Isshin-Ryu

 What the heck is this? What does this mean? I was leafing through some of my notes tonight and came across these gems from a seminar that my co-instructor and myself went to about 5 years ago. It was a good seminar with an emphasis on traditional meets new. North Vancouver was cool and beautiful and made the perfect backdrop for a weekend of training with friends. I learned a few things and took notes like a madman like I do at all the seminars I attend. The picture is just a couple gems I think really resonate to me on a personal level with my training.  Bunbu Ryodo.  This is a statement of balance. When you practice or train in Martial Arts you become stronger, sharper, faster and more efficient. Kind of like wielding a sword. You master the weapon. it becomes an efficient tool. This is all fine and dandy but do you understand the importance of the process? Do you know the weapon's history and how it has developed into what it is now? How about when you practice karate...

Isshin-Ryu was taught to me by a few sensei. The dojo I was in had run through some rough times and transformations. I had the privilege to train with many different people. The individual skill sets from them all varied greatly, as they would.  I remember very clearly the differences between them all and what were their major strengths. In my eyes, especially being as young and impressionable as I was, they had no weaknesses. And in almost all cases I still believe there aren't so much as weaknesses as more focused strengths between the people I trained with and that I currently train with. Am I just being polite? I don't know. Either way, with anyone I trained or am training with, I have respect for every aspect of their skills. Everyone brings something to the table be it big or small.  I had Sensei that focused solely on the Kihon (basics) and made sure that repetition was adhered to. This was physically challenging as 2 hours of straight 25 Kihon over and over and over ta...

 Isshin-Ryu Karate. The Whole Heart Way, The One Heart Way. Isshin-Ryu Karate is an interesting "style" of karate. I use the term style loosely as that is how most people understand that there is a difference in Martial Art types. Isshin-Ryu is one of the most accessible martial arts I can think of. It has vital aspects of Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu and Ryukyu Kobudo. Certain traits are used from these practices and implemented into Isshin-Ryu. There are some differences and similarities.  ......Let's Dive In...... Isshin-Ryu borrows strongly from Shorin-Ryu with its "Softer" approach. What I mean by softer though is (again a loosely used term) the stances are made for more mobility and speed. Though with every martial art there is always a Kimi or focus point to a technique, Shorin-Ryu uses a fast sharp explosion on every impact given and taken. This is known as Chinkuchi. A good example of this is the kata Seisan  Check Here For Seisan Isshin-Ryu also borrows str...