Recomendations

[bklynjames]

So I have been training in Aikido for well over a decade and would like to cross train in Karate. I have some reputable Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu schools by my home, and was wondering if someone would be able to steer me to one and not the other and why? Please let me know if you need any other information.

Thank you,

[liger]

Try both see what instructor you like best. Which style fits into your body type. Find out what prices and hours are and if they fit your financial and time budget.

[username19853]

Well I've fallen completely in love with Shorin Ryu. Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu are sibling styles, both Okinawan. So you can't go wrong with either choice. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THE TEACHER. Try out both schools and see which Sensei you connect with more or you think simply does it better. Then see which dojo taught a curriculum that best fits your needs and interest.

On this website, the best we can do is give you our own experiences with the style, our own opinion of it, etc.

I trained in Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, which (to my knowledge) has a bigger emphasis on Kata and its applications than the other versions of Shorin Ryu. To me, that's great! The amazing combat techniques of Karate are hidden in the Kata. I love it, I think about it all day long and I even plan my future around continuing my practice in Matsubayashi Ryu. It definitely takes a lot of patience though, which I'm sure you've experienced in Aikido.

Good luck!

[JR 137]

Visit the dojos and pick the better dojo and teacher. Who you're learning from and who you're training along side of is far more important than the inherent differences between Goju Ryu vs Shorin Ryu or pretty much any other style.

Let's suspend reality for a minute and say Goju is a better style. Would you rather learn it from a teacher who isn't a very good teacher and train with a bunch of kids who think they're Power Rangers, or learn the slightly inferior Shorin Ryu under a teacher who can teach it very well and train with students who are dedicated adults?

Coming back to reality, choose a dojo, not a style.

[bklynjames]

Yeah I think I lost sight of it all being all wrapped up in which style to choose. Here are the schools im looking at. Each teacher has a good pedigree. So if you know anything about any of them it would be greatly appreciated. I dont like searching for a new dojo to train at. Been to a few that didnt work out well for me. As for the days they all teach 3-4 times a week. I was spoiled with Aikido they had classes multiple times a day every day.

These two I havent gone to see yet.

http://www.budokaikarate.com/

http://fairlawndojo.com/

This school I went to go see and the teacher was fantastic. But he didnt have many adult students. Most came on the weekends only and were all dan level. Which is great but that left 1 to 2 students during the week. But then again it could be like a private lesson every week..!!!

http://www.maywoodkarate.com/

[cheesefrysamurai]

I take okinawan Goju Ryu from a phenomenal teacher in New Jersey if you want to check it out.

He's truly world class.

Good luck regardless!

[bklynjames]

Sure, can you PM it to me..

[Nidan Melbourne]

Personally I'd recommend Goju-Ryu if you haven't already chosen to cross-train. Partially because of a bias due to I train in it, but also i feel like it would work wonderfully with Aikido.

Although I don't know much about Shorin-Ryu, Wastelander and a few others could provide way more information on it than I can.

[Montana]

Shorin Ryu, the tuite is very similar to aikido techniques.