Hard choice

[jedimc]

Which one is the cheapest.

[Kumite988]

I'd chose Wado Ryu. Shotokan is SO common nowadays and it would be cool trying something different like wado ryu. Also, wado ryu katas are more graceful and beautiful. (at least I think so). Wado ryu also is similar to aikido I believe as it has some joint manipulation in it which is nice. But yeah between those two I take wado.

[Master Jules]

Id go with Wado ryu .....it allows you to do more with the "soft" aspects of the style.

[aefibird]

Well, my vote would be for Shotokan...

 

..but it's not my decision. It's gotta be up to you. Think about it hard and ask yourself which one you could see yourself training in in 5 or 10 years time. Consider also the people: do you have more friends or close friends at one club than at the other? What about the instructors? Which do you prefer?

 

Anyway, even if you give up one of your choices then you may be able to take it up again when you are older. Giving up a martial art isn't the end of the world - when you're able to come back to it then it'll be there for you.

 

On another note, have you considered a compromise? How about continuing training at each school, but less often?

 

Eg, instead of training (for example) 3x per week in Shotokan, how about training twice a week in Shotokan and once a week in Wado? Or going to each club on alternate weeks? It wouldn't be an ideal situation, but at least you'd be able to keep training in both arts.

 

I hope that you make a wise decision - good luck!

[Master Jules]

Coming up through the ranks, I simultaneously trained both USA/Urban Goju, and Traditional Okinawan Goju.....when I received my dual sensei rank in 96, I had several conversations with high ranks on both sides.....I decided to leave the USA system, in favor of continuing with the traditional form, because I prefered staying with the "real deal".....even though the were very similar, they were VERY different as well.....the differences between Shotokan and Wado Ryu are huge as well, so it may be confusing.......but try both for a while.....youll figure out which, if either, you prefer.

[aefibird]

Master Jules, could you explain some of the similarities and differences between Urban/USA Goju and traditional Okinawan Goju?

 

I'd be interested to learn more about the 2 styles, as I've has a little exposure to Okinawan Goju and found it to be a great style.

 

Thanks.

[Master Jules]

Ill be happy to....

 

First, you must examine the lineages of the systems to understand why there are differences of such magnitudes.

 

Start with the Okinawan system....

 

Miyagi left the system to his top students (Yagi-Meibukan, Toguchi-Shoreikan, Miyazato-Jundokan, Shinjo-Shobukan, and Higa-Shodokan) when he passed away in 1953.

 

Even amongst these practicioners, their respectful "kans" have some slight differences in the performances of kata....This was due to Miyagi teaching them all slightly differently....NOT because they decided to change things on their own.....It is VERY important to note that.

 

Now.....the first "offshoot" of Traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu was under Gogen Yamaguchi, who founded the Goju Kai (Japanese Goju Ryu).

 

Yamaguchi trained SPORADICALLY over a 12 year period with Miyagi....I should also state that prior to his training with Miyagi, Yamaguchi held the rank of 6th Dan in Judo, but was so fascinated and enthralled by Miyagi, and Goju Ryu in general, he denounced all other arts, and continued solely with Goju Ryu. Yamaguchi was Japanese, which created a minor problem for him, in terms of his understanding of Goju's very subtle nuances.

 

The Okinawan masters understood Chinese culture and language because of their Chinese ancestry.....the Japanese didnt. Being that Goju Ryu decends from Chinese systems such as White Crane, Pakua, Hsing-I, and the internal arts (Chi Gung), Yamaguchi never really "got" the whole system for one thing (as I said....his training was sporadic), and what he did get from Miyagi he didnt fully understand, because of the language barrier. Again.....Goju Ryu has some VERY subtle nuances that make it a "fine art".....not to say that Yamaguchi wasnt a great martial artist in his own right....he was, but lacking a Chinese background, in combination with his "on and off" training.....putting it very simply....he just didnt "get" the whole system from Miyagi.....hence....he was forced to "fill in the blanks" with what he thought was right, thereby leading to the creation of Japanese Goju.....The Japanese are typically flamboyant in their style, and they lacked the "Ju", or soft of the system. The stances are longer and deeper....they block harder, and lack the "blending and trapping" techniques that the Okinawan system has. This is actually a part of the system which decends from the Shaolin Chin Na (seizing and grabbing) part of the system....something Yamaguchi didnt get a full understanding of.

 

Next......One of Yamaguchi's students was a UDT/SEAL member named Peter Urban. Urban trained hardcore under Yamaguchi, reaching the level of 5th Dan. It was at this time that Yamaguchi told Urban he would never be promoted past 5th Dan due to his being American.....Urban did get almost all that Yamaguchi had to teach him about Goju, but felt on his own, that the system could be "improved upon"

 

After leaving Japan, Urban returned to the states, proclaimed himself 10th Dan, and gave himself the title of "Grand Patriarch of all American Goju", making changes to what Yamaguchi had taught him, and creating new things as well.....and like Yamaguchi....filled in the blanks so to speak. He too failed to realize the importance of "Ju"....and many things are done WAY to hard...Sanchin especially...Tensho, BTW, being done to soft....

 

Two of Peter Urban's top students, Frank Ruiz (an NYC cop) and Ron Taganashi broke away from Urban's organization, after a fallout in the '60s, and created their organization, known as Nisei (2nd generation) Goju, again making changes and so forth......

 

If Ive left any details out that you still would like to know about.....dont hesitate to ask.