advice

[BadgerFu57]

Can anyone tell me about Shurin-Ryu and American Karate, and if so, what are the differences, and how do they compare to WTF TKD. lol, I know it's a lot. I am just looking at local schools and trying to put some pieces together.

There is a shurin-ryu school not too far away, and I also have American Karate and WTF TKD available. I have made a post similar to this before..... But I just now found out about the shurin-ryu.

[m.artist]

the shurin-ryu and american karate can both be good...but i doubt u will find what u r looking for in tkd i do american kenpo karate and i like it alot..i don't know if ur "american karate" also is a kenpo school but i would choose b/w those 2...that's just me though

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Is it shurin or maybe Shuri ryu?
the latter is the oldest style in the states, founded by Robert A Trias, they compete in the freestyle events

they have the old school forms like Naihanchi 1-3 and kokuson ( kushanku or kanku)
If your library has the Pinnacle of Karate by Robert A Trias, try to read it maye it gives you an impression
It is a style with several high ranked ladies and in my country a couple of women only clubs (read lesbian clubs)

Why do I mention this? Well if you are looking for a hardline school like Kyokushin or Enshin ryu, then this is not the right place, but I do think they do spend a fair amount of training time on selfdefence, although being a man, I can't say what they impale ( we only have the women only shuri ryu here, the only mixed group is at the other side of the country)

[BadgerFu57]

I am pretty sure it is shurin, but I will drive by today to doublecheck.
I definitely don't want to join a cult lol. It is run out of a guy's house I guess, out in the country (not really far, just out of suburbia).

One thing I think is a necessity (but I know nothing about karate) would be a makiwara or a punching bag of some sort.... to develop power and to protect the joints (kicking air isn't great for the joints when done 1000's of times or so I hear). Any opinions on that?

[BadgerFu57]

my bad, it's SHIHAN-RYU not shurin-ryu. Couldn't read the sign very well lol.