How much training in kicking does a Shotokan Dojo do?

[Prototype]

Hi,

I am curious how the Shotokan curriculum looks given that there are no kicks in the katas except for the sidekick, crescent kick, front kick, and turning kick on the ground.

When (if ever) do you start elaborate kick-training for beginners?. And are some of the more modern kicks like spinning back kicks/sidekicks, reverse roundhouse kick part of all Shotokan dojos, or is it up to the instructor?

Based on what I've seen it still looks very traditional with emphasis on the straight punches in various stances and not even remotely the same time devoted to kicking.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Varies school to school and their requirements. I know a lot of schools irrespective of style would love to spend more time on kicking.

I know my sensei would love to spend more time on kicking, but other things come up and we have to focus on those.

[Prototype]

I know my sensei would love to spend more time on kicking, but other things come up and we have to focus on those.

How much drills would you estimate you guys devote to punches vs kicks? I train ITF/Chang Hon-TaeKwon-Do which was based on Shotokan and Id' say it's roughly 80% kicks in drills (mitts), while training basics (excluding patterns) it's 95% hand techniques. I suspect our grandmasters age (60+) has something to do with it because he does not demonstrate any elaborate kicks, thus has no interest in devoting the basics to it. Which is a shame given that he's a 9th Dan (highest). I am sure he knows a thing or too about kicking...

The asisstant instructors are the ones demonstrating kicks in our power training (mitts).

Edited December 15, 2016 by Prototype

[JackD]

I started at a shotokan club last year and they spend as much time kicking as punching. We do spinning back kicks and hook kicks but I've never seen them teach anything more acrobatic!

Our instructor said just the other week that mawashigeri was a relatively new addition to shotokan!

On the other hand I trained with a guy one who said he once trained at a shotokan club where they didn't teach any kicks until after a year of training.

I'd say it depends on the club syllabus and the instructor, so if you want something that concentrates on elaborate kicking it might be worth looking around at clubs or perhaps different styles as shotokan is know for it's strong linear movements.

[Prototype]

I started at a shotokan club last year and they spend as much time kicking as punching. We do spinning back kicks and hook kicks but I've never seen them teach anything more acrobatic!

Our instructor said just the other week that mawashigeri was a relatively new addition to shotokan!

On the other hand I trained with a guy one who said he once trained at a shotokan club where they didn't teach any kicks until after a year of training.

I'd say it depends on the club syllabus and the instructor, so if you want something that concentrates on elaborate kicking it might be worth looking around at clubs or perhaps different styles as shotokan is know for it's strong linear movements.

I am quite happy with my choice of ITF TaeKwon-Do since 2 years back. Just wanted to know what it's like in the Shotokan world!

[DWx]

I know my sensei would love to spend more time on kicking, but other things come up and we have to focus on those.

How much drills would you estimate you guys devote to punches vs kicks? I train ITF/Chang Hon-TaeKwon-Do which was based on Shotokan and Id' say it's roughly 80% kicks in drills (mitts), while training basics (excluding patterns) it's 95% hand techniques. I suspect our grandmasters age (60+) has something to do with it because he does not demonstrate any elaborate kicks, thus has no interest in devoting the basics to it. Which is a shame given that he's a 9th Dan (highest). I am sure he knows a thing or too about kicking...

The asisstant instructors are the ones demonstrating kicks in our power training (mitts).

I think this depends very much on which master you are under. I also do ITF TKD and some of the people I've trained with are very kick orientated including for fundamentals, others are very hand orientated. Ultimately the style is supposed to more balanced between the two.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I know my sensei would love to spend more time on kicking, but other things come up and we have to focus on those.

How much drills would you estimate you guys devote to punches vs kicks? I train ITF/Chang Hon-TaeKwon-Do which was based on Shotokan and Id' say it's roughly 80% kicks in drills (mitts), while training basics (excluding patterns) it's 95% hand techniques. I suspect our grandmasters age (60+) has something to do with it because he does not demonstrate any elaborate kicks, thus has no interest in devoting the basics to it. Which is a shame given that he's a 9th Dan (highest). I am sure he knows a thing or too about kicking...

The asisstant instructors are the ones demonstrating kicks in our power training (mitts).

We roughly do 70% Hand Techniques vs. 30% Kicking Techniques. This is usually due to the lack of available space that we have for our dojo and numbers of students.

[ninjanurse]

I studied in a traditional Shotokan dojo for many years. Up to Black Belt we only did the basic kicks-front, side round, hook, cresent, etc. Nothing fancy.

[Prototype]

I think I "learned" a front kick in 6 months when taking Shotokan as a kid. It wasn't at all what it was promoted as (more kicking oriented). And I was frankly impatient and bored.

Even this old video paints a very different picture.

[Prototype]

I studied in a traditional Shotokan dojo for many years. Up to Black Belt we only did the basic kicks-front, side round, hook, cresent, etc. Nothing fancy.

But how much time spent on it is the key question.