Switching Styles / Dojos

[aes]

I recently decided to switch dojos. Partly due to cost and partly due to location (because I moved).

I have been studying Shorin Ryu Karate for 3 years now and have reached the Green/Black belt level. I am considering two different MA schools close to me now.

One would be a different Shorin Ryu dojo with more of a traditional connection to the North American Karate groups. The other is more of a mixed martial arts school that can teach me Goju Ryu, Kung Fu and Ju Jitsu. This dojo is only a few blocks away from me.

I like the location of the latter dojo but have some concerns:

- how hard would it be for me to make the transition from Shorin Ryu to Goju Ryu?

- do you think going to mixed martial arts training would confuse an old dog like myself (43 years old)?

- I am not convinced of the quality of training at this dojo, but I met the Head Instructor and a few of the others and they seem nice

The two schools are Rick Roberts Karate (Shorin Ryu) or Guelph School of Martial Arts (Mixed Martial Arts).

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

[pepto_bismol]

I don't understand how are you a green/black belt level

does ur dojo skip blue and brown?

For me the choice would be obvious. Go to the school teaching Goju Ryu, Kung Fu and Ju Jitsu

shorin ryu is weak in the ground fightin and you could use the ju jitsu,

and learning some kung fu or qi gong deffinately can't hurt.

[aes]

My old dojo had belts with more than one level. IE the levels went as follows:

yellow

yellow/black

orange

orange/black

purple

purple/black

green

green/black

blue

blue/black

brown

brown/white

brown/black

black

My concern is how hard would it be to adapt to goju ryu and if the dojo is a good one.

[pepto_bismol]

wow thats pretty interesting, I think im gunna start a thread on how belt ranking systems go. For me it's

white

yellow

orange

green

2 degree green

blue

2 degree blue

purple (only if under 16)

brown

black

yellow

yellow/black

orange

orange/black

purple

purple/black

green

green/black

blue

blue/black

brown

brown/white

brown/black

black

[marie curie]

I've switched martial arts a couple times, and I'll admit after years with one it can be difficult (and i'm sometimes reluctant) to use a slightly different stance, distance or something, but in all I'm really glad to have gotten the new perspective and I feel even more confidant now in my knowledge of techniques and applications. Why not try it out, and if it doesnt work for you after a few months, try something else?

[Bleeding Lion]

transition from shorin ryu to goju is not hard at all i believe. we had some shorin ryu visiting students in our dojo a few times. now i would suggest asking for a trial period, usuall head instructors are opened to that. it depends however and ranges from one class to one month. but if you could try out things that would be good.

one mention to mix MAs, im not a big fan of it, not because its not good but because in my experience people who taught it didnt really know what they were doing and students would end up just with bits of knowledge. try it to see for yourself, at least your prior trainning in shorin ryu should guide you.

[P.A.L]

you will have less problems going to a Goju ryu system compare to a shorinryu based japanese style like shotokan. you won't see any simillar kata and you won't have to adjust your kata a lot, from one okinawan school to another there will be changes in katas but not a whole lot, as i know, the north american shorin ryu organization some how connected to seibukan , what is your style of shorin ryu?

[aes]

you will have less problems going to a Goju ryu system compare to a shorinryu based japanese style like shotokan. you won't see any simillar kata and you won't have to adjust your kata a lot, from one okinawan school to another there will be changes in katas but not a whole lot, as i know, the north american shorin ryu organization some how connected to seibukan , what is your style of shorin ryu?

My training so far has been a slightly modified Okinawian Shorin Ryu. When I say slightly modified it was a combination of Masubiashi Ryu and Kobiashi Ryu influences and adding Goshin-Jitsu self defense.

The Katas I have learned to date were:

Kihon Uke Waza

Kihon Dashi

Kihon Gerry

Kihon Ippon

Kihon Nihon

Kihon Sanbon

Fukyu Dai Ichi

Fukyu Dai Ni

Fukyu Dai San

Fukyugata Shodan

Fukyugata Nidan

Pinan Shodan

Pinan Nidan

Nihanshi Shodan

Nihanshi Nidan

Nihanshi Sandan

Patsai Sho

And about 12 types of goshin-jitsu self defense moves

[nago]

I switched to Uechi-Ryu after about 6 years of Matsubayashi-Ryu. They are totally different. The best thing I learned was start with a clean slate and dont try and make your new style your old one. (if that makes sense). When I changed I took off that black belt I had in one and went back to white.

[Anbu Alex]

always walk in with a white belt mentality when going into a new dojo or style i say