Isshinryu Karate

[Ox Lion]

One of my sensei's told me that low kicks were once widely used in most karate style's, but they were banned by most clubs/stryles as they can infict some major damage.

But despite this i have actually been taught one low kick thats not a sweep, my sensei showed us the low round house. But although i was shown that technique it's not part of our regular reportoire and told us to use it on street if your going to use any kick at all.

[kengar]

Originally posted by Ox Lion
One of my sensei's told me that low kicks were once widely used in most karate style's, but they were banned by most clubs/stryles as they can infict some major damage.

But despite this i have actually been taught one low kick thats not a sweep, my sensei showed us the low round house. But although i was shown that technique it's not part of our regular reportoire and told us to use it on street if your going to use any kick at all.

I have no idea about low kicks being banned. Could be some truth to particular styles or schools. There was once a time when TKD was an effecitve fighting art. I have met Koreans that would take your head off, even some soldiers that were trained back during the Veitnam era. Even in Korea now it is getting watered down from some things I've heard.

Master Shimabuku founded Isshinryu from two different styles, wanting to take out what was useless and combine what was pratical for combat. Kicks stay low and never above the waist. Now, you may see high kicks in class, but for the purpose of keeping the legs flexible. It is not a style that usually pushes tournaments. I went to a couple just because I like to compete, and I had many fouls called because I was used to kicking legs. I'd either kick the leg that they were trying to kick with, or when they went high I'd go low and they'd go down.

Again, no one art/style can be the greatest, it does have some limitations. The is one that I enjoy and find to be very practical.

Szczepankiewicz
Don't start respecting Bri Thai, it only encourages him.

I humbly wait for you next post to say "I told you so".

Ken

[Szczepankiewicz]

wanting to take out what was useless and combine what was pratical for combat

If this is really the case, why did he leave in the reverse punch?


I won't comment on the Bitty thing.

To say anything would be too obvious.
Only he really knows what he's talking about.
Like the whole 'Wanker of the Week Award'
Didn't know I had won so many times.

Yesterday was my official last day as reigning Queen I guess.
Out with the old, in with the new I suppose.
Under appreciated we moderators are.

So it looks like it's back to the grind.
Off to get some more coffee.



Your pal,
Spanky

[kengar]

If this is really the case, why did he leave in the reverse punch?

Well, I guess he felt it was some what prevalent at the time. There are some things in the style that I don't like, but for me the good far out way the bad.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Can you explain some of the principles (i.e. foundational concepts) of Isshinryu? Or point me to a site that does?

[brokenelbow]

Can you explain some of the principles (i.e. foundational concepts) of Isshinryu? Or point me to a site that does?

I'll get back to you on this after work, but I'd like to hear what other Isshies have learned what they are.

If this is really the case, why did he leave in the reverse punch?

Let's get terms straight so we're on the same page. A reverse is a punch from the side of the body that is further back and it has nothing to do with corkscrewing motion or where the punch starts from. From what I was taught: Isshingryu uses a verticle punch which snaps out and then retracts back with the elbow about one fist in front of the ribs and the fist about shoulder height. The main target for the punch is the solar plexus from close range. When thrown from the hip think of it as a pre-emptive strike before the "fight" starts. When sparring hands are up, elbows are down.

[kengar]

Not sure if this is what you were looking for. I'll see if I can run across a good site that has info on it. Soem of the istes I've seen I don't think they know how to put one together.

There are thirteen (13) major features of Isshinryu Karate:

1. Elimination of fancy techniques – once used to hide karate’s killing power because it was against the law to practice karate.
2. Combination of the best of Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu – to form a basic, realistic system of self-defense.
3. Use of low kicks – (none above the waist) because low kicks allow you to move quickly with power and balance. Such kicks are hard to see and hard to block. Sport karate can use high kicks.
4. Use of short, natural stances – which eliminate wasted motion and major body shifting, giving a split-second time advantage in a self-defense situation. Such stances are more adaptable to American physique and temperment because the stances follow natural body movements.
5. Hand and foot techniques – are about 50-50 in the katas, giving the student a well-rounded system of karate.
6. Close-in techniques – which are valuable for street fighting (bunkai).
7. Snap punches and snap kicks – (punches and kicks come from a limb only 90% extended and immediately retracted), enabling you to move in and out quickly in a self-defense situation and to immediately correct yourself if you miscalculate. The lack of full extension of the limb prevents excessive wear and tear on the hinge joints.
8. Elements of hard blocking – (meeting force with force) and soft blocking (deflecting or parrying the blows).
9. Blocks executed with the muscular part and 2 bones of the forearm – rather than one bone and all muscle part to prevent breakage of the bones.
10. A fist made with the thumb on top – of the fist rather than over the first 2 fingers. This method locks the wrist, helping to prevent the fist from buckling at the wrist on impact. This method also tightens the fist by allowing you to put tension on the top of the fist (thumb side) and the side of the fist (finger side).
11. Vertical Punch – which increase the speed and focus of the punch.
12. Blocks are blocks and blocks are strikes – Basic kata teaches that blocks are blocks or kamae. Advanced bunkai shows that blocks are strikes. (ask Sensei for explanation).
13. Kotekitai – (arm conditioning exercises) all Okinawan styles do arm conditioning.

[Thai Bri]

It does actually sound quite interesting, a little more like how Karate should be done.

What other hand / arm strikes do you have other than the punch?

ps - Don't get me wrong, you're still WoW.

[brokenelbow]

There are quite a few TB, but the other main ones are the upper cut, the knife hand to the neck and throat, various elbow strikes and the spear hand after much conditioning. Targeting is very important, so you won't see too many strikes to the face with the fist. If anything this can be a bit of a training issue, you want to remember that just because you're not a head hunter doesn't mean the other fellow isn't one too.

[HuSanYan]

Re: Maybe I'm not learning karate?

Originally posted by brokenelbow
Once again Thai Bri shows his vast depth of, well his vast depth of misinformation.

i like you brokenelbow

[kengar]

Originally posted by Thai Bri
It does actually sound quite interesting, a little more like how Karate should be done.

What other hand / arm strikes do you have other than the punch?

ps - Don't get me wrong, you're still WoW.

It is acutally kind of a bare-bones type of system, and doesn't seem to draw a big interest such as some Korean arts.

I know I said there aren't kicks above the waist, though there is a Thrusting Kick that targets the Solar Plexus.

WoW, Hmm, That's not too bad, someone called me a dick head yesterday. Oh wait, that was you.

[Szczepankiewicz]

You can be pretty sure it wasn't a compliment.

I believe, and I could be wrong, that the WoW means something to the effect of the little brown dot between your back pants pockets...

Again, I could be wrong.


Spanky

[Thai Bri]

No, it means Wanker of the Week.

And dick head too.........

[Szczepankiewicz]

See I was wrong.

[Thai Bri]

You were right when you thought you were wrong.

Well done.