armanox

Time?? We have time?? No, we make time! With that said, Due to my school schedule this semester I'm unable to attend class. But, I'm working to change that.

1. I don't pay per month. $5/class. I average 1.5 classes per week, so x4 makes about $30/month 2. Shorin (kobayashi) Ryu (Shidokan) 3. Three - Mon & Wed (2hrs); Sat (1.5hrs) 4. No perks.

From my understanding of things, the kata system was never intended to be a means for strength training. The lengthened stances do aid the leg muscles in that fashion - at the cost of mobility. While the original intention of the change was most likely not competition, it certainly did not deter Shotokan's tournament usability. I would also agree that the kata is a reflection of the practitioner more then the style (in most cases) - I've seen some pretty sad competitors that claim to be a student of a specific style as well as some fantastic examples.

I feel the need to differentiate - I'm not too fond of the yari. As far as staves go, I do like the quarterstaff, I just like the spear better.

I would have a variety depending on what the opponents weak range is: For Short range weakness: Sai Mid-range: Katana (for a Eastern base) or Longsword (Western based tournament) Long range: Bo (East) Spear (West) Knowing your opponents weakness enables you to exploit them. Therefore, the above combination adds intelect in as an additional weapon, constantly weilded in accordance with the rules

I don't believe it to be disrespectful, especially with it being inspirational. We all have something different that inspires us. Mine is the gentleness my sensei has with his classes, despite his 35+ years of training in martial arts, his patience, and his utterly outstanding skills. I look at him and think someday I hope to be that good.

Hmm....Let's see. Non-bladed: Eastern Weapon - Sai Western - Quarterstaff Bladed: Eastern - Katana Western - Longsword

Ichi no Sai - the kata that nobody (not even Okinawa, we tried) remembers the name. But, your welcome to see it. http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/th_IchinoSai.jpg

Would be delighted to see the clips. Also, Rick_72, if you could post a clip for your version to be seen as well, it would be apprecicated. I find it interesting how similar the Matsumura Seisan is to the one that I practice.

Didn't know it made it into Korean styles. It was well done though. Also the first version I've seen that used side kicks.

SEISAN!!! Go see http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=27907 and see if the Seisan you saw looks familiar to any posted. Would help my continuing hunt if it does.

Welcome back to martial arts. Any questions I'll help with to the best of my ability, as I am sure plenty of others will.

Few things that raise flags in my mind. First, they refer to themselves as "karatejutsu" - which Shorin Ryu is not. Second, from the rules: Expulsion for life? And also one can be provoked into defending themselves, which is considered violence. So you can be kicked out for defending yourself? You can be demoted? WOW Biggest issue with this one. In all Shorin Ryu organizations that I know of (which isn't many, so I may be wrong), and I'll quote my schools website on this (from http://kobayashiusa.com/Pages/Belts.htm) and for my organization(from http://kobayashiusa.com/Pages/Belts.htm): so really until they can promote, they shouldn't be referred to as sensei. Third issue - Promotion requirements. Why should someone need to summit a resumé in order to be promoted? The sensei should know where his students stand. Also, the essays: So....I could answer these questions by referencing forums and the wikipedia, so I fail to see how they reflect learning in the dojo. Especially since it is a martial arts class, not a essay compisition class. Fourth - gi costs. A lightweight gi does not cost $46 for a size 4. I know. I wear one. They cost on average $25. So the school is averaging $21 excess revenue. After seeing the school's site, I am rather displeased with it - just my input.

A few differences you can expect to see. First off kata names. Since Shotokan came from Shorin Ryu, you'll find them similar, if not some the same. Names: Shotokan - Shorin Ryu Tekki - Naifanchi Heian - Pinan Bassai - Passai Kanku - Kusanku Hangetsu - Seisan Gankaku - Chinto Unsu - Unsu Jion - Jion Gojushiho - Gojushiho They're all that comes to mind Technique wise I'd say learn to love the cat stance, and that your front leaning stance probably won't be as deep in Shorin Ryu. If you could tell us what sub style of Shorin Ryu (kobayashi, shobayashi, matsubashi, matsumura seito, etc) some more information might surface.

Sparring gear, and a digital camera =)

In my school, we do not test. For that matter, my sensei never tested until he went for his teaching liscence - at 7th dan. Same deal with his sensei, and going back one more we fail to even have the dan system when he trained - as a result we stick with tradition - if the individual has achieved that which is needed to move on, then they do so.

Unfortunatly you'll not be able to find a traditional wakizashi kata in Goju Ryu - the weapon would not have been used in Okinawa due to the imposed weapon ban by the occupying Japanese, hence the weapons found in Okinawan styles being farmtools.

Kobayashi Ryu (Shidokan, vs the Shorinkan guys above me)

That's a list....

There's a TKD school that I'm looking into near where I go to college. I was wondering what kind of stuff I should look for in a TKD school to judge them. Any advice?

As was asked of Anonymous One, if you would be so kind to post what you consider to be better. The three BB in the clip are in my opinion some of the best martial artists that I've seen, and all three of them have BB in multiple styles, both of karate and of other MAs. I also have to call you on what seemed to be an attack on our school - we are indeed of the "Shuri te" lineage. All of are BB have trained with Takeshi Miyagi, who promoted some of them in there dan ranks, and Miyahira himself personally promoted our sensei to nanadan, and certified him to teach and promote in Kobayahsi Ryu. A copy of his liscence is availible here if you doubt me. I posted the video not for critique, the Okinawa approves of our Yundansha's techniques, and the green belts at the time were just promoted. I posted it for people to see the version, since I do not know more information about its origin to provide a more discriptive name, in hopes that someone else could provide insight as to its origin and also so that we could all see different versions of Seisan that we perhaps are not familiar with. Also, the purpose of the kata is not to build speed, rather proper techinique. It was slowed for the Yonkyu's shown in the video, to show there techinique, not teach them speed before being able to do the movements properly.

I run through every kata about three times a day at least. Then, at other points throughout the day, I'll generally practice various sparring drills.

We do something similar with the Heian kata but usually with two attackers. My instructor is also in the process of working out a set Kata Kumite using the Tekki kata series as the base. We do from both sets. The Naifanchi (Tekki) set is rather interesting, and the Pinan set has some interesting twists.

Our dojo only added one kata to the list we use, and Miyagi also added two kata to the list that we do. All three are kihon kata, with rather simple-but-effective bunkai that also shows up in koryu kata.

As I said earlier, we use Onegaishimasu, meaning please give to me or please teach me. In my mind it's very appropriate. But I do suppose that "Yes" when instructed to bow works in its own way.