Switching Styles !!!!

**foxguitar** · Posted On: 8/25/2012 7:49am

Hey guys
looking for some input , heres the deal im 54 Im in a shotokan based Dojo we do 75% Shotokan 25% Shito Ryu (Katas)
I love my sensei but heres the problem he runs the dojo with a overwhelming sports karate slant (USANKF WKF) . Almost exclusively competition style karate kata /kumite .

Up and till a year ago I was into the competition thing but age started to creep up the wear and tear was getting too much . Im thinking of switching to a less competitive dojo and a style thats easier on your joints then those deep stances in Shotokan .

Does anyone have any input on any of the okinawan styles such as Shorin Ryu or Goju
And anybody know the difference in a Kobayashi as opposed to Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu dojo
I still love to spar I do enjoy Kata but I want to do real Karate not just sports karate . Im not looking for the Kyokushin or the BJJ not that I dont respect those styles just not what Im seeking .

Any input is appreciated Thanks

**SpamN'Cheese** · Posted On: 8/25/2012 4:24pm

It's just your Shotokan school. Karate-do schools, no matter what ryuha, vary generally. My Goju ryu McDojo was the opposite of that; mostly kata based, with only a little sport emphasis. Glad I'm gone though so I can focus on Kyokushinkai and Judo/BJJ, but that's my preference now.

**JingMerchant!** · Posted On: 8/26/2012 3:12pm

Welcome back Fox! Hope you've been keeping well!

I apologise, as I don't really have anything to add to this thread apart from a welcome and...

Originally Posted by foxguitar

...Im not looking for the Kyokushin...

Why ever not mate....? From what you've said and My (admittedly limited) knowledge of kyokushin, it sounds like it would be right up your alley!

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 8/26/2012 3:49pm

Originally Posted by JingMerchant!

Why ever not mate....? From what you've said and My (admittedly limited) knowledge of kyokushin, it sounds like it would be right up your alley!

Are you thinking of something else? Sounds like the school he is at would be close to KK and he wants to move away from that hard style of competition.

You'll have to check out schools because they vary widely from what little I have watched and trained.

**thrutch** · Posted On: 8/26/2012 4:17pm

I think you'll find the two Okinawan Shorin Ryu styles you mentioned a lot easier on the body than Shotokan. I trained a Kobayashi style for a while. There's a lot less emphasis on "strong deep stances" - you'll find you spend a lot more time in shizentai and nekoashi dachi than shiko/kiba dachi and the zenkutsu dachi is a bit more sensible. All a lot easier on the hips, in other words.

Obviously the style/amount of sparring will vary according to individual gyms.

I've posted this before, but if you're looking for a Shorin Ryu dojo on LI then I found these people to be very friendly and capable:

http://www.ryukyushorinkan.com/

**JingMerchant!** · Posted On: 8/26/2012 4:26pm

Originally Posted by It is Fake

Are you thinking of something else? Sounds like the school he is at would be close to KK and he wants to move away from that hard style of competition.

No I wasn't mate...

My limited knowledge is even more limited than I suspected. I shall shut and read from this point on.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 8/26/2012 4:47pm

Originally Posted by JingMerchant!

No I wasn't mate...

My limited knowledge is even more limited than I suspected. I shall shut and read from this point on.

Kyokushin does Kata and such, but they do train for competitions like this highlight:

His combination of KK and BJJ made me think he wants sparring without the competition heavy angle.

**Tetsumusha** · Posted On: 8/27/2012 9:21am

I currently practice a Kobayashi branch of Shorin-Ryu (Shorinkan, specifically, which is the same organization as the dojo that thrutch linked) and I would have to agree that it CAN be much easier on the body. On the whole, the system contains fewer deep, long stances and does not put much value on high kicks, and it also tends to value more natural positions (not squaring the shoulders in a front stance, for example, and leaning forward slightly into punches) which is better for the hips and spine. That said, some dojo will do things differently, and some are really big on hojo undo and kitae which can take a toll on the body. As far as Matsubayashi goes, I'm afraid I don't know too much about that branch other than the fact that it was founded by Shoshin Nagamine and they seem to use even fewer low stances than we do.

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 8/27/2012 10:14am

Originally Posted by foxguitar

Hey guys
looking for some input , heres the deal im 54 Im in a shotokan based Dojo we do 75% Shotokan 25% Shito Ryu (Katas)
I love my sensei but heres the problem he runs the dojo with a overwhelming sports karate slant (USANKF WKF) . Almost exclusively competition style karate kata /kumite .

Up and till a year ago I was into the competition thing but age started to creep up the wear and tear was getting too much . Im thinking of switching to a less competitive dojo and a style thats easier on your joints then those deep stances in Shotokan .

Does anyone have any input on any of the okinawan styles such as Shorin Ryu or Goju
And anybody know the difference in a Kobayashi as opposed to Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu dojo
I still love to spar I do enjoy Kata but I want to do real Karate not just sports karate . Im not looking for the Kyokushin or the BJJ not that I dont respect those styles just not what Im seeking .

Any input is appreciated Thanks

Long time no see, brother.

Go with Kobayashi. Both are good, but given your love of sparring, I think you'll like Kobayashi more. They tend to be a tad bit more aggressive than Matsubayashi.