Need help on styles and finding a new dojo in Toronto

[Locutus]

Hello fellow Karateka,

 

Sorry if this is a really long post.

 

I am looking to get back into Karate again after 8 years of inactivity. I was a yellow belt at a dojo that taught Japanese Goju Ryu. I was there for a year. I left the dojo because it was too expensive for me to renew my membership. I had the impression that the dojo was more concerned about money than its students. I guess that kind of turned me off from Karate, which is unfortunate.

 

Fast forward 8 years. I have moved to a bigger city. Have a new job. Have gainned some weight. I want to get fit again. Meet some people. And learn how to defend myself should I ever need to.

 

I have a few questions that I hope aren’t too far out there.

 

1.) I have become very stiff and since I was last in Karate. I don’t think I can kick higher than the stomach. I am somewhat out of shape and have added an extra 30 pounds since I was . I am wondering if Goju Ryu is a good style for me or if perhaps I should look for something else? I am looking for a style that mixes it up a bit and doesn’t just focus on a lot of fancy kicks, but also focuses on strikes and other methods.

 

2.) I have some questions about styles. I see a lot of dojos around my area that teach Shotokan, Shorin-Ryu, and Isshin-Ryu etc. How do these styles differ from Goju Ryu? Could I take whatever I learned form Goju Ryu and apply some of it in these other styles?

 

3.) Can anyone recommend a good Dojo in North Toronto? Perhaps one that teaches Goju Ryu or perhaps Shotokan? I am located in North York/Richmond Hill area or Toronto.

 

I hope to get started with Karate again in the new year. Thank you for any help or tips you can give me.

 

Cheers,

 

Locutus

[BRG]

Greetings...

 

I don't have any specific recommendations for a dojo in north TO (I'm out Milton way myself), but I'm sure you'll find lots of places. As always, it's the school/sensei that makes a good dojo, not the particular style (IMHO).

 

I find Goju somewhat similar to Shotokan/Shito/etc, at least at the beginner level... Goju is hard/soft style as opposed to 'more hard' of Shotokan, whatever that means...

 

Anyhow, I say just go for it. Don't go for a long contract, and you can always change if you don't like a particular style.

 

Brett.

[LeaF]

I am currently involved in a style of japanese Goju Ryu, and have been for approximately 10 years. I train in central toronto, but I can give you a link to the organization I am involved with as the have many dojos in GTA. I would suggest looking one of them up. The organization is CMAC (classical Martial Arts Canada) And their website is....

 

http://www.cmac1.com/cmac.htm

 

check out the dojo affilates page....

[Sho-ju]

Goju and Shotokan are not even close, even in the begining. TO has a ton of great schools, take your time and you'll find what your looking for. Tsuroka's karate is in TO, check that out.

[superleeds]

You can also check out the local Chito-Ryu dojo's. I think sensei Higashi (8th.Dan) teaches in Toronto. Higashi sensei is the leader of Chito-Ryu in Europe and Canada. Happy hunting.

[Locutus]

Thank for all the help. I am going to do some dojo hunting next week.

 

I have done some hunting on the web and I have found a dojo that are close to me

 

http://www.ontario.chitoryu.ca/Higashi/index.html

 

Now they teach Chito-Ryu, which I do not know much about. Has anyone had experience in this style.

 

Is it very different from Goju-Ryu?

 

Thanks again for the help.

[CanuckMA]

https://www.torontowadokai.com

 

Training all over TO. reasonable rates.

[superleeds]

Have you checked out sensei Higashi's dojo yet?

[Locutus]

I have not visited Sensei Higashi's studio yet. It's a bit busy being Christmas and all. I am thinking of going after the hectic holidays are done.

 

Do you know about this schoo? Have you ever met Sensei Higashi or heard of him?

 

I am still not sure as to which style I want train in. I am still thinking about Goju-Ryu and Shotokan as well.

 

But I like the fact that Sensei Higashi's dojo is closest to work and home.

 

I definitely want to check it out.

[superleeds]

Sensei Higashi visited our dojo some months ago. He's very down to earth, and quite funny. he's the sort of sensei who will always find a way to make learning karate an enjoyable experience. That he also has the highest rank you can have in Chito-Ryu doesn't hurt either.