saishu

It's not that they don't condition themselves, its that they condition themselves differently. Tomo

Actually, a real emphasis on "stronger and deeper" does not have much to do with Shuri-te at all. I dont know if Azato's karate should really even be counted. Azato didn't contribute much to the development of Shotokan, since the first chance Azato had to get rid of Funakoshi he did and passed him off to Itosu. Personally I think Itosu had more impact that Azato. Sadly even Kenwa Mabuni had more impact on the development of Shotokan that Azato. Tomo

Well in Saishu Ryu we have quite a few kata. Taikyoku Shodan - 9th Kyu Taikyoku Nidan - 8th Kyu Taikyuku Sandan - 7th Kyu Heian Shodan - 6th Kyu Heian Nidan Heian Sandan - 5th Kyu Heian Yondan Heian Godan - 4th Kyu Tekki Shodan -3rd Kyu Ananku - 2nd Kyu Bassai Dai - 1st Kyu Kanku Dai - Shodan Nidan Katas -------------------- Matsukaze Bassai Sho Kanku Sho Jion Jutte Ji'in Empi Gankaku Tekki Nidan Sandan Katas -------------------- Tekki Sandan Hangetsu Matsumura Bassai Chinte Nipaipo Meikyo Rohai Chatan Yara Kushanku Yondan Katas ------------------- Hakucho Nijushiho Supraimpei Seienchin Sochin Sochin Ni Shi Sochin Godan Katas ------------------- Hakutsuru Sho Seipai Heiku Paiku Gojushiho Sho Gojushiho Ni Unsu Unsu Ni Anan Hakutsuru Master Katas (6 dan and above) ------------------- Hououmaru Tachihouou Tobihouou Sensohouou I am currently working on learning Ananku. Pretty much learning the kata that I didn't learn from doing Shotokan. This kata list is out of our 2006 guide book, they change a little from time to time, but for the most part this is all of our kata. Tomo

The way you land kind of depends on the style you are from. In Shotokan you land with a Soto Uke in front stance. In some forms of Shorin Ryu you land with a back fist. The way I practice it is as a tobi nihon geri (jumping double front kick) and land with a soto uke (outside block). Hope this helps. Tomo

Well I guess that's the reason he's a Red (Master) belt. I have seen some of the guys in Okinawa move like that, I think this is real. Tomo

The techniques in the videos look very similar to Saishu Ryu. Esp the knife fighting. I would say go for it if you can find a school. Tomo

You know I have heard that as well. But I attended a Ken Penland seminar and all we did was the Hakutsuru Kata. I have heard that Kise was suppose to be the only one who knew it, but if that is the case why can you buy videos of Hohan Soken performing it? Or is there a possibility that the one Kise knows is like Hakutsuru Ni or something? Oh well. Tomo

A good Kata Guruma on to the pavement is a great way to end a fight. Tomo

I know this kata. It's one of Mabuni's kata. It's very similar to Juroku and Matsukaze. If you want to learn it you should ask your Sensei. Tomo

Okay I have had a couple people write me messages asking about the Hakutsuru kata. I am just wondering if anyone can put in their two cents in about the mysticism surrounding this kata. I have had people tell me that there is no way that I could know this kata, however I have known it for about 5 years. Up until a few days ago I didn't think it was a big deal. Could someone please shed some light on this whole issue for me. Because to me Hakutsuru is just another kata. So what if it was made by Bushi Matsumura. You can buy videos of Hohan Soken performing this kata for goodness sake. If anyone is unfamiliar with this kata you can see it here - SaishuRyu Website. This video is of Saishu Ryu founder Scot Mertz performing Hakutsuru, but his version of this kata is the same one that i learned. Tomo

I dont know I have had problems with Tokaido's. Just not enough bang for my buck I guess. Just bought to many of them that look like trash after a year or so. Have you looked at Ki or Ronin gis? I know Ronin makes a 18 oz karate gi, which is probably the heaviest karate gi on the market. Ki also makes some really good gi's at a reasonable price. Tomo

I have never heard of this person. You might want to do some background checking on him. Any system where you can make Rokudan in that quickly is very suspicious. In Judo it takes roughly 25 years to make Rokudan, same with Shotokan karate and a few other styles that I know of. Please for your own sake, check into your "Grandmaster" and this Ancient Kung Fu Karate. Sounds very fishy to me. Tomo

I'm a Rokudan in Kodokan Judo. I have never heard of anyone in any style becoming a 6th in 4 years even if they have a ton of tallent. Who is your instructor if you don't mind me asking. Tomo

Some schools use Blue instead of Purple, or they use Blue as either the first or second purple. I know ISKF doesn't use it, but I have seen some JKA schools in Japan using it instead of purple. Tomo

Have you ever thought about doing Saishu Ryu? It's a lot like your past experience and I think you would do well. If you are interested you should contact our Doshu Scot Mertz. I have heard that he does video correspondence courses for some people. I have a link to the Saishu Ryu website on my name block. Go check it out. I'm pretty sure the contact form on the site goes directly to Doshu Mertz. Tomo

Lots of people actually. I was stationed in Japan at Camp Zama from 1988 till 1996. Use to train with Masahiko Tanaka quite a bit as well as some guys from Asai's dojo before he broke away. When I got back to the states in 1996 joined the ISKF and trained under Mr. Okazaki for a while as well. Are you JKA? Tomo

Saishu Ryu Karate Jitsu's belt structure is like this. Kukyu - White Hachikyu - White /w 1 stripe Sichikyu - White /w 2 stripes Rokukyu - Green Gokyu - Green /w 1 stripe Yonkyu - Green /w 2 stripes Sankyu - Brown Nikyu - Brown /w 1 stripe Ikkyu - Brown /w 2 stripes Shodan - Black Shodan through Judan can be black belts, however at 6th degree you can wear a red/white panel belt, and at 9-10 dan you can wear a red belt. Tomo

I'm a Rokudan in Judo, Godan in JKA Shotokan, Shodan in Shorinji Ryu, First degree black in Korean TKD, and currently a Nikyu in Saishu Ryu Karate Jitsu. Tomo

Don't worry about it bro.

In Saishu Ryu we use a kind of interesting belt structure. For junior ranks (people 50 and under) KuKyu - White HachiKyu - White with 1 black stripe SichiKyu - White with 2 black stripes RokuKyu - Green GoKyu - Green with 1 black stripe YonKyu - Green with 2 black stripes SanKyu - Brown NiKyu - Brown with 1 black stripe IkKyu - Brown with 2 black stripes Shodan through Judan - Black There are optional belts for 6 - 8 dans which is a red/white panel belt. And optional belts for 9 - 10 dans is a red belt. For people over 50 there is no white or green belt, and they start you off as a blue belt. So 50+ is KuKyu - Blue HachiKyu - Blue with 1 stripe SichiKyu - Blue with 2 stripes RokuKyu - Blue with 3 stripes GoKyu - Blue with 4 stripes YonKyu - Blue with 5 stripes SanKyu - Brown NiKyu - Brown with 1 black stripe IkKyu - Brown with 2 black stripes Then same black belt colors. Tomo

My favorite all time kata is probably Matsumura Seiko Hakutsuru. However I have been working on Heiku and Paiku for Saishu Ryu and those two kata's rock. Anan is also a very nice kata. Unsu Ni (Arakaki Unsu NOT Shotokan Unsu) is also in my top 10. Also Chatana Yara Kushanku is very very nice, just hard to find anyone who can do it right. So Favorite is Hakutsuru to watch is Chatan Yara Kushanku Competition is Paiku Tomo

LOL, I dont know but it would explain some bunkai for the openhanded palm up gedan barai's in the Hakutsuru kata. Tomo

I dont know much about Systema, but I can help you with Sambo if you are interested in that. Tomo

Look bro, I have been in the military for 19 years and trained all over the world. My father was a Japanese Judo champion in the 1960's, and I have won several All Japan tournaments in my day. So I think I know what I'm talking about. Also as far as TKD goes, I trained TKD in Korea for 2 years and trust me there isn't any "McDojo's" there. You need to get out more and look around. There is more to the martial arts than a narrow minded view that everywhere except your dojo is a "McDojo" and that your way is the only right way. If you guys train hard and use full contact then good on you, all I am trying to say is that most TKD in the world only trains for TKD rule tournaments. So get over it, that is just how it is. Nothing wrong with it either, lots of good TKD guys out there. Just a different path that what I follow. Take it for what it's worth bro and get over it. Tomo

The man might have issues, but there is no way i'd ever want to be on his bad side. In all my time I don't think I have ever seen anyone quite so dangerous. He came up to NJ last week and did a demo and it totally blew my mind away. Really nice guy offline, but when he gets on the mat you can see a killer in his eyes. I did Shotokan forever and when I started taking Saishu Ryu Sensei Whitsell beat me senseless. I saw Doshu take down my sensei like he was nothing. The whole match was amazing, it was like push, pull, then my Sensei was in the air, then Doshu picked him up threw him against the wall and the put him in a standing arm bar and made him submit from a standing position. I have never seen anything like that in my whole life. Tomo