Shorei_student

Greetings and Salutations everyone. I'm new here, and I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm a Shuri/Shorei stylist in the Asheville, NC area. I originally hail from the Cincinnati, Ohio which is where I started my training. After 13 active years training I'm a Shodan dual ranking in Shuri-ryu and Shorei-ryu, more specifically from the Trias lineage. As of April 1st I'll start my training in Aikido, which is something I'm really excited about. I stumbled on this forum looking for more information on Iron Warfans, but I think I might like to hang out a bit longer and see what I can learn.

Thank you very much. I'll go check it out now.

Thank you for your welcome. No I've not had the pleasure of meeting them, but my Sensei. Lorraine Lewis, has. I have read quite a bit about them, tthough, and I will agree with you. Interesting individuals!

Ahhh now I never said I believed that, just that I loved hearing people argue that. If you ever actually attempt to blend the three together it's very plain to see, imo, that they never were one.

Recently my sensei told me that she would like me to branch out and really study another system. While most of her other students prefered Judo, she suggested Aikido to me. Recently I've watched a couple classes and from what I've seen worked in the dojo I went to it was very interesting. Yes, it's a "softer" style, but my god the techniques are awesome. I think that if you learn nothing else from Aikido you will learn better flow and balance things that can enhance any other martial art. As of April first I'm stripping off my black belt and donning a white one agai, the first time in many many years. I am more than willing to do this because I personally believe Aikido is a worth while system, but everybody is different. Some people are better suited for Judo or something else entirely. It depends on what you are looking for I guess. Ganbatte on your pursuit of Aikido if that is the path you choose.

I have been leafing through these topics, but I have yet to see an answer to my odd ball question(s). I am looking for two particular weapons and have yet to find them anywhere online. I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I would be interested in finding war fans that are completely metal. I know they used to exist and that they weighed about 10-15lbs each. These fans would have no fabric on them, as I have already seen the steel blade ones with binding fabric. I don't know of any martial arts supply store that carries them, and I believe it would almost have to be an antique store or a special order shop to find them. My second search is for the Taikos (check the spelling it is awfully late here). They are the tiger claws essentially but are used in my style to work Gopeisho in representation of the peacock. Again, I have yet to even see a store that says they have them. They have the hand grappling gear for climbing but not the tiger claws. I'm eager to hear any suggestions that you all might have

I'm probably going to suggest one thing that Sanchin kata is excellent for, and that is child labor. Forget Lamaza, all you need is Sanchin. Even the raising and dropping of the pelvis during contractions works wonders. Personally though, I was never very found of Sanchin in general, but it has many aspects that I believe are essential to any students training. Not the least being focus and breath. As for O' Naihanchi I think it is more "practical" in teaching technique and stamina if you run all three consecutively. I might only be partial to Naihanchi because of it's legends of being a "dwarf" kata, and I find the history and arguements surrounding whether or not the three versions worked in my style of Shuri/Shorei were indeed once all one kata. As for the kata itself I find it to be choppy, not one that flows with ease, and over all just very much a basic kata. I know it is one of the most univeral katas worked in Okinawan and Japanese systems, which is why I think seeing all versions of it is intriuging. It gives me a sense of what we all have in common.

Christina Hargis Shorei-ryu: Shodan (Practitioner 13 yrs) Shuri-ryu: Shodan( " " ") Aikido: new student as of April 1st

This is my first post here so I'll make it a simple one. Personally working something like a third level Kiba is very hard on the knees. If you work it often enough you'll probably need knee surgery before you're in your 40's. When I started training that is ALL we ever used. We were taught Shiko, but it was never used in kata or in anything else really. As I got older I began to gain more and more knowledge of body mechanics, and the fact that the Kiba was more damaging than I thought. Now, I still use Kiba in competition and sometimes when just working in the dojo, but more often than not I prefer to work Shiko. In Shiko I can sink a little lower without the added stress on my knees. Really there is little difference in form or function, it's more a personal preference on which you work. In Shiko, though, I find that most people can work it lower more comfortably and thus lowering their center of gravity if you are sparring with someone who is keen in judo. Some would argue that Kiba is easier for stance changes into Zenks, but I've never found it awkward to go from Shiko to Zenks or vice versa. I do find a Shiko more suitable to shift into a Kokes (lay out stance). I guess I should add this somewhere. Hello my name is Chris. I'm getting ready to receive my Nidan in Shuri/Shorei-ryu, and I hail from North Carolina.