We do not use very long low stances. Okinawan systems use fewer and more low kicks and more types of hand techniques. It was fun but I understood that tournament kumite is not the way we fight to defend ourselves. Branches of the same tree. I do JKA Shotokan (i.e., Japanese Karate) and allow me to share the following: They do not care how many degrees the toes should point somewhere, or how wide or long the stance should be. The easy thing to do is look @ a karate style, here Shotokan, and point out something that seems lacking. 8. Though, it appears that thin-skinned people do so, taking insult that they could be viewed as having a less than equal fighting system than another. Renzoku means to continue. *Kara Karate Stances - A Perfect Karate Foundation, Arizona Hombu Dojo - School of Traditional Karate & Kobudo, Top-Rated Okinawan Karate, Kobudo & Self-Defense in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Arizona, International Training Center in Mesa, Arizona Focuses on Traditional Martial Arts, Arizona Karate - Nobody in Arizona Does it Better, Arizona Karate Instructor Nominated for Man of Year, About Arizona Martial Arts, Schools, Instructors, Styles and Classes, Picking a Martial Arts School in the Phoenix Valley, NUNTEI BO: Okinawa Fishing License for Traditional Karate and Kobudo, Breaking Rocks - Arizona Martial Arts Instructor, Geologist & Author Loves to Teach, ADULT Karate Classes: Mesa & Gilbert, East Valley Phoenix, Arizona's Adult & Family Karate and Self-Defense Classes, Traditional Martial Arts - A Path of Peace, Mesa, Arizona Self-Defense Class taught by Hall-of-Fame Grandmaster (Professor of Martial Arts). Training in *martial arts* can be intense as well as entertaining. He is one of the first masters to teach Karate in Japan. Despite balancing the two styles, do you find yourself having a tendency to prefer Japanese to Okinawan, or Okinawan to Japanese? Sorry to tell the truth . Each time I pick up something I missed last time. Wonderful reading, thank you for this! Like you I have studied karate in Okinawa when my parents were stationed there many years ago. And, SMALL groups in the class. L and R is pretty much an interchangeable sound in Japan. In kendo (which is VERY Japanese), my sensei did explain the why (which target to hit), but in terms of lecture/lessons, he focused much more on the how (body mechanics, posture, zanshin). Seipai, 6. I need to learn as much as possible before I go, you are helping me :-). This drill provides a system to practice basic offensive and defensive techniques while moving through the stances utilized in Kata. I just read some very long winded, opionated statements which seems to be an attempt to prove some people's opinions to be false. Dear Jesse, I've been praticing Shotokan Karate for a long time now and I really appreciate all you're articles. Nice article, but let me say that I do not agree with you at all in the sense that you generalize way too much in your comments, reasoning etc. the strike was always there as one simple bunkai.. Shotokan is often practiced & applied as a sport. 2. . But just one question, if hai means yes in Japanese why do they say it in an Okinawan dojo? By the way what s your karate style? A lot of practitioners don't know that Karate is the Okinawan adaptation of Chinese Kung Fu (southern white. Put your heels together, open your toes at about 45 degrees. Hall-of *WE **CHALLENGE YOU! I loved your article. Todd Litzy. E.g Funakoshi was trying to spread an "alien" practice to mainland Japan at a time when Okinawan culture was frowned upon. This spartan training environment actually adds to the focus of individualization over mass instruction. *Students at the University of Wyoming learn self-defense to assist in By the 18th century, different types of Te had developed in three different villages-Shuri, Naha and Tomari in different forms. Couldn't agree more. Okinawan karate form focuses more on making a dignified and noble karateka than a good fighter. What makes it stand out is its elementary karate principles. (Related reading: The #1 Reason Why Every Serious Karate-ka Needs to Travel to Okinawa Right Now). Shorin Ryu Okinawan Karate Vs. Japanese Karate - Differences Sports Vs. LifeStyle Natural Stances Why And How Okinawan Karate Weapons - Kobudo Top 2 Okinawan Karate Dojos The Jundokan Shodokan Dojo 4 Famous Masters of Okinawan Karate 1. from original pre-japan okinawa [kara]te.. However, it only has a few dojos in Okinawa. Our stances were pretty deep, but we were always told our style was a close-in type of fighting, and there was, and still is, a constant effort to be authentic. This all started over a great article published and got well out of hand. Tuide is joint manipulation etc. . Furthermore, it would be nice to learn some proper self-defence. Thank you. Wish I could afford one of your new gi's. 5:03. He is one of the pioneers of Okinawan karate. I've been doing some research into Manji-uke as you find it in Bassai/Passai and what I've found is the entire Bassai/Passai sequence was lifted complete, whole as a unit *completely identifiably* from Shaolin (or other style) kung-fu forms. The traditional karate practices in Okinawa were more inclined towards self-development (Budo) and self-defense. I'm too old already, but even though I'm 71, I wish some day I'll get to live in Okinawa and learn their karate before I die. Should we choose to change style, we still should proceed the same way. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. You can describe a human being like walking on two feet in a straight posture, so men are two-legged beings, they have two hands, a torso, a head. They need to be easily seen byhuge massesof people! problem is - there are that may "additional reading" links - i'll be here for hours. :-). His style has been practicing in Okinawa and Japan till date. Enter your email to receive news and updates straight in your mailbox. To those who think and say that Shotokan is not practical, with all do respect, I say, they're full of it. 4. In Japanese Karate, the katas and stances are unnatural, forced, and developed to keep the body fit. The purpose of the bunkai was to present principles or example-movements that could be employed by various alternatives for actual application. I have heard and read that there are hundreds of Karate dojos in Okinawa. Degrading? Uechi Ryu is a traditional Okinawan Karate style. These are easy to do with the right practice and guidance. Is there a way for a person such as myself to train in Okinawa or even just visit a Dojo for a look? This iswhy Okinawan Karate is hard toteach a big group of people at once you simplycannot give adequate individual attention toa group of 50 students or more! Your article comes across as degrading to Japanese Karate, I don't think that this was your intention. That's all. The Okinawa Shotokan Karate Academy in Kent. Sanchin, 2. // How to make karate Stances // karate stance kaise banaye // Shotokan Karate. By far the most popular style, this one is widely known throughout the world. Try to use full force when executing each maneuver. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Because that was the goal when Karate was introduced to the various universities around Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto in the middle of the 20th century. I just wanted to set the record straight not just give an opinion. Chances are that you start in a wing chun club where it's also all about technique and not practical use. This is where your opinion loses any respect, when you espouse that opinion as a fact and not just your opinion. traditions it is very interesting and relevant for anyone Thanks for sharing! TERMS are just the short cut to thinking you know "KARATE". Japanese Karate, on the other hand, was tailored for huge groups. You simply have more classes. So you have to experience both. The fact that differing karate styles have conventions that some may take issue with, either out of lack of understanding, or alternatively out of better understanding as the case may be, is not patently degrading to the one having a difference of opinion. Bend your front knee so that it prevents you from seeing your front foot. The fact that we disagree or have differences of opinion, isn't that realistic in karate & life? IMHO, I thought the author's comparison was enlightening as setting up for better understanding & as a BLOG discussion. Stances were very high and light, btw, as shown in #1. The most important "aspect" of any martial art is the "person" that is training. By how I see Shotokan is typically practiced, the emphasis is clearly on striking. In the 53 years since I started karate training, I have trained with both Okinawan and Japanese instructors, and found both systems to be beneficial and useful. It's considered a Japanese style. A growing bamboodoes not compete with the bamboonext to it. In the past, the Higashionna style had more popularity in Okinawa than the Itosu style. Matsubayashi-ryuis one of the main styles of Karate on Okinawa. It would be nice to know what they look like and a bit of history. As a karate enthusiast, I always wondered how such a famous martial art developed on an island. And how Okinawans continued to practice their fighting skills in such difficult political times. I am active in training and teaching of Karate and Martial Arts for the past 46 years. Jesse Enkamp You have explained to me WHY I love this style of Karate. Shuri-te and Naha-te. It was founded in 1931 by Kenwa Mabuni. Here is a list of Japanese karate stances: Are this part of curriculum of okinawa karate? Hi, my name is Martin Jutras. Due to its central location, Okinawa was influenced by various cultures with a long history of trade and cultural exchange, including Japan, China and Southeast Asia, that greatly influenced the development of martial arts on Okinawa.We would like to introduce you to five main styles: Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu (&), and Matsubayashi-ryu. I remembered when I started at ,y current dojo, which is Shotokan karate, there was some confusion between my Sensei and myself about stances and some techniques. samurai centuries ago. But, the 4 core styles of Okinawa Karate are: Goju-Ryu is one of the old styles of Okinawan Karate. Sincerely Successful karate demands IN-Depth Thinking--yours/mine.FACT OR OPINION? It is mainly used in kata and as a conditioning stance to strengthen glutes, thighs, and hips. We don't have a specific bunkai for each kata. what a great article, love itthanks do for sharing. Keep the front foot flat on the floor, and the ball and toes of the . I've posted before I don't personally care for Shotokan. "Imi" translates to "meaning" in English. Was a third degree green belt when my sensei went psycho and my mom pulled me out. The one that leaps out to me is the lock applied to his opponent's right elbow, although there may be something going on with their knees too. it's interesting and nicely well said. You can see it after the classic twist/cover/chop in this old video of Yasuharu Makishi Sensei, who was a senior student of Nagamine Shoshin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKURGTA5AmM. // this script is free to use and distribute It'The stance allows you to reach far and generate a great deal of power as you move forward. Feet facing outwards at 45. Copyright Whoop's, struck a nerve hey? it is not the original form, but part of a deliberate But I never think could be a good idea to write bout all those differences, and people can undertand theme, so congrats for do it, and I hope be in contact. Stances are important in karate as they represent the foundation, or roots of good technique. Your rear foot's toes and ball of the foot touches the ground. Ganbatte. Kewa Mabuni studied the Okinawan Shuri Ryu Karate in-depth and developed this art form. I will add a link to the original one in your site and attribute the original article to you, of course. Thats the reason why Okinawan karate stances are higher, more natural, and easy to adapt. I am trained in kyokushin since 25 years. Distribute your weight to 70% on the back foot and 30% on the front foot. Although I'm biased to Okinawan Karate, I still have much respect to Japanese Karate, and I learn a lot from it as well. Kenwa Mabuni 3. In the end, its about doing what you love whether its Okinawan or Japanese. My Name is Ruben and i have studied in Japanese and Okinawan Karate schools, so i have seen some of these differences. As an instructor, I have to differentiate between a general athlete and competitor, child and adult. I call on the extensive articles & material & Masters cited on this blog, to support my thesis. Due to its central location, Okinawan karate styles has been influenced by several cultures with a long history of trade and cultural exchange, including Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, which greatly influenced the development of martial . There are MANY differences between Okinawan and Japanese Karate. If we talk bunkai (the why), there is not much difference at all. But why Japanese Karate is more INTL than Okinawan? I am join your style but you can give me affiliated oll India in your federation but I will pay affiliated fee. In the japanese karate it's very military, drill sergeant like. // protected email script by Joe Maller However, for example in the case of Lyoto Machida, if he uses a Shotokan technique as he often does in MMA, and it is effective, does that mean MMA is effective or the technique is? As a matter of fact the more think about it, I remember one of my Isshinryu Instructors saying that if he wanted to kick someone in the face. Our Dojos do not let the size of the class become so large we can't give individual attention where it is needed. Georgia. Dr. Lucio Maurino (World Karate Champion) Explains & Demonstrates). Whereas the deep Japanese stance is designed for competition. You can have library of fancy movements in your head, but without the foundation, they are useless. I enjoyed reading this article, I did practice Ominawan Karate as a young man, you brought many good memories to me. There is a VERY distinct difference between what is practiced in India and Okinawa. The direct impact of this locality was seen when Kung-Fu became a part of Okinawan martial arts. "effective" at what? By the way, do you know if they practice kote/ashi kitae in japan karate? Instructions: Feet are about two shoulder widths apart, toes are facing forward (parallel), Lower your center of gravity by bending your knees forward, Push your knees towards the outside, Keep your back and neck straight, There are plenty of Shotokan instructors out there who dont accept a dodgy application just because masters in their style demonstrated it. I think the HOW is big in both Okinawan karate & Japanese karate, agreeing with author that the Japanese put more emphasis on HOW. Shimabukuro OSensei was very big on the why and used "osu" when leading Kihon Kandan and drills. I welcome the debate about karate styles, better or not, pros & cons. Disciples learn techniques that include hard, closed fist punches and soft, open hand strikes. Due to a reason i cannot explain i am unable to see the images in #3, #4, #6, #8, #9, #10, Thank you so much for your very informative and inspiring articles. I like to say that traditional karate is a thinking man's discipline. Do some work, it takes some work, to interpret bunkai this way. Shrin-ry (Japanese: ) is an old Okinawan karate style, established as a combination of Shuri-te and Tomari-te styles, along with influence from various Chinese martial arts. which i am going to present in university. Although not very useful (my opinion) in itself, many stances and movements are in a way similar to those in okinawan karate. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, my favorite equipment for training Karate at home. Raise one leg and place its ankle behind the knee of the standing leg. Thanks for sharing this great article. Thank you for reading! Yes, it includes the comparatively few dojos of Japanese styles like Shotokan and Kyokushin. This list also includes Japanese karate style dojos like Shotokan or Kyokushin? Ive noticed that for some time, a lot of dojo's are trying to go "the old ways" like the kissakikai movement. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Jon Hamm - Karate! This dojo was also popular for the Kobudo karate practices and, to date, has the Kobudo weapons hanging on its wall. I really have enjoyed this article. LONG WINDED OPINIONS / TRUE OR FALSE OR RESPECT? Whenhesaw my confusion, hequicklyexcused himself and said it in proper Japanese instead; hana ageru. Hi. Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate has many sub-styles, amongst which Matsubayashi-Ryu is the most common one. Close quarters combat, joint manipulation, take downs, attacks to nerves and vital areas. Let's discover and explore together the benefits and richness of Karate's Lifestyle - Martial Arts, self-defense, health, spirituality and more! The body should be squarely forward unless a half-turn han-mi is applied. It was very helpful for me which was a very old karate lover since 1972 . | This style has 46 Kata a relatively large number and this includes several weapons ones. I simply try to gain useful information from whomever I train with. Please take the time to improve each position to perfection. Goju-ryu. Personal Self-Defense - Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Phoenix, Tempe. To them, it was their only defense method that helped them get through challenging political times. Kanbun uechi was the founder of uechi ryu karate. If you look at the old photos of Funakoshi from his books, the kokutsu-dachi you see there is done in some Okinawan styles, to this day. I also believe they are greatly under-rated by many in the martial arts community and especially by those in the MMA community. How this convention fits into traditional karate training is a key question highlighted by the authors discussion. | My branch of Shorin-Ryu does not have any kokutsu-dachi, for example, but other branches do. There is a mix of both hard and soft techniques. Also, in traditional Okinawan Karate, there was no belt ranking system. (Those of you who attended myseminars will recognise these.). Gene sticks to his guns & backs up his position--he deserves applause (mine) like any strong kumite competitor. Kanryo Higaonna(1853-1915) was known as the highest authority of Naha Te. Didnt know these differences. shotokan karate jka Hope to see future articles like this as I have Black belts in Wado-ryu and Goju-ryu and would love to see articles posted about the foundations of those 2 styles. You can't just pretend to be running and you can't pretend to swim. When learning Okinawan Karate it is important to first learn and understand the ten basic moves. Tuidi Techniques. Good reading, extremely intersting. Arigato Jesse Mama-san! Whoever decided to remove weapons from Shotokan should be given a stern rebuke. Huh? My sensei (Jaap Smaal 7th dan) is such an amazing teacher with so much knowledge about Shotokan but also he knows alot about traditional Okinawan Karate , recently we trained the very very old version of the kata Bassai-dai.