Speaking of Kyokushin, what aside from the fact that it's heavily sparring-based separates it from other styles of karate? I've looked at a few books (not the best idea, I know), and it just looks like generic "hard" karate to me.

probably the emfasiss on full contact sparring and breaking. other than that it's just karate.

i'm a Kyokushin bb and have also spent years in other styles-Kyokushin is just more intense. As Sihon Lowe's yellow pages ad used to say in Honolulu, "No contracts, just hard workouts."
After about two hours of hard sweaty workout, THEN they do pushups and situps. I remember doing handstands while someone held my feet and doing pushups. I remember watching the sweat on the dogi (karate clothes) of the bb in front of me in the front line (i was green at the time) during warm ups gradually soak with sweat, starting with the neck and armpits, until the ENTIRE uniform was wet. Pay off was things like in Kajukenbo class, first time,it was only my area of the floor was sprinkled with sweat 10 minutes into the workout because i had been taught to go as hard as you can (kata without power is dance) and no one else there had had that experience.

Peedee-what style of karate are you a bb in?
Do you use it or practice it still?

Oh, Kajukenbo teaches every kind and way of doing kicks, thrust, whip, mule, snap, chambered, unchambered, they actally broke down things like front snap to roundhouse combo (nidan mwashigeri)in steps with hip movement and leg movement explained in detail.

"A lot of people spend a lot of time arguing about what style is better. This is a complete waste of time." Oyama

Angry-Spastic could you go into more detail about those styles you mention?

PEACE!

Comparison on the general kicks between sport versions

http://www.kyokushinmail.com/koya/KickInstruction.htm

Look at the roundhouse table

oh, yeah, in answer to Boyd, Oyama claimed that the circular movements differentiated Kyokushin from the other karate styles.

"A lot of people spend a lot of time arguing about what style is better. This is a complete waste of time." Oyama

depending on the individual practicioner, they may want to rip your lungs out after they've hit you so hard your living in the middle of next month.
but that goes for anny martial art.

I've come for the girl...and your head.- Methayus (the scorpion king.)

Shin-kicks use the lower shin (where it is concave, above the ankle) anyway, and often intep-kicks end up there..

But the point I am trying to make is that using an instep to kick can put a LOT of strain on your ankle if you follow through (go kick a bag and get back to your keyboard on your knees) and you need to use the shin. Instep-kicks you have to SNAP, and you basically snap with your instep... that reduces power.

PeeDee, do you mean the torsion of the whole body over your rear leg, combined with the leg extension of a kyoukoshin kick is better than just a dead-leg swing as in how many thai kicks are thrown? Or is there another detail I have overlooked?

<Me> John, what do you know about Zen Buddhism? <John> *smacks me*
<John> I'd have to smack you sometime...

oh, yeah, in answer to Boyd, Oyama claimed that the circular movements differentiated Kyokushin from the other karate styles


Goju-Ryu Karate has strong scrutiny on circular movements.

Cast in the name of God. Ye not guilty.

"Glima" is Icelandic wrestling
"Arte Dell Abracciare" is a form of Italian martial art involving stand-up grappling

"YOU are the most militant disabled person I know!" - Psychiatrist

"You say the nicest things" - me

I have brain damage; you are just a wanker.

Thanks Angry-Spastic! Its nice to know about these little known arts. I got to check out more info on Glima and Arte Dell Abracciare!

PEACE!

I am straight Karate and there is nothing wrong with that. You all focus too much on competition here and the UFC. There is competition fighting and there is knowing how to take care of yourself.

I owned you the minute you were born!

SRF: True, true...we're not all heading for the UFC. But where some people want to perfect their single art, others seek to learn the best of what various arts have to offer. There's nothing wrong with that either.

But you have to have a framework to work off of first, which is why I dislike JKD...I don't feel it's a good starting art. I'm a Goju karate man myself...although I may never go beyond Shodan in it, it will always be my original art.

Regards,
CrimsonTiger

"You sure talk a lot. Are you going to train at all tonight, or just stand there the whole time?" -Sempai Dale