shotokan and goju ryu...

[Sho-ju]

In my dojo [shotokan] we do kata, basics and kumite, lots of knock down kumite. We also place great emphasis on bunkai.

[pers]

From what i know about the differences between Shotokan and Goju Ryu are the following things:

1. In Shotokan, it is more competition based, unlike Goju.

2. Shotokan includes alot more of a reaching stance, example, when in the stance zankutsu dachi, it is extended more than Goju. Which leads to my next point;

I certainly don't agree with number one, where I train we are not at all a competition based style. number two is correct kinda but it's not reaching that we do, we have longer stances for kihon (basics) becuase we believe if you can do a kick, punch, etc from that positoin it will be even easier to do in a more natural stance. Our stances like all styles in karate I think also train the hips and get proper conection.

Very good post .shotokan basics prepares and developes the body very well .A good shotokan club has a well balanced training rota ,catering for basics ,kata ,self defence and competition style kumite .

[shotokanbeginner]

From what i know about the differences between Shotokan and Goju Ryu are the following things:

1. In Shotokan, it is more competition based, unlike Goju.

2. Shotokan includes alot more of a reaching stance, example, when in the stance zankutsu dachi, it is extended more than Goju. Which leads to my next point;

I certainly don't agree with number one, where I train we are not at all a competition based style. number two is correct kinda but it's not reaching that we do, we have longer stances for kihon (basics) becuase we believe if you can do a kick, punch, etc from that positoin it will be even easier to do in a more natural stance. Our stances like all styles in karate I think also train the hips and get proper conection.

Very good post .shotokan basics prepares and developes the body very well .A good shotokan club has a well balanced training rota ,catering for basics ,kata ,self defence and competition style kumite .

Thanks, I completely agree, I love being agreed with it makes me feel less incompetant.

[malanovaus]

Interesting a post about Goju and without having a Goju stylist respond. The most basic differences is that where Shotokan is a very linear sytle, Goju-ryu tends to be very circular. Shotokan emphisizes deep stances where Goju prefers solid stances, one of the lowest stances used in Goju-ryu is neko-ashi-dachi. And true that Goju is not geared towards competition, it is a close-in style that blends itself well with grappling arts.

[Shotokan-kez]

I am currently a brown belt in shotokan, i have been doing it for years and i love it. Our club is not competition based, although our sensei wouldn't object if we choose to enter a competition. I did try Shukokai which is totally different. I have no experience in any other styles.

[P.A.L]

Interesting a post about Goju and without having a Goju stylist respond. The most basic differences is that where Shotokan is a very linear sytle, Goju-ryu tends to be very circular. Shotokan emphisizes deep stances where Goju prefers solid stances, one of the lowest stances used in Goju-ryu is neko-ashi-dachi. And true that Goju is not geared towards competition, it is a close-in style that blends itself well with grappling arts.

1-what exactly you mean by "Shotokan is a very linear style.....Goju ryu very circular"

2-what's a difference between deep stances and solid stances?

[mya]

Goju ryu also emphasis a bit on Breating. And on enduring blows.

Where on competition you dodge weave and parry, in the more tradition Goju sparing you recive/endure the blow or Parry/Block.

Like steping into a incoming punch, and contracting and makings special breathing to endure it. Something i fail misserably . But then again this is High level stuff brown belt +.

There are also lots of locks and throws. Not so mutch as in Aikido flow throws, but more like power throws/grabs. Some say Aikido took some thecknicks from GoJu.

I always saw GoJu as a style designed to bulky people or with avobe average body structure. Liek the people who tend to practice Judo. But i never seen Shotokan training in action.

Also there is lot of close quarters fighting, with sweaping, grab/traping of menber and lifting to drop on ground and lock arms or knee drop/force on neck.

SO main thing is Goju is Close quarter, breating/body condicioning for takign blows.

Other than that, you can get in most stuff from other styles, as at a certain level you start to find out what works and what does not works for you.

For example there are certain thecknick that i hardly can make work even in aranged practice, but other that fly like eagles even in Randory/combat even when my mates cannot make them work.

Fighting is more a person thing and less of a style thing than people imagine.

[Menjo]

Goju ryu also emphasis a bit on Breating.

Well...I dont know an art that doesnt focus on breathing. Shotokan has alot of breathing to it, but breathing in Shotokan naturally comes with proper technique. If I do proper technique, breathing naturaly follows, this is with any other art.

[Killer Miller]

Actually Menjo, it's the other way around... Proper technique naturally comes with proper Breathing.

- Killer -

[Menjo]

Actually Menjo, it's the other way around... Proper technique naturally comes with proper Breathing.

- Killer -

LOl....right. I see it as with proper posture and follow through you get the air pulled out of you, for me anyway.