Kyokushin Substitute?

[berserker]

There arent any knockdown schools anywhere near me, there is an instructor who teaches Shotokan but he does believe in sparring and realistic training. Could the Shotokan be more effective with Kyokushin style training? Its the only option I have.

[Dent]

Osu!

Hum. Tough call. On the one hand you have very little in the may of options. On the other, how are you going to transform the training?

Osu!

[berserker]

hard sparring and conditioning? I am open to suggestions.

[Dent]

Osu!

There's the hard part again. Unless this instructor is remarkably open minded, I'm not sure whether you'll be able to do the hard sparring and conditioning in class. I also wonder whether the partner work will resemble the style of fighting practiced by knockdown branches?

Osu!

[berserker]

Do you have any advice?

[Dent]

Osu!

Sadly, I find myself in a similar position, so I'm going to organize a training group locally. Everyone will know why we're there, and what the nature of the training is going to be.

Your Shotokan Dojo option sounds a lot like what I experienced at the local Shito Ryu Dojo. The instructor is very nice, and there are a number of good WKF style competitors, but it is so far away from Knockdown or Iri Kumi style training, that all the contact was too hard for the existing members. (Pulling each technique is beyond odd, and I'm convinced will ruin my Karate.)

Rather than cause additional embarrassment, it's easier for me to get a small group and train, with an open invitation to all visitors.

Osu!

[berserker]

I do have some people who train with me outside of the dojo, they are willing to train however I want.

[Dent]

Osu!

Well there you go! That is good! :)

Osu!

[kyokushin4life]

Go for it and have fun! Welcome on board berserker! Osu.

[medguy]

Maybe a Muay Thai school nearby instead?

[Kurisu]

How about a boxing gym? If you can, find one that has an organized class where they teach you punching drills, defense and countering. I've found it to be a great supplement to my previous Kyokushin training.

[olyckan]

There arent any knockdown schools anywhere near me, there is an instructor who teaches Shotokan but he does believe in sparring and realistic training. Could the Shotokan be more effective with Kyokushin style training? Its the only option I have.

Look at Lyoto Machida in the UFC. He is shotokan based but has enormous success in a fullcontact knockdown arena like UFC right now. Adapt your training, talk to the instructor and watch Lyotos matches.. Shotokan sure can be adapted to knockdown. Just dont forget training lowkicks and taking lowkicks.

OSU and good luck..

[powerof0ne]

Osu!

Sadly, I find myself in a similar position, so I'm going to organize a training group locally. Everyone will know why we're there, and what the nature of the training is going to be.

Your Shotokan Dojo option sounds a lot like what I experienced at the local Shito Ryu Dojo. The instructor is very nice, and there are a number of good WKF style competitors, but it is so far away from Knockdown or Iri Kumi style training, that all the contact was too hard for the existing members. (Pulling each technique is beyond odd, and I'm convinced will ruin my Karate.)

Rather than cause additional embarrassment, it's easier for me to get a small group and train, with an open invitation to all visitors.

Osu!

I started out in WKF rules (shito ryu) and was very lucky that my sensei was all for bare knuckle sparring but it wasn't knockdown rules. No knees or leg kicks were allowed but everything you see in WKF rules was with full force to the body. Our dojo had a rep of going hard in WKF rule tournys because of this which wasn't really the smartest thing but those of us that competed usually placed 1st-3rd. After this dojo closed I took up muay thai and very easily made the transition to knockdown. I'm not saying this is typical of someone coming from WKF rules(wasn't typical of someone at my thaiboxing gym to enter knockdown tournies neither) but it's possible if your dojo does spar "more full contact" then others. I have trained off and on in other shito ryu dojo over the years and haven't found one similar to this, unfortunately. If you train in a good karate dojo, regardless of style you can make it work but I highly reccomend also supplementing your training with muay thai or something that will get you accustomed to leg kicks, knees, etc. If anyone has sparred a good shotokan/shito ryu/goju/etc. they know that they can tsuki hard to the body.
p.s. When I was in shito ryu only, I would always bring Kyokushin books with me to the dojo as a young teen and was the stereotypical dojo/gym rat.