Can't Choose

[Holland]

Ok...I really need to take the "Isshinryu" label off of my style information. On the weapons page, everyone always assumes that my weapons knowledge is based solely on that.

I am about to test for my sho-dan in okinawan weapons in a shitoryu school. The weapons background of this instructor is Shorinryu-Shorinkan (Doug Perry), Koga Ryu, and Shitoryu. My weapons training has been relatively extensive and I have seen alot.

I am not concerned with international competition...most people are not. What we are talking about is someone about to start a new weapon...perhaps with much training this person may actually do the weapon in a tournament...heck, most people never compete. But even if they do, the odds that they will be taking said weapon to an international level is almost non-existant.

Meanwhile, in traditional weapons, at local and national level, I never saw Dan Glover lose with a pair of tonfa in his hands. You can either believe me or not...it does not matter.

Believe it not, other people on this forum have valid opinions and are not uneducated hicks. Isshinryu is my core style, but I am also training in Shitoryu, Before said Kobudo, and have cross trained in other styles.

You do understand that IsshinRyu in it's simpliest form is a conglomeration of many other styles, except the notable exclusion of Sunsu. So everyone has their own idea of traditional.

I started training in Isshinryu in 1989. I managed to glean this gem of information at some point along the line. Actually, Isshinryu is mostly Shorinryu, as Shimabuku spent a majority of his time training with Kyan. There is of course a bit of Gojuryu and a smidgen of what Motobu was teaching in the 30's, but its still mostly shorinryu. I consider all of the above pretty "traditional."

This all goes back to the control/influence many instructors have over their students and their understanding of the martial arts.

It's a big world outside and people need to look past their particular style .

If you were trying to sound condescending and self important in this last bit, you succeeded. I am glad you joined this forum though, as apparently you are the only one who knows anything.

[SaiFightsMS]

I have worked with both sai and tonfa. My advice would be to get a bit of an introduction with both weapons and see which one you like better. Tonfa are challanging and interesting to work with. I was one of those with the - what was the way someone said it?

The similarites are both weapons block by being against your forearm and both strike primarily with a straight punch extending beyond your fist or finger. Both flip in and out for extended range strikes.

The hard thing for me with tonfa was the way my hands sweat and make the handles wet and unable to rotate properly.