Shotokan_Fighter Posted June 15, 2003 Posted June 15, 2003 what is the difference im in a hard style of karate (shotokan karate) and im gonna stick with it and i have no plans an changing but what is a soft style and whats the difference between them? "When I fight, I fight with my heart,and soul. My heart, and soul is Shotokan Karate."Shotokan_fighters creed"karate has to come natural in a fight, if you have to think about using karate in a fight, you will loose the fight"3rd kyu brown belt - shotokan karate
delta1 Posted June 16, 2003 Posted June 16, 2003 Hard styles tend to be more linear and meet force with force. Soft styles tend to be more circular and divert, redirect or yield to force. Soft styles flow better from move to move also. A lot of your moves in Shotokan are hard because that's how they are practiced, but you have some of the basics of soft moves in your style. For example, do an inward block, then from point of origin (don't chamber, just go from where you are) do a downward block. Again, from point of origin, do a verticle outward block (block outward with the radius side of your arm). Now do that again, only smoothly and with no tension, and no interruption of movement- all one smooth move. What you've done is to start with a hard move, the inward block, and convert it to a soft serries of moves. The inward block to the outside of a punching arm would redirect it. As you continue to move through the downward block an up to the radius block you carry his arm and trap it, lock it, or even break it. You'll have to add some footwork to get the angles right to make it work, and don't forget that you have another hand. If it was a left punch, and you are blocking with the right arm , step inside with your left foot as the downward block sweeps his arm outward and hit him with your left as the radius block pins his arm and your body rotation pulls him in. Soft styles may incorporate passive strikes also. An example would be dealing with a left jab. Step inside, moving the target (your face) and place your left hand on his left wrist, pushing it past your face. Point your elbow at his face. Now relax (actually, you are relaxed throughout this move until the strike contacts his face). A jab is returned faster than it is deployed, and you are going to let him pull your elbow into his own face (it's ok to help him out a litle, though). As you do this, your right hand should check low and you should step in so that your left knee checks his lead (probably left) knee. The path of your left arm/elbow will check any high strikes. This is a tough move to time right, but even if you blow it you can easily convert the strike, another advantage to the soft, or relaxed styles. Edit: I should add that that second move especially requires another attribute of soft styles, and that is some degree of sensitivity. That move was shown to me (actually the *#@! did it to me first) by a Ving Tsun practitioner. They spend a lot of time developing sensitivity with chi sao drills, similar to Taiji push hands and Kenpo rolling. You don't plan a move like that, you sort of fall into it. It just happens. Freedom isn't free!
cross Posted July 19, 2003 Posted July 19, 2003 Hard style V. Soft style black hair V. Blonde Hair Man V. Women Differences are the way the techniques look and the training methods and the fight mentality and the philosphies and the concepts behind techniques... In the end its just punching a kicking
G95champ Posted July 19, 2003 Posted July 19, 2003 Gojo is Hard Shorin is Soft Shotokan well Funakoshi trained in both and Shotokan has aspects of both so Shotokan is both hard and Soft. This is well outlined when you study the kata. Kata like the Heian's, Jittie, Bassai, are HARD. Kata like Empi, Chinttie, Unsa are soft. I won't say its a 50/50 split in Shotokan. I would say it is more hard than it is soft. But we do have a lot of soft moves. 60/40 hard to soft is a good guess IMO. (General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory."
cross Posted July 20, 2003 Posted July 20, 2003 In karate some techniques that you think are hard, and that look hard in basic training can sometimes be performed in a "softer" way with the same effectiveness.
telsun Posted July 20, 2003 Posted July 20, 2003 Gojo is HardWell Goju is hard (go) and soft (ju). The most simple way to explain this is soft defensive moves with hard striking attacks. It is deeper than this but that is the simpliest way to put it. Delta1 summed up the hard and soft very well and don't worry Shotokan_Fighter I don't think anybody would dream of you changing styles I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me........."gee I'm not sure!"
telsun Posted July 20, 2003 Posted July 20, 2003 hard is better imo No it is not better............. I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me........."gee I'm not sure!"
Kyle-san Posted July 20, 2003 Posted July 20, 2003 hard is better imo Feel free to test that theory at any time.
SaiFightsMS Posted July 20, 2003 Posted July 20, 2003 There is no one best style for all people and situations. Only what is best for the individual at the time given their abilities.
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