Question regarding karate styles

[KanaOya]

Do certain styles benefit you better than others, or does it really depend on the user?

I read a lot that Shotokan is very sport-tournament based. That the level of body conditioning won't be the same if you were to practice, say, Goju or Kyokushin.

Does the curriculum really have a general outcome on how you will progress as a martial artist, or is it possible to take the sporty nature of Shotokan and fit your need for body conditioning and street self-defense?

I am not interested in sporty martial arts. I want to train my body, to help me get in shape, and learn self-defense.

Would Shotokan be for me? Or is it instructor based? Or does the style that you practice in fact help you in specific areas where others do not or would not teach you?

[wagnerk]

It really depends on the association/instructor and that goes for the majority of arts. I've trained in Shotokan associations/clubs that were sports orientated and not sports orientated (more self-defence orientated).

...Or does the style that you practice in fact help you in specific areas where others do not or would not teach you?

Again it depends on the association/club/instructor. For example (sorry I'm delving into my experience again), I now do Tang Soo Do (it's very similar to Shotokan karate) yet the instructor that I train under teaches basic grappling, locks, throws, etc... That may not be common in other Tang Soo Do associations (a bit like what/how Iain Abernethy teaches karate).

So you have associations that will only teach the "core" of the type of martial art that it is (eg karate as it's a kicking/striking art, they will only teach that) and you'll have associations that will teach a wide variety of skills - the "main" and "secondary" skill sets of that martial art style.

[GojuRyu Bahrain]

As Wagnerk already mentioned, the focus of any club/dojo is mostly instructor based. However, some organizations tend to a more sport (read = less self defense) oriented curriculum. In my experience, particularly the JKA teaches that way.

Is Shotokan for you? You have to see for yourself; try your local club(s). Observe the class and technique/behavior of the senior students, speak with the instructor, participate... let us know what you found

[Zaine]

Wagnerk nails it. I would add that most instructors are okay with communicating with you before you join. So if you're interested in Shotokan, email a couple of the schools in your area and ask what they're about, whether they are more self-defense oriented or if they focus on going to tournaments a little more.

Remember, regardless of what their answer is, you can still learn some great self-defense and traditional karate from a tournament focused school. Just because they're "sporty" doesn't mean that they don't know what they're talking about.

[sensei8]

First of all, Welcome to KF!!

Do certain styles benefit you better than others, or does it really depend on the user?

I read a lot that Shotokan is very sport-tournament based. That the level of body conditioning won't be the same if you were to practice, say, Goju or Kyokushin.

Does the curriculum really have a general outcome on how you will progress as a martial artist, or is it possible to take the sporty nature of Shotokan and fit your need for body conditioning and street self-defense?

I am not interested in sporty martial arts. I want to train my body, to help me get in shape, and learn self-defense.

Would Shotokan be for me? Or is it instructor based? Or does the style that you practice in fact help you in specific areas where others do not or would not teach you?

Styles of the MA, imho, are preference orientated.

Choosing a style of the MA that's best suited for one is akin to like trying on a shoe. Not one shoe is tailored to fit all wearers, and in that, there's the different sizes, colors, shapes, materials, and widths. Some shoes are chosen off the brand first. Finally, the wearer must wear the shoe to see if it's perfect for that wearer, and that same wearer will try on many before finally deciding.

[andym]

Many 'sport' styles have adopted the conditioning practices of the older systems. ie shotokan using chi-ishi, doing impact conditioning etc. Sadly most do not admit this is an addition, nor their source.

[jaypo]

Many styles of karate were based on the person's physical stature as well.

I have trained in a sport based Shotokan system and switched to a Shorin Ryu based system. My current system is a combo of Shorin Ryu, Shotokan, and Goju Ryu. But my Sensei teaches based on self defense applications. That's what I love about it. He still teaches us the tradition, but he makes it practical.

[RAM18]

I would add that there isn't really a tournament style?

The WKF is the largest governing body of Sport Karate and it recognizes Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan and Wado-ryu and puts on some huge tournaments globally.

[guird]

While there are trends (shotokan does tend to be more focused on point tournaments than other styles, though not always), it largely depends on the schools. In terms of fitness, it doesn't matter whether your school is sporty or not, and you can learn some pretty good self defense from a sporty school, while a lot of places claiming 'no-nonsense self defense' are pretty useless. Same thing vice versa of course.

The most important thing is that the particular dojo/school suits you. Of course you don't want to go to a place with a low quality of instruction, but there's little point training something you don't enjoy just because it's good for self defense. You'll waste more hours of your life than you're likely to save.

[Safroot]

It really depends on the association/instructor and that goes for the majority of arts. I've trained in Shotokan associations/clubs that were sports orientated and not sports orientated (more self-defence orientated).

...Or does the style that you practice in fact help you in specific areas where others do not or would not teach you?

Again it depends on the association/club/instructor. For example (sorry I'm delving into my experience again), I now do Tang Soo Do (it's very similar to Shotokan karate) yet the instructor that I train under teaches basic grappling, locks, throws, etc... That may not be common in other Tang Soo Do associations (a bit like what/how Iain Abernethy teaches karate).

So you have associations that will only teach the "core" of the type of martial art that it is (eg karate as it's a kicking/striking art, they will only teach that) and you'll have associations that will teach a wide variety of skills - the "main" and "secondary" skill sets of that martial art style.

completely agree