Shotokan discussion from Belt Thread

[Liquidsnake1500]

LOL ahahaha black belt shotokan against a UFC LOL the shotokan guy will be doing useless snap kicks

[vincechoo]

My last rank in Shotokan was 4th dan back in the day (1995?). I was awarded that by Kanazawa. There is essentially no difference between the ranks aside from a different kata and kumite set. The Shotokan standards (IMNHO) is poor to average in most karate and gets even worse once it filters to satellite clubs.

I have been cross training in other arts since the early 80's when I started in Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan (Chin Wu Malaysia), Shotokan (Adamou), Gojukai (Chris Rowen), Shorinji Kempo (Mizuno), Judo, Fencing/Kendo, Boxing, and Danzen Ryu Jujitsu and now a blue belt in BJJ.

I stuck it out with Shotokan primarily because they had a good sparring team (among all the stuff I did). Boxing was done in my friend's garage (he was a bouncer) and we didn't compete.

I fought for Hawaii State Karate team and was on the AAU West Coast competition circuit in the 90-93.

During those years I witnessed a lot of injuries and "accidents" on the competition mats. A lot of it were great techniques and athleticism that were allowed by the rules of competition. Safety gear was minimal, groin cup, mouth guard and sponge knuckle guards. Contact was often hard. Broken noses, ribs from enthusiatic kicks, KO's were rare but happened.

Some of the hardest and toughest people I knew who also worked the doors came from a Shotokan base. The problem with those guys was that they saw every problem as a nail and they were the hammers!

I also met a lot of Shotokan people who weren't as much as they talked. The ones who hung around the squad members as if they were one of the team. Those kind tend to talk a lot of smack.

In every human endeavour there will always be this element of society, the groupies, leeches (whatever name you want to call them) will be the ones adding imaginative details to the actual events to boost their personal image/credibility.

The best way, as I have discovered along my journey, is to go see for yourself, ask your own questions and make up your own mind instead of seeking 2nd or 3rd party opinion.

Best training

[Hardball]

I'm bumping this thread to aid in the Shotokan discussion.

Enjoy

[Hardball]

BUMP for Foofies

[foofies]

Thanks for the Bump hardball..

Shotokan Karate sux!!!!