Shotokan...is it worth it????

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doronclister**

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I am looking to begin training in martial arts. I was looking to start with Judo but there are no places nearby that teach it. All the other schools in the surrounding area mostly teach TKD and Aikdo (and most of those are geared toward children and women's self defense). The only school that really interests me is one that teaches Japanese Shotokan. Is this good to start out with or is it just a waste of time? Please give me your input. Thanks.
 
I have a background in Krav Maga, and recently started training in a revered Shorin-Ryu Karate school. Although it's a bit different than Shotokan, I definitely noticed that they focused more on competition than self-defense. Now, because I already learned self-defense, I was okay with that, however you might not be.

Any form of Karate is a great foundation to learning other Martial Arts. It teaches you blocking, combinations, striking, and limited grappling and throws. If you want to learn more of a self-defense oriented style or would like to specialize more, I'd go ahead with the Aikido or Taekwondo schools.
 
I think it depends on what you want to get out of it. If you are looking to compete in MMA then I would say your time could be better spent. If you are interested in self defense I would also say your time could be better spent. If you are just looking for a martial art to participate in for exercise, self discipline, ect then it would be great.
 
Karate or Taekwondo can be very viable stand up techniques in MMA if learned and trained correctly. We need more Cung Le's in the UFC.
 
Karate is a very good backround to start with. I'am a brown belt in Tsung Su Do and I've learned a lot. You will learn some stand up techniques through sparring and some self defense and grappling in Japanese jui jitsu. With that you also will gain flexibility and body control through the Kata. Of course you also gain self discipline and confidence. My Karate school also throws in some MMA and grappling things but you have to be focused.

I would though work your way up and get a black belt in your said karate discipline and then look for an MMA/MT/BJJ school. I assure that if you already have a martial art backround things will come easier than if you had no formal training going in to these things.

So yes go ahead with it. I guarentee it will help in the long run and is a great Martial Arts base.
 
ShotoKan is good, its a good style, also you should look into Daido Juku
 
cung le is san shou foos!! that has nothing to do with karate or taekwondo.

and to get back on topic. lyoto machida, thats answers your question.
 
Any TMA is worth it: as long as the instructor is legit. Doing it cos he loves & respects the art, not cos he wants the ca$h.
 
chino0503 said:
cung le is san shou foos!! that has nothing to do with karate or taekwondo.

and to get back on topic. lyoto machida, thats answers your question.
Click to expand...

Cung Le was an Xth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, but yes, he did cross train a lot. Which is exactly what I'm doing/plan to do.
 
LOL @ anyone citing Machida as an example that Karateka can all adapt to MMA.

I did Shotokan from age 10 to 16, received my Shodan Black Belt in that time. I'm grateful that it gave me a passion for martial arts and helped me develop discipline and my sense of attention to details. But as for the actual techniques themselves, I've only found a small percentage of them worth retaining when I started doing Muay Thai.
 
Where I live Shootokan is very popular and the people who train there can kick the asses of the MT fighters 9/10 times but the Muay Thai gym round here is not very good.

So it all depends on the quality of the place really, If its a good place then yes go for it you will learn alot. You maze well try and see what you get for the experience!
 
It's 100% in the training. Decide what your aims are and then see if the training they do really matches that (by watching/training for a bit, not asking the instructor).

I'm a "Shotokan" instructor but the majority of what I teach would more closely resemble Jujutsu than what people expect to see in a Karate club. My chief instructor will tell you that he teaches self defence but all he actually teaches is kickboxing and forms!

I'm very saddened to say that most Shotokan schools aren't worth the time and even the ones that are "good" don't actually teach karate anyway!! Authentic Karate is much more like what people would see in Jujutsu and Krav Maga schools. Hence it's almost total lack of transfer into MMA. (Check out Iain Abernethy as he is one of the leading exponents of applied karate, Bunkai and Kata for a look at real karate)

I could go on but the crux is: Find the club/gym that teaches you to do what it is you want to do and ignore the name/badge/style.
 
Really it all depends on why you are taking it: sport or self-defense

But in my opinion: Kata is a waste of time. You'll never use a reverse punch in a match.
 
Karate is only Kata. Anything else is just preripheral training. Also, you should never use "Karate" in a match but a reverse punch is really just a cross so is a very good punch in any situation.
 
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