What's so special about Shotokan Karate, what makes it unique from any other style of Karate?
I know I am irresponsible, but does that mean I have to retake the exam?
Hello. If you search my post history you'll see I've been interested in karate but it was Okinawan or Kyokushin. I never bothered to give Shotokan a look. For whatever reason I had negative bias against it. Maybe it's so ubiquitous or something and I tie its name with McDojo Karate or I'm used to a bunch of MMA dudes badmouthing it, but I ended up thinking shotokan was bad.
To challenge that view I searched this subreddit for prior threads on Shotokan and read through opinions and started to watch videos on it. I saw this and fell in love.
I've been looking for dojos in my area and most of them were Shotokan and I'd groan. I was considering traveling 80 minutes by subway to train Goju Ryu but maybe I don't need to. A lot of the advice given in this sub is great and perhaps the best of them all I've seen is,"don't worry about style, be concerned with the teaching method."
There's been a shotokan dojo I've passed by so many times since moving to NYC. I plan on scheduling a visit today. Wish me luck. Osu!
So following the whole Donald incident I was just upset really.. I mean, there's supposed to be a bit of rivalry between karate and Taekwondo, but only for the fun of the fight. This wasn't funny at all. If it had been a K-martwondo, sure, but for Kukkikwon to pull this crap?.. But that has been talked about enough I think. I have a lot of respect for Taekwondo and I just came here to say that I love Koryo poomsae! There's a few people in my dojo with a background from Taekwondo and I wanted to do something different so we ended up spending a few hours going over Koryo together tonight and I just love it! The similarities to shotokan kata are familiar and there's many techniques that we find in our kata, but the kicks π and the lovely poetics of its meaning was just a breath of fresh air tonight. I'm rambling incoherently at this point, but if you've made it this far then here's a hug π€ Keep swinging those magnificent legs. We all wish we could kick like you..
Hi all, I have question if anybody would be able to help me please. Does anybody have any tips for restarting Shotokan Karate training at home? I achieved 1st Dan Black Belt after training for many years as a child however due to lots of reasons including relocating six years ago I have lost touch. It has been quite some time since I last trained but I have the desire to resume. It seems to be easy to remember the basics I was taught such as kata and Kumite. I also donβt have a Dojo anywhere as I live on and Island (Isle of Man) which no longer runs so it would all be from home. I was just wondering if anybody had any advice. Thank you :)
After the Big Four (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, Enpi), are the remaining kata tied to rank progression, or is it on the practitioner to select which kata they want to study?
Is the practitioner expected to learn all the kata over time, or just their chosen ones? Or perhaps specialize in their chosen kata kata going forward, and becoming familiar with the remainder?
I can't imagine a senior practitioner being ignorant of some of their own style's kata, but I am curious.
I recognize that each individual/group/organization will have a different answer to the above, but I would appreciate your feedback.
My son just passed his green belt exam. He's the third one from the left.
I have a new teacher who says he is from the Shotokan style, I come from a Goju-Ryu background. I have a question for you Shotokan practitioners. When I am practicing standing strikes, I am in zenkutsu datchi, and the whole time I am being required ot keep my rear heel raised of the ground during each strike. My problem is that one, this places most of my weight on the front foot, which would make it easier to get swept. And two, I was always taught to keep my heels on the ground for a solid stance which generates more power. Is this an actual Shotokan concept, or should I run in the other direction from this instructor?
I want to get into Karate and haven't done any form of martial arts (Taekwondo) since I was about 10, and if I'm being real I've been inspired interested in starting it since Cobra Kai.
I already know Goju-Ryu is more defensive and while I am more interested in offence, I would rather just learn the better style.
I know that is objective, but which is the one I should be looking into.
coming off from a 17 y.o.
Me and my family moved to another province in my country where there is usually few martial centers. My dad found out that his friend teaches Shotokan, and is the sensei of that center. A black belter in Shotokan, kickboxing, Aikido, and a brown belt in Judo. So I guess he's pretty well rounded in martial arts
As someone who started off of Muay Thai (9 months training and I fell in love with it), transitioning myself to Karate is kind of a big adjustment. Just to name a few, there's so many terms to remember, I kind of have doubts on doing the kata, the movements seem complicated (especially the blocks), so many basics, the wide and low stance, etc.. And what seems to be disappointing imo that the only training schedule on that center is on Sundays. So its once a week.
Well I'm not complaining, I just have doubts if it really is worth pursuing Shotokan. Me and the newbies must rank up to a yellow belt by May, but that depends on our katas...
Hey All
Can anyone recommend any good videos/resources that do detail on the positon of the back knee during Kokutsu Dachi?
I've been doing Shotokan for 6 months now and it's good but the backstance is killing my knees, espeically at the front of the knee around the knee cap. I've never had brilliant knees and wouldn't be able to run a marathon or anything due to years of abuse skateboarding/Bmx when i was younger but it wasn't an issue at first.
Alot of the guides i've watched cover it a bit but never really go too in depth into the knee position or not in enough detail i can undertsand. Equally i'm pretty sure my weight distributions off as i'd say it's 90:10 instead of the 70:30. looking for something to help outside of lessons practice my form.
Cheers
Hello there everyone,
I practise Shotokan. I was wondering how do I get about getting a Shotokan flair here?
I've looked around but can't can't seem to find how.
Thank you
aka Knock Out House XD
Did i research this correctly?
Cuz if so, das some badass branding XD
So I was reading an article by Andre Bertel on bassai sho (link at the end) and it includes this paragraph.
"In sum, we have a very βdirectly applicable styleβ that is second to none: via the power from our kihon, which literally remains unsurpassed."
I was wondering, does anyone actually believe this to be true (I certainly don't)? Probably only really a question for shotokan practitioners.
Full article: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2021/11/bassai-sho.html?m=1
What order does your school practice them?
Iβm only curious. Iβm one of those weirdos that likes learning and practicing katas.
Basically title. I want to deepen my knowledge of karate and study more on my own now that covid has made it more difficult to train consistently. So I'm looking for a book that covers all the shotokan karate techniques.
After nearly two years of being idle & gaining roughly 25lbs I decided its time to get back into shape. Now 32 years old & having dabbled in many martial arts (& mastering none) over the years I started looking at Karate as a way to shape up & add more tools to me self defense tool box. Being 5"8 & roughly 215lbs Karate is a bit of a challenge for my ape like build however hopefully in time I will gain back some flexibility.
Our city has a fantastic Karate dojo that is known for its quality training & tournament success. This particular dojo has produced many regional, national, & international competitors & the Sensei is tough but fair. After some contemplation I finally signed up!
Due to Covid there are currently no other adult beginners at this time so the two of us are getting private lessons until be have gained enough skill to join the intermediate adult class.
The workout is quite hard & kicked my ass combining, push-ups, sit ups, lots of jumping Jacks, lunges, walls sits, running , planking, & heavy bag work. I'm really looking forward to learning more, & competing (I wish younger but better late than never I guess)
I never thought I would have enjoyed Karate as much as I am and I'm looking forward to climbing the ranks working hard, & hopefully competing & maybe win some medals some dayπ .
Do any of you Karate vets have any tips for someone just getting started to help my progress? I plan on competing as soon as I'm allowed to. When it comes to polishing Karate skill what should I be focusing on most in the beginning stages?
Thank you all!
Helo. Cause if im 1st dan can i grade a brown belt to 1st dan since or do i need to be a higher rank than 1 dan to grade anoyone even to 1st dan?
Hi,
how do you guys perform those techniques, for example the one in Enpi, Gankaku or Heian Godan (yea I have just discovered that some people do kosadachi here instead). Do you touch the ground with your knee? My Sensei prefers not to do so since when having the knee above the floor, the muscles are still holding the tension to start the next technique. When resting the knee, the flow of the movement might get disconnected, getting up is slower and the whole stance is more dangerous in a combat scenario.
When looking for this on YT, most people rest the knee which surprised me a bit.
Osu!
i just recaled a oucnh caled mawashi tsuki.
it made me study mt to understand more boxing looking stuff.
stil i need clarification.
the way we did it is targeting a bit off center from the hip fist travels to head with the wrist twisted at target.
Iβve made a post before asking if Taekwondo was heavily influenced by Shotokan based on a laymanβs POV that there seemed to be a lot of similar or crossover techniques.
I have an opportunity to join a Shotokan group. Iβd love to, but I have a background in Taekwondo. Will this hinder me? Will it actually be helpful to me? Or not affect my training in any way?
If it would actually hinder me and just give the instructor a headache, Iβd rather not waste his time.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
I'm interested in doing karate and there's two options in my city which are Shotokan and Shukokai. I'm fairly familiar with Shotokan (did it a bit over a year), however now, that I moved to live to another place, it happens that Shukokai karate dojo is a more convenient option for me (distance/time-wise).
The thing is, I'm not knowledgeable about Shukokai karate, which makes me wonder if I'd get something very different in comparison to Shotokan. Maybe you, guys have some insights or experience related to this topic?
I like blitz-y stuff and distance management aspects of Shotokan as that's what I would like to add to my arsenal. These qualities are, basically, what made me wonder whether I'll get them by joining Shukokai style karate.
So I come from a taekwondo and bjj background(1st Dan in tkd and white belt in bjj). Anyone have advice about transitioning? Also any general advice about practicing shotokan in general?
Wanted to also state that Iβll still be practing the other two as well.
What are the differences between shotokan and shito ryu other than the katas ?
I wasnβt sure if this goes here or the Taekwondo board.
Anyway, I recently saw a Shotokan demonstration. I was blown away because as a Taekwondo student, I felt like I was watching a Taekwondo presentation.
I looked up Shotokan when I got home and noticed a TON of crossover material.
So is Taekwondo just Shotokan with a few more kicks added?
I've found a thing named Shotokan-ryu. Is this the same thing as Shotokan or is it a (sort of) different thing like Shotokai?
