Ashihara? I've never heard of it!

[brickshooter]

*NO IDEA WHY THIS TRIPLE POSTED, UNFORTUNATELY, i DIDN'T SEE AN OPTION TO DELETE THE LAST TWO, OR i WOULD HAVE, I DID TRY*

The original Ashihara style has unfortunately been dying over the last couple of decades, if not longer.

Hideyuki Ashihara, the founder, was a very well respected Kyokushin instructor, that many went to, to learn advanced footwork, and such from.

One of the issues was, after he passed, he left the style to his son, who I believe was only a green belt at the time, and his son wanted to make some big administrative and costly changes for people that have been under his father, and were far more superior in karate experience and skill.

Ninomiya Kancho, has had much more luck after breaking off, and forming "Enshin," but I will say that the not original Ashihara fractions have been gaining steam, the ones under Jonkers/Schilt, Cook (Tsu Shin Gen) and Narker's.

I have been in contact with Narker's Shihan(?) or Kancho for some years, now, he's a very nice man, and very easy to talk to, I know Dobbersky has, too. As of recently I have been in contact with Cook Soke who was a Kyokushin practitioner, grading to, I believe yondan or godan directly under Oyama Sosai.

Anyhow, if you're familiar with Enshin, Ashihara is very, very similar.

Osu!

I would say its rather the offshoots from NIKO are increasing. Predominantly due to politics. There's 3 Ashihara Dojos in the UK have managed to build bridges with the one in Edinburgh, hopefully looking at maybe doing a UK Sabaki Challenge Cup in a few years.

The style itself is awesome, but its the people at the top causing issues.

I'm independent so not tied into Honbu.

I'd like to see Ashihara Karate as popular as Shotokan, but needs a few "converts" and a Kaicho who isn't political, that's one reason why I have so much respect for Narker Kaicho, he's far from political.

Not sure whether it's possible to get Ashihara as popular as Shotokan. The reason is that Ashihara is already starting to fraction itself before getting notoriety.

[Dobbersky]

Since we're on the subject, are there major technical differences between Kyokushin/Ashihara/Enshin? I know the later two are off shoots/derivatives of Kyokushin, but other than a political break, are the styles different? Training methodologies, stance/footwork etc, where do the differences lie?

The training methods of Kyokushin and Ashihara/Enshin are virtually Identical. the only difference is that Ashihara and Enshin work more on Sabaki and Kazushi. also we do Grab and throw in Ashihara as opposed to Kyokushin whereas grabbing is "illegal" in competition.

[evergrey]

In competition, yes.

In class? Heh. Lots of grabbing here anyway.

[brickshooter]

I was under the impression that Ashihara tries to add a circular concept in its defense in order to build momentum in a counter-strike. Sort of like Aikido's circular theory.

[Harkon72]

I think the circle and the point is common to most martial arts. The difference is how you are made aware of it. Some styles don't identify the concept at all, while using it as a central pivot to their system. There is also the idea of the wedge or triangle and the spiral. Each way of transferring energy is what our art is built on. Aikido for example has these principals at its core.

[Dobbersky]

Ashihara principles as detailed on You tube, some cameo apperances of Ninomiya Kancho whilst he was still with Ashihara Karate, prior to forming Enshin Karate

Kata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAxEbhSoxDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND0Quvfp2fs&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdEZLIRC874&feature=relmfu

And Enshin

[Drew]

Um, I feel like I've asked this of someone before, but what does Ashihara mean? My rudimentary Japanese skills tell me foot belly?

Is it just the founding fellers name?

EDIT: Sorry never mind it took me all of three seconds to read the second reply again for the answer. I understand that Japanese names often don't make sense, and they balk when you ask them what their name means, never having considered it themselves.