Starting Shotokan

[superfighter]

im gonna be starting a shotokan karate class soon, i was wondering though should i mention that im a black belt in Tae kwon do if the instructor asks of any martial arts experience. when i started judo the instructor was fine with me, but with the similarites between karate and tae kwon do im wondering if they will be a bit iffy about it.

 

I mean its gonna show that ive done martial arts before through sparring ect, im just worried about what i should say.

 

I wouldnt want any of the art bashing either, ie karate is way better than Tae kwon do.

 

cus even the greatest school in the world will take a bash or 2 every now and then.

 

I also wouldnt wanna be known also in the class as the guy who is a "black belt in Tae kwon do"

 

any suggestions would be cool

[cross]

You should probably just say you have "experiance" in tkd or have trained in it before.

[ramymensa]

I think you should have an open discussion with your new instructor. Telling him all about your previous experience is fair and needed. The guy must know about your skills. Maybe you could get a higher rank. If not, it's not the end of the world. Being a BB in TKD is a advantage.

 

Regarding karate being better ... I do Shotokan Karate ... still I wouldn't claim this ... there are some differences and we'd come to the apples and oranges being compared

 

Good luck and tell us how it went.

[returning_wave]

yeh id go with the truth, altohugh i would tell your instructor personally not announce it to everyone. It will help your instrutor to point out dfferences between karate and tkd if he sees you doing them if hes aware of your experience.

[TangSooGuy]

I agree that you should definitely tell your instructor. Chance are he'll know you have experience just by watching you. That kind of thing is kind of hard to hide.

 

There's no reason the class should have to know, but you definitely need to talk with your instructor. He'll want to know why you're interested in training in another art, and will want to make sure that your attitude to approaching a new art is correct.

 

there will probably be a feeling out stage for you both, but as long as you keep an open mind and an empty cup, and he does as well, there really shouldn't be any problem.

[aefibird]

I agree with the other posters. Your instructor certainly needs to know that you have previous experience. Anyway, being a black belt in one art means it can be difficult to try and hide your skills when you move to another art.

 

With regards to any possible comparisons... well, just remember that every martial artist thinks that their school is the best, why else would they go there otherwise?? Just because I think that my Shotokan instructor is the greatest in the world doesn't mean that I cant appreciate and learn from other styles and from other instructors. The others in your new school don't need to know your a black belt. They don't even need to know you've done TKD, you could just say you've had a bit of martial arts experience previously.

 

If the school you go to is a good one I can't imagine why anyone would be overly bothered about comparisons and bickering about which style is the best - most true martial artists just wanna get on and train!

 

Good luck with your move to a new club and I hope you enjoy your Shotokan training.

[G95champ]

No need to hide it. Shotokan and TKD are IMO very differant and if you teacher is aware of your past training he may be albe to help you adjust quicker.

[ramymensa]

You don't need to brag about it in front of your colleagues. They would hate you Still, if they are amazed how well you move (it will show, trust me), you can explain why (to those who really deserve to talk to). I said talk to your instuctor, because he can help you learn Karate in a comparing way. You are good with a style. Know the basics and think the moves. Switching to another style is great and you'll gain knowledge by comparing the things and the mechanisms. After some time in MA we tend to become theoreticians as well as executants. And the new style is a great challenge for an open MA mind.