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Where are you now?
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| Haze |
Posted on 29-01-2007 03:58
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Ikkyu

Posts: 110
Joined: 22.03.06
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carl wrote:
Haze, is this a "traditional" Goju-ryu school? You mentioned earlier that one school does kumite and kata for sport, and the other is geared (my word) towards application, bunkai. Which one are you at? I'm sorry, but it doesn't sound like you're happy where you're at. I hope you find your way.
Carl
Carl, I believe they think that they are traditional because it is the only thing that they have been exposed to. Alot of the dojo's in this area have lineage to one area instructor years ago and that seems to be the way they have stayed. Though these dojo's are not affiliated with each other anymore.
Traditional? Hard to say. I've seen dojo's teach what they call Shorin Goju and then say they are going back to a more traditional karate. They drop some kata, add some new kata, change to only solid white gi's and call it traditional goju though they do the same thing as before.
Maybe it's me. I've been training on and off since 1987. I see alot of what I call "kata collectors" around. Seems that the mentality is that the more kata you have in your system the better/harder your school is.
As far as being happy, not happy nor unhappy. Just thinking that's all. |
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| SyracuseJundokan |
Posted on 29-01-2007 09:21
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Yudansha

Posts: 839
Joined: 08.06.05
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Well, as you know, there are several places in our (yours and mine) area that teach traditional goju as most people here would define it. Why not try them and see for yourself what the differences are.
Here are the schools that are now (regardless of their history) teaching traditional goju, minimally filtered and "enhanced" by other influence:
Me (duh!)
Kevin Webb's group - he's a member of this board
Barb Cruz (Student of Sensei Chuck Merriman, Jundokan)
Marvin Labatte's group - not sure affiliation - KWebb would know
(Sorry if I missed anyone)
Others that I recall are mostly as you describe them and at best are carbon copies of carbon copies of carbon copies of carbon copies of carbon copies of carbon copies of.............something that might bare passing resemblance to goju... 
I think you also have to consider why you care. Perhaps you are happier in the environment you are used to and don't need to worry about the history and adherence to goju. Unless you have a goal to participate in the survival of goju, I wouldn't worry too much about it - just have fun and train!
Edited by SyracuseJundokan on 29-01-2007 09:25 |
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| carl |
Posted on 29-01-2007 14:12
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Administrator

Posts: 486
Joined: 03.04.05
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Haze wrote:
Maybe it's me. I've been training on and off since 1987. I see alot of what I call "kata collectors" around. Seems that the mentality is that the more kata you have in your system the better/harder your school is.
As far as being happy, not happy nor unhappy. Just thinking that's all.
Haze, I understand what you mean about "kata collectors." I am of the opinion that some schools/teachers learn and teach more and more katas simply to keep students around longer for the money. I've heard stories about people who have been training for 10 years and not black belt yet. I'm not saying that a person should be a black belt in 1 or 2 years, but I don't believe it should take 10 years either. I work with a person that trains at the only "karate" school in town. This person has been training for at least 10 years that I know of, and the person is only purple belt. When this person told me that a few months back, I almost laughed. Fortunatly, I had the good sense not to. When I hear of people having to learn 30 or 40 katas, I have to ask "How much does one need to know in order to defend oneself?" We've had this conversation on another thread so I won't get any further with this conversation.
Carl |
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| Haze |
Posted on 31-01-2007 15:44
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Ikkyu

Posts: 110
Joined: 22.03.06
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Carl, Dave,
Thanks for the replies and I think things will work out. I, at times see only black or white, no gray.
Dave, you know I respect you and what you say. You are on the money. I should not be that concerned as to the historical authenticity of what I do as I am not trying to pass on an unaltered art to anyone anyway. I'm training for me.
Everything is fine in Dojo-ville. |
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| SyracuseJundokan |
Posted on 01-02-2007 04:31
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Yudansha

Posts: 839
Joined: 08.06.05
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Good to hear... Just keep training... it's great that you were able to come back after taking time off! |
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| IVMNT |
Posted on 24-09-2007 19:26
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Newbie

Posts: 21
Joined: 12.10.05
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Well, it took a while but I finally did it. I earned my Brown Belt, (emphasis on the word earned!) The test was long and challenging, but I did it. Not too bad for being 49 yrs old. I'll have to reset my goal of Black Belt by 50, but I'll get there. As far as collecting kata...I have a friend who is a second dan in Moo-Duk-Kwan, and he is amazed at how few kata I have to know. I forget how many he has under his belt (no pun intended), but it is far more than the eleven I know now. And that's counting two weapon's kata. It seems the Koreans are big on that. You should hear him busting my stones about the breathing. It's okay though, I bust him for their apparant subscription belt plan. |
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| Gravitate |
Posted on 26-09-2007 07:14
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Window Peeking

Posts: 11
Joined: 24.09.07
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Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu - 10th Kyu
I "know" the movements for Gekisai Ich and Ni. And that's about it 
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| Kumaken |
Posted on 26-09-2007 11:03
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Ikkyu

Posts: 245
Joined: 17.07.06
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This person has been training for at least 10 years that I know of, and the person is only purple belt.
Though I agree Carl with the whole kata collector argument, I must add (and this may not apply to this person you're referring to), but sometimes there are some people who are just not very motivated, skip training, or start and stop etc. I've seen my share of both. But if its taking 10 years to get to shodan because there are just that many requirements then yeah, thats ridiculous. |
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