). Still, it's better than a lot of the other ryu out there. Ota is truly good and his kobudo is excellent. When I use the term Kobujutsu, I mean it in its original meaning- "Old War Art". This included empty-hands and weapons. There was no separate distinction. So maybe I should have said Okinawan "koryu". BTW kumite means nil unless you do it all out full-contact with no "yame" everytime someone gets grazed. 2-4 min rounds all out, with some grappling and sweeping. You gotta at least allow controlled backfists and ridgehands to the face and head. That's about 75% of Shorin's repertoire- Hands! Still, it's not real fighting and it will only slightly prepare you for that. Don't rely that much on kumite unless you do Kyokushikai or one of its offshoots. Now that's KOOOOO-MahTay!

The Uechi Ryu stylists you saw in that video can fight very, very well. Everyone who knows more than Japanese karate knows this. They can kickbox and spar with the best of them, and have even integrated BJJ into their Ryu. Uechi Ryu condiditoning is more hardcore than Goju! Try and break a 1.5-2 inch board with an open hand kakushiken (fingertip strike) or a big toe kick. Tell me what happens....

No doubt- everything is mental or "in your head". The truth is that (your) perception is (your) reality, but perception is an illusion- a trick your mind plays on your body. "If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" The consensus agreement amongst neuroscientists is that the answer is "no". That aside, you feel that what you experience when you are asleep and awake is real, so it is as far as you know. Therefore, living under that assumption the mental landscape your brain maps out of its surroundings seems to entail a concrete existence. In that sense kata is very physical and real, and understanding the messages entailed in them is crucial to understanding effective karate philosophy and application. It should be noted that the Orthodox styles teach that no movement is wasted. Even the preparation hand movements point to defensive and offensive techniques. Religion does affect kata. All kata are said to be of Chinese influence via the Shaolin Temple where Ch'an or Zen Buddhism was the focus of the monks. For example Supraempi, or "108". There are 108 steps leading up to every Ch'an Buddhist temple. That is the significance of this number. Also, Gojushiho which means "54"- you are now halfway done with your journey to enlightenment- it is much more than a physical one- in fact the mind and body are the same. So yes, there is some religious symbolism, but this is also a mask to hide very effective fighting techniques. Again, I reiterate, no movement is wasted. Symbolism rules our reality. Reality is a malleable illusion. Understand and respect it from your angle, and adjust to the magic trick accordingly. Make it work with you, not for you. If you don't believe in something why do it? You'll never get anywhere doing that. Like my Sensei always says- "Kata, kata, kata!!!"

Thanks for the compliment(s). It was my pleasure. I had some typos, but I was up late getting some work done when I typed it. Karate, and MAs in general, is so interwoven in my life and has been for over 20 years now.That's just how I know it. I may be wrong about some things, but most of it is pretty on. Oh yeah, ET my Kyokushin brother (great style), if done without too much "hisssss!" or forced "hooooock!" Sanchin is a good isometric exercise. The thing with any isometric exercise, where intravascular pressure builds up, is that the blood is forcibly pumped through the vessels like a constricted hose. If you do Sanchin so hard that your eyes bulge, your face and neck turn red or purple and your neck veins become swollen then "debris" that is stuck to the walls of your vessels can dislodge and occlude in the brain or lungs. This is especially true after you are 55 or 60. This can cause a stroke or a pulmonary embolus ("blood clot" in the lungs). It is a big strain on your heart, too. Years of this could lead to serious cardio-vascular problems; even sudden paralysis or death from a CVA (stroke). Look up the lifespan of the typical Okinawan man. Compare these statistics with lifespans of the old masters of Okinawan karate, both Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu. There is some evidence to support what many know already. Okinawan's, on the average, live at least 7-8years longer than their American counterparts. Hope this helps and feel free to criticize or correct me if I'm wrong about certain things. I like to learn. Bye:)

Shorin Ryu is a major Okinawan Ryu comprised of 4 main branches. The oldest and most traditional of these schools is Matsumura Seito, founded by Hohan Soken, the Grandnephew of the founder of Shuri-te (forerunner of modern Shorin), Sokon Machimura (Matsumura). Matsumura's training included Fujian Shaolin Chuan Fa (Sifu Iwah c. 1800s), Jigen Ryu Kenjutsu (fighting style of the Satsuma Samurai) and Ti- the native striking and grappling arts of Okinawa. He was graded a master instructor (Shihan in Japanese) in all. As Head of the Royal Palace Guard for 3 Okinawan kings (Shuri Castle), much of his art is based on self protection/preservation. Nabe Matsumura the nephew of Sokon, taught his nephew Hohan Soken the karate that was passed down to him from Matsumura Sokon. Matsumura taught many people, but only Matsumura learned the intricacies of this system (ex. the Hakutsuru [White Crane] Kata). His style was an older, rawer form not greatly influenced by the primary school-based systems of Shorin Ryu. Hohan Soken's Seito (Orthodox) has a lot of in-close fighting, grappling and PP fighting in it. The kicks rarely go above the waist, and there is no true roundhouse or ball-of-the foot kicking. It also uses a 3/4 twist punch (45 degrees) like its Kyan influenced sister systems (discussed later). Choshin Chibana student of Anko Itosu (who was a student of Gusukuma Shinshii and Sokon Matsumura) is the progenitor of the Kobayashi branch of Shorin Ryu. Chibana is credited with coining the term "Shorin Ryu" to signify his styles connection to the Shorinji (Shaolin Temple). Two Ryuha (subsystems) comprise Kobayashi: Shidokan (Miyazato) and Shorinkan (Nakazato Shuguro). Itosu had many students, one of which was Gichin Funakoshi, and he wanted chang the intent of Okinawan karate to that of a system based on teaching middle-school aged children. Many of the dangerous elements were replaced with athletic drills and the horizontal fist, as well as less mobile and exercise minded wide and long stances. Many of the grappling and self-preservation techniques were deleted or altered. The Kobayashi Shorinkan system is very kumite oriented, and any and every kick and hand strike seen in modern styles is present (Western Boxing and Muay Thai included). It is a very athletic style of Shorin and bears a strong resemblance to Shotokan, albeit less rigid and more circular in its approach. At the higher levels more emphasis is on fluidity with speed, relaxed technique and self-defense against one or multiple opponents. Shidokan is very similar and also bears a striking resemblance to Shotokan. Shobayashi (sometimes called Sukunaihayashi), ShorinJi Ryu and Chubu Shorin Ryu are all part of the Chotoku Kyan school of thought. It is very similar to Kobayashi, but the use of the 3/4 twist or vertical fist is preferred. Kyan was noted for his speed and kicking ability, and his ability to fight although he was a small guy. Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis were former BBs of Shobayashi and ShorinJi Ryu, respectively. They later formed the core for the genesis of American Kickboxing. Matsubayashi Ryu was founded by Shoshi Nagamine in 1947. A student of Kosaku Matsumora (Tomari Te- a style integrated with Shuri te to form the Shorin kata) and Choki Motobu among others, he based his style on a quicker, higher stanced system than the Itosu and Kyan influenced systems. It bears some resemblance to all the Shorin Ryuha, but is lacking in conviction on the sparring front or in Orthodox interpretation of kata and bunkai. It is a fast, snappy style that tend to be straight-up, and sometimes deep stanced. It is also a style based on P.E. instruction and not traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu. Kumite is very important but they have not perfected it to the degree the Kobayashi systems have. Shobayashi, Kobayashi and Matsubayashi all mean basically the same thing. "Little Pine Forest, Small Pine Forest or Pine Forest" style, hearkening back to the definition of Shaolin ("Pine Forest" or "Evergreen Forest"). They are closer to each other in application, philosophy and practice than they are to Matsumura Seito. Also part of the Seito family, Matsumura Seito Shorin Kenpo, is a style founded by Yuichi Kuda which combines the teachings of Hohan soken and Shigeru Nakamura of Okinawa Kenpo fame. It is a more rigid, deep stanced system than its Orthodox Shorin Ryu mother, but is the closest to the Seito style of Shorin. It still retains forms of the Seito kata. Whereas Matsura Seito Shuri Te bends at the knees when moving and doing stances, the Kenpo version tends to lock the back leg. This is one subtle difference between the Matsumura Orthodox Karate Jutsu and Matsumura Orthodox Kenpo. Goju is a major Okinawan system based on conditioning the body for contact. All Okinawan karate does body hardening and hojo undo, but Goju Ryu takes it to the highest degree and body-hardening is a focus of training. Known for its Sanchin kata, the use of dynamic tension form of breathing, Ibuki, is said to make the practitoner like a mass of living armor. Kanryo Higashionna brought back the essence of this style from Southern China at about the same time Matsumura did with his Shuri Te. Ru Ru Ko and Wai Shin Shan were his teachers. They supposedly taught him a style of Tiger Fist Boxing and White Crane Chuan Fa, similar to Hung Gar Chuan Fa. His main disciple and the founder of Goju Ryu was Chojun Miyagi. Goju belongs to the Naha Te family (along with Uechi Ryu). Naha being the city, and te meaning "hand". GoJu means "hard, soft, but all styles of okinawan karate are "hard and soft" in nature. Miyagi wanted his style to be brought up int he Public School image of his contemporary Itosu, and called for the addition of kumite or sparring to have an effective test by which to measure his karates effectiveness. Goju is characterized by circular and slower, more deliberate movement. It's kata are in-close fighting oriented and it employs many open hand, trapping and break-hold techniques. It is described as a more circular "Internal" style as opposed to the linear "External" aggressiveness and speed of the Shuri Te/Tomari Te styles (Shorin). Its Sanchin has been shown to be a cause of health concerns later in life and use of the "Valsalva" breathing has led to the shortened life-spans of many of its great practitioners. Still at the yudansha level, Goju and Shorin stylists share a lot of similarities. The main ryuha are the Jundokan, Higaonna Goju (Morio Higaonna an oustanding karate-ka) and the Meibukan. There are also Nisei (Japanese Goju) and Chinese Goju systems. These are modern inventions and the Japanese version is like Okinawan Goju to a certain extent. Shotokan was Funakoshi Gichin's interpretation of the karate he learned on Okinawa. A mediocre karate-ka at best, Funakoshi was well versed in the Japanese language and traditions. Thus hee was an ideal ambassador for introducing "karate" to the Japanese. As a middle-school teacher, his aim was to take Itosu's image of using karate to forge strong men from average boys, and adapt the techniques to fit the Japanese PE curriculum. Shotokan has both Goju and Shorin forms in it but it is more strongly connected to Shorin due to the fact that his main teachers were Itosu Anko and Anko Asato, both students of Matsumura. I like to think of it as true gendai karate, or modernized karate, due to the simple fact that Funakoshi himself wanted to drastically change it to more fit the image of Jigoro Kano's Judo (vs. Daito Ryu JJ for example) as a "do" or philosophical way than a "jutsu" or art/science. It was engineered for a limited purpose, whereas even the modern Ryu of Goju and Shorin retained a lot of their "barabaric" fighting concepts intact. Check out his publications "Karate Jutsu" and "Tode Jutsu" and compare these books to "Karate-DO Kyohan" and you'll understand. 2-man drills and other partner exercise were replaced with karate "randori (judo controlled fighting)" or what we now call kumite. The Okinawan systems always practice some form Kobudo/Kobujutsu. Originally this art was used to refer to all the old school Okinawan arts which included empty-hand and indigenous weapons. Now it's used exclusively to signify weapons training. Traditionally Shotokan didn't include Kobudo because Funakoshi was adapting karate for education and sport, not cultural awareness, traditional info tranferral or the completeness of the Okinawan MAs. Your instructor obviously has vast experience in all 3 to be able to integrate them. Then again why, when they are all complete in their own right? Either that or he knows a bit about all, and is using the different styles to fill in the gaps. Whatever his reasons at least you now have some understanding about the history of your "style(s?)". Do some research on your own and understand what it is you're doing. After all you are investing YOUR time, money and confidence in this style, and in karate specifically. Peace and I hope this helps. Train with diligence and realism.

We do the Matsumura Seito Shorin kata (empty-hand listed only) as passed down from Hohan Soken: PinAn Shodan, Nidan, Sandan (supplementary as are Yondan and Godan) Naihanchi Shodan, Nidan, Sandan Seisan PaiSai Sho, Dai Chinto Gojushiho Kusanku Mei Rohai Ni, Chu, Ge Hakutsuru In Matsumura Hakutsuru, White Crane influenced forms are also done. This a system within a system and is usually taught at BB.

Fighting to save your butt is never the same as a "prepared" battle. You get months to train for the specific competiton you'll be in. You get time to become use to the fact that you're gonna meet your adversary. On the street there is a good chance you won't have a clue when this will occur or who's gonna do it. That aside, professional athletes and martial sportsmen are usually better equipped to handle some form of adrenaline rush, full contact and all the ranges imaginable (if they do MMAs especially). Most dojos and such don't train for reality or sport. That's the truth. It's also true that many pro strikers like those who do K1 exclusively aren't trained to handle a proficient grappler. Take Cro Cop vs. Minotauro for example. MMAs types won't use their skills to attack unsuspecting people or to start fights at your local club or bar. Well, usually not. The type of idiots who want to fight usually have brawler skills, no skills at all just no conscience or some type of wrestling background. For this reason it is good to train in a style that addresses how to deal with a street mugger and/or hugger. BTW Keith Hackney is a middle of the road striker. Meaning he is decent but there are much better "traditional" strikers out there who would never use open hand strikes/punches to hit hard targets like the head. That is called desperation and faulty technique. He should know this if he is so awesome. American Kenpo is Okinawan Karate- light. It belongs in the same category as Wing Chun. He really ain't shite, trust me. You can definitely be a capable striker and grappler without training full time in either. This only after you understand the rudiments of both though, with a good foundation in either. There are a few styles that teach both and always have, even some quick and effective street reliable ground techs. You probably won't find a good instructor near you though. Chi Gung, Iron Body- all that has purposes for the serious practitioner of an art. If you want to do a sport system like wrestling or boxing then good. To be mediocre in a limited martial sport is not my aim, but it is mosts nowadays. The street is not padded. So whether Pride or UFC, an advantage is there for the grappler. Let me body slam or head throw a cat on the concrete and we'll see how they "break fall". In the Shaolin/Chinese inspired systems (this includes Okinawan, Filipino and Indonesian systems) throws have evil intent. In the Judo or JJ inspired ones training is on mats (tatami or otherwise) and therefore, "nice" throws are ingrained. 7* you can't ask someone to be objective about the thing they helped to create and the rules involved. I wouldn't take the UFC as anything but a way to get Helio's art out to the American public. Rorion became a millionaire after this "investment". They did (the Gracie's) deserve that. They do a great traditional MA,. I love BJJ and trained with Caique and still do privates with Ryron. It is good to know, but not for real life self-preservation, it takes too long and is too limited in its scope. I do it because it's fun and a different way to condition yourself. It also helps in your forms training. Adds lots of lost bunkai. Most MAs is crap. Sorry.

Modern kickboxing was mainly a result of 2 main pioneers of karate in America- Bill Wallace and especially Joe Lewis. Both were Okinawan Shorin Ryu Shodans (Ist degree BBs) with minimal time in training on Okinawa, who decided that free-sparring and point competition were not accurate measures of stand-up fighting ability. They adopted some boxing techs (many are already taught in Shorin Ryu) and full contact rules then developed kickboxing. Don Wilson came much later. The interesting thing to note is that both of these guys, although BBs, had at the most intermediate knowledge of their respective styles. As a a result many of the advanced SD principles were unknown to them. For this reason they took an all-encompassing artform and created the perpetual journeyman style. Its kind of like Hip Hop (the culture) and Rap (one of the 4 elements of Hip Hop). Rap is one very limited aspect of Hip Hop, as kickboxing is of real karate, but it is the most prevalent and is even identified as "Hip Hop". It's like calling your arm your whole body, 'nawmean? Hence, the proliferation of a fighting system that gets quick results with no depth attached. Perfect for your average dolt. The styles of Shorin they studied, Shobayashi and Shorinji Ryu, are not even known for their ring ability. Shorinkan and Shidokan (Kobayashi) and Okinawan Kenpo have the best kickboxers out of all the Shorin Ryuha. The thing is that many of its practitioners think kumite is just one very limited aspect of training, and they are right. I guess Bill and Joe missed that when they trained on Okinawa for their 2.5 years combined. Kickboxing is cool, but a true (Okinawan) karate-ka should already be a proficient kickboxer by blue belt (5th kyu or so). I say if you want to concentrate on kickboxing look for a Muay Thai gym.Tthey are the best at that ring art and you shouldn't waste your time learning Tae Bo or American kickboxing.

Goju Ryu's intent was for body conditioning first and fighting second. Its forms are very different than the Shorin forms. It uses a style of breathing in its Sanchin kata (ibuki), which is the core form and signature of Goju, that does create isometric muscle building but can lead to other problems associated with forced inhalation and exhalation over time (i.e.: strokes, pulmonary emboli, etc.). Goju does tend to spar quite a bit, and in fact Miyagi wanted Goju to go from a kata focus to a kumite one. For the most part he got his wish. Although classified as an internal style Goju is quite tense and hard in its execution, especially at the BB level. It also lacks kobudo (weapons training) in many instances. Higaonna Goju is a first rate Okinawan style, and one that I would recommend for the serious practitioner of karate. Shorin is a major system (Ryu) made up many ryuha (subsystems). It is the forerunner of 80% of karate styles. Although styles like Shito and Shotokan take some of their forms from Goju, they tend to look more like Shorin. They are quite different though and nowhere near the same as its parent style(s). Shorin emphasizes less dramatic, deep and wide stances (for the most part) and natural breathing and movement are emphasized. It emphasizes speed and positioning in its fighting principles and contrary to popular belief is both linear and circular and covers all ranges including some ground techniques and many Okinawan grappling techniques. Kobudo/Kobujutsu is an integral part of high level training. Sparring is emphasized to a great degree in some of its ryuha (Kobayashi-Shorinkan for example), and many of its early American BBs like Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace were the founders of full-contact kickboxing. Shotokan looks sorta' like Kobayashi, but you can see the Goju influence in it with all the constipated looking execution (j/k). Tang Soo Do is also from Shorin via Shotokan, as is Kyokushinkai and most Japanese karate. Goju is too hard for the really young and elderly. Most of its GMs die at young ages. Most Shorin shinshii (sensei) often live well beyond their 80s. Historically Naha Te (Goju not Uechi) was a "commoners" style of fighting. Shorin was the royal palace guards fighting art. I think techs from both sources have been adopted and borrowed since Shuri Te's and Naha Te's formation. Tomari Te has a very minor influence in Shorin, but some Shorin Ryuha such as Matsubayashi borrow heavily from Tomari Te (Kosaku MatsumOra's style especially- not to be confused with Sokon MatsumUra) which was classified as a "peasant" fighting style. Tomari kata are seen in most Shorin systems, with Shuri Te principles applied to the techs. For fighting purposes on the street or in the ring Shorin has a few more notable pioneers and practitioners. Still Goju is cool and in the end we should all look similar if the teaching good.

This is the best of the eclectic Hawaiian "karate" systems. When I trained on Clark AB, Philippines in the early 80's our base dojo was home to this art as well as others. I liked what I saw and our Shorinkan class often did bag work and other boxing type training with their class. They were sweat mongers and their forms were very similar to ours albeit a bit more athletic with high and flying kicks and the such. They also talked much of the Crane influence in their system and attributed that to the strong Ryukyuan and Chinese influence in Kajukenbo. In competition they were always right there at the top in kata and jiyu kumite (free sparring). When the competiton was full contact they usually waxed all comers. Sifu Frank who was a 4th Dan equivalent was an AF Security Policeman and he and his wife (she was fiiiine) were supreme physical specimens. They always had the highest caliber students who could do beautiful forms and fight extremely well. You could definitely see the Chinese and Okinawan influence in this MA. You could also see the cross-training mentality that is so prevalent now, but all good arts always borrowed and bit to fit their purposes. We trained the same way in Shorinkan too. When Okinawan karate was brought to Hawaii by such Shorin legends as Kentsu Yabu and Motobu Choki the Hawaiian students didn't have the opportunity to get the highest level of training due to time constraints. The karate they did learn was good enough for most circumstances but the in-fighting and grappling that was not taught (tuite/gyakute) was replaced by individual street experience and proficiency in other arts. Thus, KaJuKenBo was born. This is not MMA style. It is a MA based on forms, weapons, SD and sparring. All true Okinawan Karate was/is a MMA if you want to define "MMA" as a MA with myriad systems, ranges and influences innate to it. For example Matsumura Orthodox Shorin is based on Shaolin Chuan Fa (which includes White Crane Chuan Fa), Jigen Ryu Kenjutsu of the Satsuma Clan and the indigenous traditions of Okinawa called "Ti". Kajukenbo is one of the few "modern" systems that can appeal to a combat sport minded individual and a "traditionalist". It's definitely a very cool karate system in most cases. Props to the true Kajukenbo stylists!

No, the first part of the front kick is whipping the leg out, with an imperceivable chamber. That knee up stuff is for beginners and sport stylists. Remember you are speaking from a TKD or Kenpo perspective. How will you use the ball of your foot with shoes on? Why practice barefoot techs when 80% of the time people wear shoes? Toe kicks teach you the proper fundamentals AND conditioning to kick with shoes on or off. Using the edge of your foot with shoes on is good too. You can do this stype of kick either with a sidekick, or the more preferable and advanced front kick using the side of your foot. This one, like toe-kicking, takes practice. Advanced Okinawan principles for the modern stylist. Heel stomps can be good if kept pelvis level or lower. If you want to do a knee strike then do a knee strike. The chambering you've learned your entire MAs life is for little kids and schoolboy karate. Ball of the foot kicks are useless in real life. Bye-bye!

Every martial artist should be training to do their techniques on both sides. As for orthodox or SP stances, however I'm standing at the time is my fighting stance. There IS something to be said about amBidexterity. The more weaknesses you have, the fewer options you have. Mushin is the stance we are all still trying to learn!

At first many MAs teach one to rely on the external. As time progresses refinement leads to less inefficiency and conscious action- at least in theory . A state of moderation is attained. Once all action becomes virtually reflexive, once a catalog of options can insert themselves into a situation via the practitioner (unconsciously), then the internal aspects are beginning to manifest. Still 7* is on point, as are most of his threads on KFO and various forums. All arts at the highest levels maintain some "homeostasis", as the middle path is often the best route . Relaxed body, ready mind is how it's defined!

Yeah, that concept of change-body or body-change was there before kyokushinkai. It is movement inherent in all real Okinawan karate. If one lesson can be learned from karate training it is that you should "get out the way"! Getting angles (or what my style calls the "rear corner") is the aim of any good MA. A "position of advantage" is so important for executing techniques. Of course that isn't the only principle gleaned from true training, but it is an important one. Enshin, Shidokan, Ashihara, whatever you call it, is karate which never knew the original methods and intent and now is desperately searching for it. It's ahrd to make P.E. karate work, but with lots of forcing and "biting" from sport styles Kyokushinkai (and its offshoots) has accomplished it to some degree. Or so they think ! A shame that there aren't more real karate schools in the world. Reinventing the wheel, badly, is so rampant in the MAs!!!

The truth is that 98% of all MAs suck. This especially true for the styles that call themselves karate. My experience with most Goju is that it is now like most Japanese karate. It is for fun, discipline and sport. That is it. You will understand how to defend yourself on the streets at some level, but not at a level that would allow you to necessarily wax someone (quickly) who really knows how to fight. Goju has become a sparring intensive art as has most karate- Okinawan, Japanese or Korean. Goju has always been about old-style body conditioning with less emphasis on realistic fighting, unlike some (but very few) Shorin Ryuha. You should understand this. Now that we have gyms and weights, plyometrics and modern conditioning we can throw that antiquated crap out. Anyway, for this ryu muscles take the place of effective fighting technique. The only Goju Ryuha that has impressed me is Morio Higaonna's group. Some Jundokan groups are cool too. Money talks. That is the bottom line. Making karate interesting in this ADHD dominated world (especially the West) is the modern intent. Original intent is outmoded and boring for many. We now have guns and half-stupid police to protect us (or so they claim). What if you can't get to your gun or wait for the police? The intent of karate WAS for SD. Now it is for * and $$$$$$, IMO. You have every right at 1st kyu to test your sensei if what they are teaching seems ineffectual or is pure poppy-cock. It is your mind-body, time and money after all. As a Brown Belt you can probably enter another dojo as that rank and with a couple of months of being acclimatized to a new style, keep your rank and reach yudansha in a reasonable amount of time. P.S., hard Sanchin and the ibuki breathing associated with it is bad, bad, bad for your health. That is scientific/medical fact, something which true karate-ka need to understand in order to be true fighters. BTW, what do people mean when they say traditional? True traditional karate was ALL ABOUT FIGHTING for the reals. If you need modern aspects or styles to augment your "style" then you are not doing real, TRADITIONAL Okinawan karate. But then again how many of us live in a true concept of reality? How many of us will ever fight on the streets for our a$$ or someone else's? Whatever. You have to know to know. No more rant. Bye and bye.