Rhino

Jax---LOL I have a similar story, I moved from MD to MO due to a job relocation and there are no Shorinryu dojo's here (well there is but it's junk) so I tried TKD. I went in of course as a white belt. The instructor new I had a ma background, the students didn't. He wanted to see what I could do at the end of class. Normally they spar for the last 30 min or so. The whitebelts didn't usually spar, but he put me in. (Paul Dexter is his name, two time world tkd champion) Anyway, I didn't get tired until I was fighting the black belts, they were simply QUICK. All of the other 15 million belt colors were astonished because they immediately got cocky and wanted to show off a little to this "white belt". As soon as they threw that first high flying hollywood kick at my head, they realized I had a lot of experience. They would say "uuuhhhhh, do you have a MA background or something?" My response was always, "Yes." and nothting more I waxed all the others and in my eyes, i beat the blacks also. BUT, my major problem and why I stopped going was because of my background, I wanted to trap their leg, or grab their arm. I was tossing the blackbelts onto the ground and landing on top with an arm bar. Of course, this is all illegal in TKD. It was basically poor self control on my part, but I couldn't see changing my style, it is very effective and I love it. Ok, enough bragging.

Sounds pretty good. 3-4 years seems to be relatively typical for most dojos. Depends on how "traditional" they are. I was in a dojo in MD and stayed a white belt for two years, but, it was very traditional karate. There, it took around 10 yrs to be a black belt. Go for it I say and have a blast.

Hey I made it to yellow belt!! Yeah

Again like everyone else has said, respect others above all. As you progress through your belts, NEVER look down on the white belt that just walked in the door. Help them, remember what it is like to be in their gi. You may be suprised too, they may actually know another style and can teach you a lot!! Just have fun and never lose that hunger for learning more because like others said, there is always more. No one can master a style, or know everything about it........all of us have so much to learn.

Stick with it guys, don't get discouraged. As far as the belts are concerned, they mean nothing except for seniority. I was a white belt for two years. All of us were there strictly to learn. Don't ask your sensei about belt promotions, it shows what you are after. A lot of people go just to get their blackbelt, they could care less about the art. But this is all just a trip into my little world. Bottom line, master your style not your belt.

I agree Master Jules, I bounced for about a year while in the Navy, I never EVER kicked above the waist. The idea is take out the legs, knees or ankles which brings them down to waist level, at that time a finishing kick to the mouth seems to work well. Anytime a kick comes to my head, that simply means that the person is inviting me to snap their other knee.

Do these boards hit back?? Probably not.......hmmm.

You are probably right battousai, they are tire of being called pansies!! I tried TKD, got into a lot of trouble. It's second nature for me if someone throws a kick, in essence they are letting me have thier leg, so i would take it, twist it, bend it and shape it into a nice pretty little pretzel all while attacking the face on the way down. They didn't take to kindly to that kind of fighting. I couldn't help it though, seeing that it was basically just a good workout, i stopped going. Maybe this could liven it up a bit, make it more "effective".

I just sent my statement in, going to check my email now to confirm it. EVERYONE should go do this.

I agree with you there jedmic! I tried tkd after I moved and had to leave my dojo, no karate where I live now. TKD is nothing compared to Shorinryu!

Duh, ok, now i feel like a complete moron.

Any hints for level 11??

Ok lvl 11 bites!!!

Also, I tried going to the website, it's not working, but I did check the site out for ASE Kenpo in Springfield MO. Looks like they also offer Brazilian Ju Jitsu.

Thanks to all you guys, it's great to have found a forum like this. Just clarify for me however, what is EPAK?

Yeah, that does sound familiar....Frank Hargrove. Was he ever out near the east coast?

Hey all, I'm looking to continue my studies of karate in Columbia MO due to a relocation. There is no "reputable" Shorinryu intructors near me, but i did find this on google. AKenpo Karate 705 Vandiver Dr. Suite E Columbai, MO 65202 USA 573-875-3676 Tim Fancher Anyone ever heard of it or the instructor?? Are there similarities to traditional Okinawan karate?

Thanks, i greatly appreciate your help. I'm going to do some "googleing" now, see if I can get some info to post on a new thread. Thanks again

More or less, that's what I've been doing. Everyone here that I've came into contact with is TKD. There is a kenpo dojo here, thought about checking it out. Any thoughts?? Google shows most "traditional" places well out of my area, ie Kansas City and St Louis.

Ok, then here is another question for you. Are there any other similar styles located in MO? I'm not interested in "sport karate". TKD was too much of that in my opinion.

I just want someone to teach me traditional Okinawan karate, with as little Americanization as possible. But I need for them to understand my spiritual beliefs. What I see more and more of is most dojo's, it's a business, they could care less about the person and their desires for martial arts, the instructors/owners just want your money.

Shorin Ryuu I did go to that dojo. Turns out it was a man who was teaching for free out of his house. The dojo is a parking lot. I'm a Christian, when he started literally "forcing" me into Okinawan religion, I politely declined and left the dojo. I learned while I was there but, he didn't like the fact that God, my family and my church come before karate. So, I just continue doing everything I know already at home

Hello everyone, been checking the site out for a couple days now, GREAT site! A lot of knowledge and experience. As for me, studied Shorinryu and Konanryu karate for about 5 yrs under Sensei Dan Buckner and Sensei Chuck Chandler out of Maryland while I was in the Navy. I got out of the Navy and work for the Federal Government which has landed me in Columbia MO. Here, TKD is HUGE, i tried it, found it a great workout, but that is about it. I found one person here who teaches Shorinryu, but, he was trying to lead me to the spiritual side of karate, not for me, I have the Holy Ghost. Anyway, I left his dojo (which was a blacktop parking lot). Well, glad to be here and can't wait to learn more, be talking to you soon.

Never in Okinawa, I studied under Sensei Chuck Chandler and Sensei Dan Buckner in Maryland.

Hello, I studied Shorin Ryu Mastumura Orthodox Karate along with Konan Ryu for a while in the Navy. I got out in 2000 and now live in Columbia MO. Does anyone know of any instructors near me??? I tried TKD, hated it, nothing but a sport, just my opinion.