Shotokan

NinjaJax

Yellow Belt
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Hi everyone. I was wandering if anyone had any suggestions for studying Shotokan at home (Books or video). There are no Shotokan Dojos in my area. I have over 10 years of martial arts training and hold the rank of 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do. I am not new to the martial arts, so I believe I can benefit from the home study, considering my background. From what I understand, Shotokan and Tang Soo Do are similar.

Thanks!!
 

newy085

Yellow Belt
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Location
Queensland Australia
Are there any dojos in your area, that study anything. You will be much better off studying with a school if not only for the simple reason that you'll have partners to practice with.

I am sure you'll have no problem understanding and developing the basics and maybe even kata, but there is no way you can learn karate without a training partner.

There is not enough differences between styles of karate to warrant home training in one over school training in another. If it is karate your interested in try looking into other schools. If you are just looking for training in an art that will complement TSD, you might be better off looking into an art that will focus on a different area completely to give you a more well rounded ability (like judo or bjj).
 
OP
NinjaJax

NinjaJax

Yellow Belt
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Are there any dojos in your area, that study anything. You will be much better off studying with a school if not only for the simple reason that you'll have partners to practice with.

I am sure you'll have no problem understanding and developing the basics and maybe even kata, but there is no way you can learn karate without a training partner.

There is not enough differences between styles of karate to warrant home training in one over school training in another. If it is karate your interested in try looking into other schools. If you are just looking for training in an art that will complement TSD, you might be better off looking into an art that will focus on a different area completely to give you a more well rounded ability (like judo or bjj).

I understand what you are saying. There are other schools in my area, 3 TKD studios and 2 Isshinryu dojos. I studied at 3 of them for several months, but did not care for them. I do have my wife to train with, so its not that I would be training alone. She studied martial arts for a few years as well.

Thanks
 

Brian S

Purple Belt
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
383
Reaction score
9
Location
Rogers, AR.
What are you hoping to get out of shotokan? I mean, why that particular art? Surely there is a good place to train somewhere in your area?

Better get started, they have 60 friggin kata!! :mst:
 

Cirdan

Senior Master
Joined
Jan 31, 2006
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
441
Location
Oslo, Norway
What are you hoping to get out of shotokan? I mean, why that particular art? Surely there is a good place to train somewhere in your area?

Better get started, they have 60 friggin kata!! :mst:

Shotokan got that many kata? Did not know that, Shito Ryu perhaps but not Shotokan....
 

Brian S

Purple Belt
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
383
Reaction score
9
Location
Rogers, AR.
Several Shotokan groups have introduced kata from other styles into their training, but when the JKA was formed, Nakayama laid down 27 kata as the kata syllabus for this organization. Even today, thousands of Shotokan dojo only practice these 27 kata. The standard kata are: Taikyoku shodan (太極初段), Heian shodan (平安初段), Heian nidan (平安二段), Heian sandan (平安三段), Heian yondan (平安四段), Heian godan (平安五段), Bassai dai (披塞大), Jion (慈恩), Empi (燕飛), Kanku dai (観空大), Hangetsu (半月), Jitte (十手), Gankaku (岩鶴), Tekki shodan (鉄騎初段), Tekki nidan (鉄騎二段), Tekki sandan (鉄騎三段), Nijushiho (二十四步), Chinte (珍手), Sochin (壯鎭), Meikyo (明鏡), Unsu (雲手), Bassai sho (披塞小), Kanku sho (観空小), Wankan (王冠), Gojushiho sho (五十四歩小), Gojushiho dai (五十四歩大), and Ji'in (慈陰).[4][5][6]

Guess I was wrong,but some say 25 or 27. 26 seems to be the norm now. Still, TOO many kata imo.
 
OP
NinjaJax

NinjaJax

Yellow Belt
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
What are you hoping to get out of shotokan? I mean, why that particular art? Surely there is a good place to train somewhere in your area?

Better get started, they have 60 friggin kata!! :mst:


Why Shotokan?...Before I moved from the area that I studied TSD, I used to work with a man who taught Shotokan. I visited his dojo several times and really liked the style. I was in the middle of training in TSD and did not want to give it up to start at another school. Now that I moved, I have not found a style in my area that fits me. I am not saying that the schools in my area are not good. Their styles just do not suit my needs. The closest Shotokan dojo to where I am is about 1 hour away, and that's just too far. Also I work a swing shift so it is nearly impossible to commit to training at a dojo on a regular basis...So the only option that I have at this time is training at home.
 

chinto01

Black Belt
Joined
Sep 18, 2004
Messages
611
Reaction score
17
I am not a shotokan stylist but I will advise against learning from a video tape. The tape may give you the pattern but as you know what it does not give you are all of the little things that you need from personal instruction. Good luck however in your new endeavor.

In the sprit of bushido!

Rob
 
OP
NinjaJax

NinjaJax

Yellow Belt
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
Pennsylvania
I am not a shotokan stylist but I will advise against learning from a video tape. The tape may give you the pattern but as you know what it does not give you are all of the little things that you need from personal instruction. Good luck however in your new endeavor.

In the sprit of bushido!

Rob

I completely agree. I am not looking to train at home in Shotokan so that I can claim rank in it or anything. I just have an interest in the art and was wandering what the best books / videos are on the art since I do not have a Shotokan dojo in my area.

Thanks.
 

Tez3

Sr. Grandmaster
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
27,608
Reaction score
4,901
Location
England
I had to change from Wado Ryu which I love to TSD which I admit I don't, I only do it because it's whats available. I believe Shotokan and Wado as they have very common roots are similiar in many ways, Wado has shorter stances than Shotokan which makes Shotokan more like TSD. I see quite honestly no reasons why you couldn't manage perfectly well as you aren't new to martial arts, you have all the tools you need. My instructor was Shotokan before he too went into TSD he found it even easier than I to change.The katas he said are very similiar to TSD.
Don't be put off, you aren't learning karate, you have that already, all you are doing is changing to a style which is very close to yours. I'm sure if there's any problems people here will help, I certainly will if I can.
 

shihansmurf

Black Belt
Joined
Dec 10, 2007
Messages
685
Reaction score
104
Location
Casper, Wyoming
Kenneth Funakoshi put out a good series of videos that, I think, you can still purchase through Black Belt's website. Panther produced them.

Joe Ertle did a good series of Kata video as well.
http://www.karatevid.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

There is a mountain of books on shotokan out there, but it is best to start with the bible of it, so to speak.

Karate do kyohan.

Find any of the Best Karate series.

Also remember that a lot of people have happily donated footage of themselves performing kata to YouTube for all the world to see. Should give you a chance to see a wide range of shotokan kata performed across the entire spectrum of skill and modesty.

Best of luck
Mark
 

J Ellis

Green Belt
Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Messages
128
Reaction score
6
Location
Georgia
If you have a dojo an hour away that teaches the style you are interested in, consider commuting to the school on a regular basis to supplement your self-study. Even once or twice a month would likely be a big help while you study on your own.

Joel
 

Aefibird

Green Belt
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
132
Reaction score
7
Location
South Yorkshire, UK
If you have a dojo an hour away that teaches the style you are interested in, consider commuting to the school on a regular basis to supplement your self-study. Even once or twice a month would likely be a big help while you study on your own.

Joel


I agree, even if you could only get to it once a month and then work on what you were taught in the meantime until next time you could go there then at least you would be getting some sort of guidance.

Although you have previous MA experience then having a little help with your home study wouldn't be a bad thing, especially when learning unfamiliar kata.

As well as the books by Funakoshi suggested earlier (Karate-do Kyohan and Karate-do Nyumon) then I'd also suggest you try to get a copy of Fundamental Karate by Dave Hazard & Aidan Trimble. http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?id=0091913888

Black Belt Karate by Hirokazu Kanazawa is also another excellent Karate text. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Belt-...r_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232407648&sr=1-10
 

Latest Discussions

Top