Hello. I just would like to know the difference between Shotokan and Goju-Ryu. I have just started in Shotokan but i haven't been attending lately. There's a dojo near my workplace where they teach Goju-Ryu and i'm thinking of transferring there. But before I do, I'd like to know how different it would be from Shotokan.
My main training has been in shotokan. I've doen a fair bit of goju-ryu. Heres my input: Diffs: 1. The kata are completely different. 2. Some of the kihon is slighty altered, some stances are a bit higher and they chamber the hikite slightly higher. Also greater emphasis is put on sanchin-dachi and shiko dachi 3. They use more specialised breathing techniques, and use special kata like tensho and sanchin to do this. 4. They have a greater contrast in tension and relaxation in techniques. Sims: 1. Basic mechanics are no different, you'll still be using your hip to generate force etc 2. The format of the classes are no different, you'll still have a 'sensei', count in japanese ich, ni, san etc 3. They're both karate! This comparison is really basic. There is a lot more to it. Also depending on the organisation you join might make a difference. I'd say you'll have no problem fitting in. It'll be easy to change your kihon, although learning the kata may put you back a bit. Enjoy yourself!
They are both good systems, I would concentrate of finding out which one is the most competent teacher.
Yeah, this is definitely misfiled. Perhaps the biggest difference is the hardness/softness of the arts. Goju, which means Hard/Soft, tends to be closer to the Chinese Martial Arts in execution than Shotokan. Sensitivity and flow is emphasised a bit more. The thing with Goju is that there are number of different branches of it. Some are harder, some are softer. You're best bet is to visit the school, talk to the teacher and watch a class. - Matt
Having studied both schools for a number of years i would say the differance between chalk and cheese is a good comparison. I found Goju a far better system. BUT the main reason for that was that my Goju teacher was probably the best teacher i have ever trained with. So as a previous post said do not look so much at the style check out the teachers and then decide.
hi, right, i posted in the wrong section. sorry! i'll try to find out how to move this to the karate section or delete the thread. i'm new here, you know. hehe. anyway, thanks for the help, gyaku, matt and moon-.
like, "hi topic mod, please move this thread to where it belongs." yell? hope s/he gets to read this now. thanks gaskell
i did shotokan and goju ryu with the same teacher but now we only do goju. from what i've seen so far (i'm a 4th kyu) i prefer goju ryu, shotokan is much more linear and dynamic than goju ryu, goju ryu contains lots more open handed techniques, and also most of the blocks are all done in a circular motion with a straight counter which is where the name comes from (hard/soft). goju has much fewer kata too, but they are studied in much greater detail than in shotokan, placing most of the emphasis on understanding the application of what you're doing. goju ryu has 13 kata compared to shotokan's 26.
ooOOsps. It's 17 kata in Meibukan. KATA TRANSLATION SANCHIN 3 BATTLES; MIND, BODY, SPIRIT TENSHO TURNING OR ROTATING PALM TENCHI HEAVEN AND EARTH SEIRYU BLUE DRAGON BYAKKO WHITE TIGER SHUJAKKU RED SPARROW / RED PHOENIX GENBU BLACK TURTLE GEKI SAI ICHI TO DEMOLISH OR DESTROY ONE GEKI SAI NI TO DEMOLISH OR DESTROY TWO SAIFA TEARING OR BREAKING GROUND SHI SO CHIN BATTLE IN FOUR DIRECTIONS SAN SEI RYU THIRTY-SIX MOVEMENTS SESAN THIRTEEN MOVEMENTS SEIENCHIN PEACEFULNESS SEPAI EIGHTEEN MOVEMENTS KURURUNFA HOLDING GROUND SUPARINPE ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT EVILS OF MAN
I did both Meibukan Goju Ryu and Traditional JKA style Shotokan. Neither is what I'd call street effective because of the sparring being taught. Sure, if you can unload a solid tsuki zuki and run like hell it may work.
SANCHIN TENSHO TENCHI SEIRYU BYAKKO SHUJAKKU GENBU GEKI SAI ICHI GEKI SAI NI SAIFA SHI SO CHIN SAN SEI RYU SESAN SEIENCHIN SEPAI KURURUNFA SUPARINPE HAKUTSURU I might be able to solve this problem. If you examine the list above - Those in italics are non-traditional, with the exception of hakutsuru, were developed only quite recently, so no other schools outside of Meibukan actually recognises them as authentic kata. Hakutsuru on the other hand is a very old kata that has been reitroduced into gojuryu insome circles its seen as a 'missing link' between okinawan karate and chinese martial arts.