Correct Shotokan

[Killer Miller]

Do you train at Central? If so, who's still training there these days?

 

- Killer -

I am ITKF, and like most of what Nishiyama teaches.

[Makoto]

I train in canada

[Killer Miller]

I should've noticed your location under your name - must be that over 40 syndrome...

 

Who teaches up in Canada?

 

- Killer -

I train in canada

[Makoto]

Rick Jorgensen, Gerry Marr, Katsumata, Gerry Lee are the big four of ITKF of here

[Shotokankarateka]

Dojo02 said "One of the things he said to me once was that if i study shotokan outside the J.K.A. it is not real shotokan. Not the one funakoshi has in Khyon or best karate series."

 

Karate lives and changes. Funakoshi commented on the changes he saw in his days, and intended that it would continue to evolve. The JKA karate of today is not the same as the JKA karate of the Best Karate series. This can be a bit frustrating for guys like me who learned JKA katas 20 years ago and still rely on the JKA series video tapes, but we must also change with the times. To be stiff and inflexible is the discipline of death, but to be flexible and changable is the discipline of life.

 

Today, one of the most exciting things I find in the Shotokan world is the incredable amount of research and sharing of information in the pre-shotokan history of our art. We are starting to see more clearly how much Funakoshi and Itosu changed Te to make it acceptable to teach to the school kids. These changes call into question just how real real shotokan is.

 

I used to think of the JKA as the organization that kept the art pure and structured, but these days I see it quite differently and am starting to search for answers in other places. Certainly, the JKA approach to Kata bunkai leaves a lot to be desired.

[hobbitbob]

Hmmm...

 

"True Shotokan:"

 

ISKF (Okazaki, Yaguchi, etc.)

 

ITKF/AAKF (Nishiyama, et. al)

 

SKA (Oshima)

 

FSKA (KEnneth Funakoshi)

 

AJKA (Ray Dalke)

 

ASKA (Randall HAssell)

 

etc...

 

True Shotokan? No such animal! Only hard Training!

[Killer Miller]

Hmmm...

 

"True Shotokan:"

 

ISKF (Okazaki, Yaguchi, etc.)

 

ITKF/AAKF (Nishiyama, et. al)

 

SKA (Oshima)

 

FSKA (KEnneth Funakoshi)

 

AJKA (Ray Dalke)

 

ASKA (Randall HAssell)

 

etc...

 

True Shotokan? No such animal! Only hard Training!

 

Looks like the true family to me... The brothers and sister may argue a bit, but they're still all in the family.

 

- Killer -

[tenkamusou]

The real karate is in you.. not in your teacher or in your style...

 

as musashi said: "The teacher ir the ink and the student is the brush"

 

That's not exactly what he said cause I couldn't translate exactly wut he said in english ( pardon my poor english )

 

But that's the truth! you're teacher doesn't have to be the best or anything, what you are is the important thing! You could be the best karateka if you learned from a Blind man if ya want!

 

It all depends on you... you're real, the training will change according to peoples needs, but the spirit is always the same...

 

"Be like water my friend"

[renketsu]

"Shoto" was the name of the training hall Funakoshi had before it was destroyed during the war. "Kan" is another way of saying builing.

 

Adding to this, "Shoto" was the pen-name of Master Funakoshi when he wrote and means 'pine-wave'. The first dojo opened by Funakoshi's students was called the shotokan (shoto's hall) which is something Master Funakoshi did not want as it created divisions within karate (styles).

 

(info taken from huuuuge amounts of stuff I've read over the years).

 

The real point of this thread was about JKA... this is most amusing as the JKA split in half a few years back and both parties were claiming to be the "true JKA". The death of the JKA was essentially their own fault, in the 60/70s when they sent the instructors out to teach and did not keep them in contact or under control. What should have happened can be seen with WTF Tae Kwon Do - they stayed as one huge worldwide organisation (although now there is an increase in following for the ITF and others) following one senior (unfortunately deceased late last year I believe).

 

I dont believe that training JKA style is better than training with descendants of JKA instructors... even ex-senior JKA instructors cant do things the same: Enoeda (9th dan) and Kanawawa (10th dan) have a different opinion on which go-ju-shi-ho kata is which (dai / sho)!!

 

Just my tuppence-worth

[MMoudry]

Hi all,

 

I see that this thread is quite old but I would like to post a reply on my own anyway. I have trained for 8 years now in three different countries.

 

US - JKA, Czech Republic - some czech association and Switzerland - Oshima affiliated club.

 

I can say that the ONLY differences I see among all those schools are certain kata moves, grading system/requirements and of course levels at which we learn certain techniques. I mean what is all this bias about true/untrue shotokan?

 

During my travels I came to the understanding that those hybrid karate flaws are essentially the same but every master who wants to emprint himself into the MA history called it differentely and modified the techniques and names of the techniques a bit.

 

Sotouke (Tetsuiuke) is a good example. I learned to do it two different ways. One with the fist at my ear, one with my arm extended upwards.

 

But basically it's the SAME technique and it works as well with both implementations. With the first implementation the trajectory is longer and the block gains more velocity and the second implementation is faster.

 

I say go with the school that is convenient for you and unless it's a

 

McDojo or some cult you should be ok and anybody who teels you my shotokan is better than your shotokan doesn't know anything about shotokan as a whole.

 

Personaly I prefer Oshima training since we have only 5 black belts. I really don't understand why JKA needs 9-10 black ranks. Probably to make the difference among the most-most great masters plagued by arthrosis of joints and the younger most greatmasters and simple grandmasters etc.

 

Peace,