IshinRyu Karate.....

[TacticalRifleBKH]

My wife and I are getting into martial arts as a form of excercise and I am interested in seeing to what other areas it will lead, such as competition. One of our only choices for training in our location is Karate, particularly Ishin Ryu, I'd like to hear from anyone that knows about this form of martial art, and can tell me about it....Thanks in advance.....Bruce

[JSOCMarine]

Isshin-Ryu was created on Okinawa by Tatsuo Shimabuku. Shimabuku combined what he thought were some of the best techniques and principles from other proven Okinawan styles. The style was brought to America by several of Shimabuku's early Marine students. Some of them went on to establish dojos near Marine Bases and the popularity spread among Marines, especially in the 50's through the 80's. Back then, Marines were known to request orders to Okinawa just so they could train at the main dojo with the senior Okinawan practitioners. Even today, most Marine bases still have an Isshin-Ryu dojo near them.

Master Shimabuku is long gone, but his son in law, Angi Uezu took over as the Master and has continued to teach, though he is getting old and does not travel as much as he used to. Master Uezu was also employed for years as the head of security at a Marine Corps base in Okinawa, and still has the main dojo in a town right outside of the base.

The style is very simple and was perfect for a large man like myself. Lots of straight punches and kicks, hard blocks and little acrobatics. I studied for years and loved it. Still do katas with the Bo for exercise. Still have my original belt issued to me when I made Shodan with Master Uezu's signature on it. See the link below for more info. S/F


http://www.frontiernet.net/~rjacob/karate/isshinryu.htm

[Snake]

Your in New Orleans? Should be various dojo's down there. Run a search online, and maybe ask at e-budo.com. Word of mouth is much better than the phonebook.

The Tulane Karate Club is good.

http://www.tulane.edu/~karate/

They practice Shotokan, as per the JKA method.(long, micro-perfect drills of basic waza). You'll hate life, but you'll learn.

Word of wisdom: Join a -Club-, avoid
-schools-. Schools are "usually" run on the bottom line, Clubs and traditional Dojo's tend not to care about money, save for expenses. Good rule of thumb..

Snake
Sandan, Kyokushin-kai Karate-do
82nd Airborne

[Snake]

A little background on various ryu-ha...

[copied shamelessly from a -real- expert, on E-Budo.com]


Kent,

The differences between the diverse karate styles are variable. Sometimes the styles are very similar and other times there is significant differences.

I am most familiar with the Japanese styles as I studied Wado ryu for around 15 years and had a lot of exposure to the practitioners of other styles.

Generally the differences are as follows:

Shotokan... is a very linear style with powerful kicking and punching techniques exhibiting great emphasis on rotational hip dynamics to generate power. Shotokan clubs, especially recognized JKA clubs, demonstrate excellent form and precision in movement. Impressively powerful in application, Shotokan practitioners also demonstrate excellent timing and counter attacks in kumite. The style is fairly simple but that is it's strength. Most JKA Shotokan practitioners demonstrate the strongest mastery of basics that I have seen in the Japanese styles. They usually won most of the kata competitions I attended. I must admit to being mezmerized by the form of a particular female Japanese Shotokan practitioner. Her level of precision was simply... beyond human. And Hirokazu Kanazawa..... I still stand in awe.

Shito ryu... I think of Shito ryu as lighter and faster Shotokan without the reliance on gobs of power. Shito ryu is linear and quick. Shito stylists tend have lightining fast staccato footword and seldom root their stances until the moment they deliver a technique. Shito ryu stylists generally use their hands more than their feet. Their kicks tend towards fast stabbing applications used to set up hand combinations instead of the "knock the wall down " variety of seen in Shotokan. Shito ryu stylists kata are performed precisely and qickly without any extraneous movement. The Shito ryu stylists I encountered in sparring I remember being blindingly fast. Despite the differences pointed out here, Shotokan and Shito ryu are probably the most similar of the five styles I am outlining here.

Wado ryu... although derived greatly from Shotokan is a very different style. The founder of Wado ryu was a jujutsu master before he began his study of Shotokan. The jujutsu influence on Wado ryu is enormous but is seldom taught until the basics are mastered. This makes it at first appear more like Shito ryu or Shotokan. When one starts to progress into the dan ranks however Wado ryu takes on an identity all its own. Wado ryu demonstrates upright stances, evasive foowork, sophisticated feinting and soft parrying which includes simutaneous striking. These particular movements are rather unique to Wado ryu within the Japanese karate family. There is a significant jujutsu syllabus contained within the art called Wado ryu Jujutsu Kempo. In kumite, Wado stylists tend to be slippery, hard to read and will quickly close distance to deliver attacks which often include kuzushi to compromise a opponents balance and prevent effective counters. Probably the most sophisticated of the Japanese Karate styles due to inclusion of and reliance on jujutsu principles.

Goju ryu... (the name means hard & soft) is just that. At one moment circular, the next linear. It would seem in principle to be similar to Wado ryu but in reality looks much different. Goju manifests it hard aspect much harder than Wado ryu and more like Shotokan. It demonstrates large hip rotational dynamics to generate power. Its soft aspect is not at all like jujutsu but more like Chinese Baugua with it large and small circular hand movements. Goju ryu kicking technique is not fancy or flashy but is very effective. You won't see many jumping or flying sidekicks from a Goju stylists. They tend to move smoothly and methodically without the quick staccato movements associated with Shito ryu. Deceptively powerful, Goju is overall powerful in a different way from Shotokan. Soft in application of defense but not nearly as soft as Wado ryu, Goju has always presented exceptional fighters.

Kyokushinkai... the fighters "karate of karate'. Wimps or people not fond of deep brusing need not apply. This is rockem sockem karate. Sophisticated fighting skills and ring savy strategy hallmark this first of the real Japanese "Full Contact Karate styles" to make the mainstream. Founded by the charismatic Masutatsu Oyama, Kiyokushin has left a great many modern legends in the karate mythology. The 100 kumite is just one. 100 straight matches that must include an "ippon" before the next starts. One of my best friends in the MA world is an old 100 kumite kiyokushinkai fighter. Nicest guy you ever met.... off the mat!

Hope this helps<

__________________
Toby Threadgill \ Soryushin Dojo
Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Kai
tthreadgill@shinyokai.com


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Snake
82nd Airborne

[Jeff Rambo]

Originally posted by Snake:
Goju ryu... (the name means hard & soft) is just that. At one moment circular, the next linear. It would seem in principle to be similar to Wado ryu but in reality looks much different. Goju manifests it hard aspect much harder than Wado ryu and more like Shotokan. It demonstrates large hip rotational dynamics to generate power. Its soft aspect is not at all like jujutsu but more like Chinese Baugua with it large and small circular hand movements. Goju ryu kicking technique is not fancy or flashy but is very effective. You won't see many jumping or flying sidekicks from a Goju stylists. They tend to move smoothly and methodically without the quick staccato movements associated with Shito ryu. Deceptively powerful, Goju is overall powerful in a different way from Shotokan. Soft in application of defense but not nearly as soft as Wado ryu, Goju has always presented exceptional fighters.

With most of my time spent in Goju, I can say this is one of the most dead on descriptions you'll ever read. I've seen explanations of Goju that consisted of 20+ paragraphs and not one had any salt worth licking.

Although, the author isn't totally right when he states that our kicking technique isn't "fancy" and "flashy." Effective application of techniques is paramount in all forms of martial arts and especially Goju. But with a new breed of "instructors" who do not have a background with tradtional Okinawan style as far as their studying goes their own instruction calls for application outweighing "style." So this is the misconception of Goju slowly popping up in the heads of MA buffs. If one were to ever step into a traditional dojo where Okinawan Style Goju Ryu Karate is taught, I can assure you that the "instructors" would be teaching proper kicking techniques which include "usage" (style). When executed by someone who has been taught traditional Goju style, you will notice their ability to extend, snap and recoil properly which result in Goju kicking techniques tantamount to Kobe Bryant with a basketball and a unworthy defender.

Effectiveness is key when you're only concerned about defending yourself, of course, but when you truly believe the "art" aspect of Martial Arts... it ALL counts. But realize that I'm biased when it comes to proper form as I'm a washed up Freestyle and Tae Kwon Do kata/forms champion thus I am very picky about Martial Artists and their ability to apply technique hand in hand with form. Speaking of being biased... the author seems to be biased towards Shotokan and leaves many missing points behind the reason why Kyokushinkai is a sock 'em knock 'em rock 'em type art. Look at what it was built on.

I suggest reading the books: "The Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate" and "Goju Ryu Karate Do: Fundamentals for Traditional Practitioners"

Then read: Karate for self defense: An analysis of Goju-ryu and Kyokushinkai kata

A skilled practioner of authentic Kyokushinkai is someone whom I would not wish to meet in a dark alley if I had the choice as I know I'd walk away beaten and bruised badly... but in the end, as an equally skilled practioner of authentic Goju, I would come out the victor as the backdoors left open in Kyo are the frontdoor basics covered in Goju when taught and studied properly.

Nevertheless, the author of the comparisons obviously knows more overall than most breathing, most likely myself included, when it comes to Japanese arts as I've only been studying Goju since roughly 10yrs or so ago... and didn't really understand the true aspects of the art until three years later.

Anyhow, listen to Snake... join a club, not a school as they are more concerned with money than instruction. I just got ripped off on a 3yr Black Belt Club membership at a TKD Studio here in L.A. due to a minor "break" in my participation. Won't go into that though but I'm out of $2k of the $3k I paid and Asians aren't to be argued with over money here in L.A. You'll never win.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Rambo (edited 09-03-2001).]

[TacticalRifleBKH]

I'd like to take the time to thank you guys, in just a short page you have provided me with a wealth of information. My biggest fear is getting burned with a bad experience such as unprofessionalism on the instructors part as to the way they run their business. JSOCMarine, I figure this would be a good bet for me as I am also not a small fella, I am ex-mil, turned commercial diver, now company owner, lol. Bout 6'3" and 250lbs, and still maintaining a good overall agility.
Thanks fellas............Bruce

[Gunny Hicks]

I studied Ishin-Ryu for quit some time. I enjoyed it. I had previously studied Tae Kwan Do, but as I got older, th ehigh swining kicks becam far more difficult. Ishin-Ryu was the right style for me. Very practical in the movements, and useful for todays potential street fights.

------------------
Master Sergeant, USMC Infantry

[Snake]

Kyokushinkai Rules!!!
Shidokan isnt bad, either.


Snake
Sandan, Kyokushin-kai Karate-do
82nd Airborne


[This message has been edited by Snake (edited 09-03-2001).]

[Jeff Rambo]

Bruce,

With you being a decent sized guy, I'd also look into Akido. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a place. If not... Ishin-Ryu is a good bet.

Snake,

No arguments from me boss. I've seen people taken down with it on one too many accounts. Afterall, that is its purpose. But its flaws can easily be exploited by the right person.

Cheers,
J.R.,
Nidan, Goju Ryu Karate-do

[TacticalRifleBKH]

Jeff, Gunny, Snake and all,

Thanks for the support, one reason I am considering studying at this place is its proximity to the house and that is good being on call out like I am. (ready to fly inside of 45mins) Also, I talked to the Chief Instructor, and it just kind of clicked. This isn't actually titled a school, but the New Orelans Karate Club, so I guess that falls into line with the mention of staying away from a school and the bottom line principal. I am interested in seeing how the principle's of IsshinRyu lends itself to for lack of a better phrase
"street defense". I dont mean that like I am gonna go looking for trouble, but in helping teach a CCW course in my spare time, and being a counter lizard at my partner's gun shop, lol, everyone always has an opinion as to what is the best style for defense in a street situation. I am also using this martial art as a way to stay healthy, and just overall have a good time. Good thing I don't gotta wear my dive helemt and 30lbs of lead anymore, just tell the tad poles to get their shit on, lol......Thanks for the support.......