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Strengths/weaknesses of Shorin-ryu Karate


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Hi all!

 

I evidently don't know as much as I thought i did about the martial arts, so I'd like to know, I practice Shorin-ryu Karate, and in it we are heavy in katas and in repetition of kicks and punches (fear the man who practices 1 punch 1000 times to the man who practices 1000 punches 1 time each as someone on here said). And my sensai LOVES to wipe us out with stretching exercises and loves doing push ups/sit ups/jumping jacks, and we also have emphasis on some grappling and groundfighting and high kicking while on the ground, and some joint locks/breaks, and we have training almost every lesson with some sort of weapon (we have every okinawan weapon taught along with other weapons). anyway, I'd like to know how my style/dojo/sensai compares to others that you all know of or compared to your own? Thank you.

Joshua Brehm


-When you're not practicing remember this; someone, somewhere, is practicing, and when you meet them, they will beat you.

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Well your style of Shorin-ryu is a lot different than ours it seems.

 

We spend a fair amount of time on conditioning and Kata. Weapons are more common later on unless you join the Weapons Club. We learn a bit of self defense (Goshin Jitsu) as well.

 

I like my style because it is more traditional. I like the history of what we learn. I am not knowledgable enough to comment on how it is compared to others though sorry.

43 Years old

Blue Belt (7th Kyu) Shorin-ryu

Roberts Karate

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It I could actually sit in on a class of yours, I'd be much more able to do a comparison, but I'd say that we don't do as much physical conditioning (jumping jacks/pushups, etc) as it sounds like you do, and kata are at the end of a 2 hour class for about 30 minutes. The primary focus of what I teach is practical self-defense applications (about an hour of the class) and weapons are not taught until you get to your sankyu belt. I believe you need to be competent with your hands and feet before you tackle the complexity of weapons training.

 

Speaking of class...time to go! :D

My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!"

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  • 4 weeks later...

My sensai is big on the theory that if you are not in good shape you are not at your full potential in the arts. He is also trained in other arts and he has done many self defence courses... we do alot of focussing on katas and techniques but we work out alot too.

Obsession is a word used by lazy people to describe determination.

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My sensai is big on the theory that if you are not in good shape you are not at your full potential in the arts. He is also trained in other arts and he has done many self defence courses... we do alot of focussing on katas and techniques but we work out alot too.

 

I can't say I disagree with your sensei, but the more important aspects of Shorinryu aren't so much the physical conditioning, but rather the training of your body to react, and react correctly, to an offensive technique thrown at you. Most higher up sensei of Shorinryu that I know have pot guts, and aren't in the best of shape...like you'd think of a professional fighter for example, but those people can MOVE and react like you wouldn't believe!

My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!"

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You are right that there are many Sensei's with pot bellies... but when you think about it they are not at their ful potentil in the art... if they were in better shape they would be quicker, stronger and more agile... i might be a little biased though... i do see what you mean...

Obsession is a word used by lazy people to describe determination.

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but when you think about it they are not at their ful potentil in the art... if they were in better shape they would be quicker, stronger and more agile...

 

True, but unless you're a constantly training fighter, such as a contending professional boxer...is anybody ever at their full potential all of the time?

 

My perspective is this. Karate is for self-defense, not sport. Sure, if you want to do sport, that's fine...but that's not what I believe that the arts are for. With that in mind, I personally believe that ANYBODY, regardless of their physical condition, handicaps, sex, beliefs, temperment, etc is capable of learning, and becoming proficient in the martial arts. Since over half of the people in this country (USA) are overweight, bordering on obese, I feel that anyone can effectively learn the arts and become proficient in protecting themselves, or others if they choose, in a real confrontation. Pot bellys or not.

 

Myself, due to an accident years ago, I am classified by the state as 44% disabled. I also have had knee surgery which still gives me problems sometimes, plus back issues. Despite that, I have successfully defended myself on several occasions (including once against 3 attackers) despite those limitations that I have. Am I at my full portential? No, of course not. At 51 years of age, I've long ago seen my "prime" in physical conditioning, yet in the martial arts, I still continue to grow and get better with my reflexes, timing and speed.

 

OOPS...sorry. I got a bit wordy there. :roll:

My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!"

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