Quick question about Shorin Ryu

[UsagiYojimbo]

Hello all,

 

There's a dojo I'm checking out Monday that's Shorin Ryu. I talked to the sensei on the phone, and he said that, although they do spar at upper belts, head strikes are not permitted. Is this common to Shorin, or just this school? Thanks.

[Shorin Ryuu]

The amount of sparring really depends on the dojo. Some dojo do more sparring while others don't really put much emphasis on free sparring at all. For example, my current dojo does not free spar, although we do a lot of drills and yakusoku kumite. I've also trained in Shorin Ryu dojo that allows light contact to the head (although we usually try not to knock each other's block off...there's a point of diminishing returns in what you can learn from it).

 

I'm not sure what school it is (do you have the name of the instructor?) or even what style of Shorin Ryu it is, but once again, it really does depend on the dojo.

[UsagiYojimbo]

Yes, the instructor is Richard McCulty. The website for the dojo is at http://www.karateheart.com , and they are a member of the American Shorin Ryu Karate Association. [Edited to fix link.]

[Shorin Ryuu]

For some reason, their organization patch seems familiar to me as if I've seen it somewhere.

 

I think watching multiple classes is better than just checking out one (if your time permits). Can't really tell from the website, but it looks like an alright place.

[P.A.L]

i don't like it we they say 5th degree black belt, without saying the style or back ground.as far as sparring as "ShorinRyuu" mentioned there is no rule, depends on sensei, my old sensei wouldn't have let us to spar that much, in new dojo we use the protective hear gear and gloves and we go all the way even to the ground with no "yame".

[Jussi Häkkinen]

For some reason, their organization patch seems familiar to me as if I've seen it somewhere.

 

Does this http://www.anshindojo.com/Crests/wmkatsp.gif look familiar?

 

It's a Matsubayashi-ryu patch. Style was founded by Shoshin Nagamine, who was a student of Ankichi Arakaki (student of Kyan Chotoku), Kyan Chotoku and Choki Motobu. He also taught Itosu no Pinan. Matsubayashi-ryu is a legitimate and respected Okinawan style.

[P.A.L]

No, their patch only says "kara Te"

[Jussi Häkkinen]

Yep, I recall seeing that version too - even among Matsubayashi folks.

[Shorin Ryuu]

That's probably it, then.

[UsagiYojimbo]

Actually, if you click to go to the ASKA website, you can see it says Shorin Ryu across the top, and ASKA at the bottom, if that's significant.