Caught between two styles

[Piston]

I'm interested in starting karate, Im already a 4th kup tae kwon do practitioner and I'm interested in making my hand strikes better. I've seen some karateka's doing large centre line pumches which look like a lot of fun. There are two main styles feasibly in the area where I live, Shukokai and Shotokan, can someone explain what the general difference in emphasis is in the two styles?

[neb1979]

Hi Piston,

I am new to this forum but I saw this thread and thought I would ask, if you want to improve your hand strikes why not look at Boxing or even Muay Thai?

Ben

[Piston]

I did try boxing, I attended a seminar with Commonwealth middleweight champion Herol "Bomber" Graham, but I found that the footwork is quite incompatible with TKD, and some techniques are a little too ring specific. With this in mind I thought a similar MA to TKD like Karate might be the way to go.

[Hardball]

Do a search there are some great old threads here on Shotokan. Hint--look in the japanese forum

[Eddie_Boston]

Karate and Taekwondo is like Baseball and football.

[Piston]

I know they're different but they do employ some of the same mechanics, such as use of the hips and reaction hands in order to generate power.

[Eddie_Boston]

I know they're different but they do employ some of the same mechanics, such as use of the hips and reaction hands in order to generate power.

Hi Buddy!

Im doing both TKD and Karate. You'll eventaully see for yourself. I had to drop ALL my Karate techniques for TKD. I was able to incorporate 'some' of my TKD into karate.

[Piston]

What style of karate do you do? I'm really in it for the punching techniques, as whilst TKD has some useful punches its all about the kicks! Edit: D'oh just read your sig! So whats that style like and how does it differ from TKD?

[Eddie_Boston]

What style of karate do you do? I'm really in it for the punching techniques, as whilst TKD has some useful punches its all about the kicks!

Im 25. Ive been doing Uechi Ryu Karate for 19 years and TKD for about two years. They started me off with a blue belt in TKD. Ive also done Jujitsu & kickboxing and have been a Karate instructor for about 13 years now. Ive competed & trained with Jeet Kun do artist along with Eclectic artist. Currently im competing nationally.

[Piston]

They just gave you a blue belt? I mean you've clearly got experience, but thats a little..... Well when you start a new MA your supposed to start from the bottom up like everyone else.

[Eddie_Boston]

They just gave you a blue belt? I mean you've clearly got experience, but thats a little..... Well when you start a new MA your supposed to start from the bottom up like everyone else.

I agree. They're using me to fight. The quicker he gets me the black the quicker I can make him "look good". He hasnt said this but, im no idiot. Im not sure how long you've been in Martial Arts but, when you start competing, the politics are insane.

[Piston]

Gah, thats despicable. I do compete and yes as there would be in any competitive sport there are rivalries, but its not as shallow as that. Are you stateside then? Cuz I'm from across the pond.

[Eddie_Boston]

Are you stateside then? Cuz I'm from across the pond.

[Piston]

I'm from across the atlantic, the UK, I've heard many horror stories of the shallow and those who run mcdojangs in in the U.S, yours seems to register among those.

[seth]

If you want to add some really good hand techniques to your TKD, try a Kung-Fu Style, like Hung Gar or even Shaolin. I think it will really improve your fight style.