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[netsecure]

OSU,
A bit of peace after settling into usa, i have started checking out dojos here of full contact karate. Originally i was only interested in kyokushin kai karate because thats what i have done in my past for a couple of years and have basic foundation in. But the kyokushin dojo here is pretty expensive and is pretty far away from my house. As i dont have a car i would have to go in a bus so it would take me around 1:15 to 1:30 hour just to reach the dojo. Also the dojo is like open only when the classes are taking place. All the other time its close, which is a bad sign for me because i am that kind who stays 2 hours after class and practice on my own.
Now theres also a shidokan club near my area its closer to where i live that is it would take around 35 minutes to go there by bus, and this club is really awesome. They have all the equipment you need, awesome weight lifting machines, locakers, showers and its open 24/7. Its basically the headquarters of shidokan karate in America. Thus you can expect to find the cream of shidokan there. And most of all its literally half the price of kyokushin dojo. Thus its very cheap because i also get everything in the money, meaning lockers, shower, gym, karate, kickboxing, etc.

Now my only problem was as i have done kyokushin karate and have no background in shidokan, (all i know is that its derived from kyokushin with some grappling) i dont want to shift to some other style and start from scratch and adjust there. I wanted to continue in my roots of kyokushin and also because kyokushin suits my philosphy of martial arts. I really am not a big fan of grappling , punching to face and mma stuff which looks more to me like WWF and UFC which has lots of attitude and no discipline or traditional karate glow.
Also i have never really sparred with gloves before? I don't know why are there gloves in shidokan? Do shidokan practitioners do knuckles push ups then? because the point of knuckle pushup is to strengthen up your knuckles for a more devastating strike then how does wearing gloves help?
So in the end my question is i really dont know what to do. How much % is shidokan similar to kyokushin karate. And if shidokan has lots of different martial arts involve, does it kind of like leave out some of kyokushin stuff to include grappling and other stuff. Because if you have complete kyokushin techniques with complete grappling and complete kick boxing, you would have a huge martial art techniques to practice.
Thank you

[powerof0ne]

From what you said I'd go with the shidokan dojo. I'm not being biased, I have no background in Shidokan but it just sounds like a better deal at this dojo.
Osu!

[Kelvin]

Both have the similar kumite style and basic, other than the kata.
They are both a good style to pick up.

I would go for the nearest dojo, if I'm starting fresh again.
If you are already a black belt, you should stick back to what you started.

[harukaze]

Try them both, then stick with the one you like more.
And don't discount MMA just because a few meatheads make it look bad

[sandman]

Seems to me like it would be worth at least giving the shidokan dojo a try. Unless you have to sign some kind of a long term contract I think you don't have much to lose by just trying it out. Give it a go and see for yourself. You might find that you actually enjoy it more than what you were doing before.

OSU!

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by netsecure

So in the end my question is i really dont know what to do. How much % is shidokan similar to kyokushin karate. And if shidokan has lots of different martial arts involve, does it kind of like leave out some of kyokushin stuff to include grappling and other stuff. Because if you have complete kyokushin techniques with complete grappling and complete kick boxing, you would have a huge martial art techniques to practice.
Thank you

The basic shidokan system is very similar to kyokushin, with the focus on knockdown (but with clinch and some throws). But then you are also offered (especially in the US) the opportunity to expand into kickboxing and grappling.

[netsecure]

Hey i didnt have a black belt in kyokushin karate, far from it, i was a yellow belt but i have 3 years of experience in it and i was pretty much settled in kyokushin and loved it. the only problem was that i didnt want to start from scratch in some new style. The good point of shidokan dojo is that the founder of shidokan kancho seono also sometime teaches class there which is a good privilege for any practitioner to be taught by the founder of the style. In my original thread there are some other questions which are left unanswered can anyone please answer all my questions if possible?
Thank you so much

I can't answer your specific questions as I know little about the style - maybe you should PM Shidokanatlanta.

However, I think you'd be crazy not to train at the more local dojo, with a chance to train under the founder. You are more likely to attend regularly if it's nearer and to be honest, three years training in Kyokushin is not enough to base your life around. Go to both and see how you get on though.

Years ago Jim Kerwin, one of my students and a really tough Scotsman, was moved by his job and ended up doing Shotokan. I asked him how it was and he just said, "They don't ask for as much (effort) as you did, but I still train like I did at Loughborough"

That's the key. If it's not as hard as before (and I doubt that) just maintain the effort you are used to expecting from yourself. It's a personal thing.

Gary

[shidokanatlanta]

The Honbu Dojo in Chicago is inside of the Chicago Fitness Center (which is owned by Shihan Eddie Yoshimura, President of U.S. Shidokan). Shidokan Karate practices the same Kihon and many of the same kata as Kyokushin (as it's roots stem from). There is a class of some kind 7 days a week that focus on certain things. There are Kihon and Knockdown classes on some nights, Kihon and Grappling on some nights, Kata only classes too. There are kickboxing and mma classes too. The classes are taught by a good staff of black belts. Some of the instruction will by some really good guys : Shihan Bo Medinica (5th dan) 1996 Shidokan Champ and Head Instructor, Sensei Ralph Linares (tons of knockdown, kickboxing and boxing experience and former Shidokan Champion, Shonnie Carter (multiple mma Champion) along with a great staff of other men and women who help teach. They have a boxing ring and a cage and also provide instruction in bjj. The rates for classes are reasonable and if you get a full gym membership, your martial arts classes are discounted. Kancho Soeno comes once a year (sometimes his son might come instead). He conducts a seminar and oversees belt testing when he does come. Go the U.S. Shidokan or Chicago Fitnesss Center websites to get class schedules. The gym is big and is open all the time, so you can always catch a workout.

[netsecure]

Hey shidokanatlanta, indeed this is the gym i was talking about chicago fitness center honbu dojo of shidokan and these are all the instructors i have met. Like i said its the most healthiest dojo i could practice at the moment, but was only rethinking my options because of a change in style.

[shidokanatlanta]

it's not really a change of style. you will be exposed to a variety of things over time. your initial focus will be on your karate foundation (which is based in kyokushin). there is a well established curriculum. sure some guys might go the kickboxing class more than they go to kata training. but, your progress is on you. if you want to work your way up through the ranks, you will follow the curriculum and put in the required hours and go the classes that will help you reach your goal. even though it is the triathlon concept, you will focus on what it is you desire (kickboxing, grappling, knock down, etc.) but you will always have the discipline and strong base of karate (kyokushin).

[netsecure]

Hey shidokanatlanta, i tried to send you a PM but couldnt because my posts are below 15. Anyway, I hope you can answer a couple of my questions. First of all, i just read that shidokan has three rounds , first is karate second is kickboxing and then grappling, in the very first round of karate, i believe which is similar to kyokushin, do they wear gloves???? or is it just like kyokushin without gloves and then in the kickboxing round they wear glove.

My other question is in shidokan do you do knuckle pushups in kihon practice???

My last question is where does shidokan differ from kyokushin? Like in does it leave out some of strikes, kicks, blocks or other stuff etc?
Thank you

[smoothsake]

Originally Posted by netsecure

My other question is in shidokan do you do knuckle pushups in kihon practice???

Let's not bother sensei with silly questions like this...

[netsecure]

lol i really wanna know

[shidokanatlanta]

the knock down is bare knuckle. there are no gloves. in training, sure you'll wear gloves, but not in competition which is up to the students. students have opportunity to compete in knock down tournaments (in the past some have gone to sabaki, world oyama, world yoshukai, etc.), some will go to grappling events, and some will enter kickboxing events. the triathlon competition is not for everyone. it is for professional fighters who fight for prize money, where any style can compete. there are only one or two held a year in the states (chicago and atlanta). so, don't focus on doing that type of thing for awhile. as far push ups, yes, you will do them on the fist. there is also some makiwara pads, and all sorts of bags to train on. most of the katas you will do are the same as in kyokushin. the kihon is the same. over time you will simply add in muay thai and grappling. the curriculum will add these things in over time. you will have to demonstrate your kickboxing when you test for shodan. i am usually one of the guys that help evaluate the kickboxing requirement as i have to spar with all of the candidates (boxing and kicboxing).

[netsecure]

Thank you so much shidokan atlanta for all your information. I am seriously considering of joining shidokan karate. I will keep you and everyone updated. Thank you

[Dent]

Osu!

The Shidokan Dojo seems like a very good idea.

As far as knuckle push ups go, the main benefit is to the wrist, needed for all punching systems. (You are welcome to do them at home too.

Osu!

[KERRIGAN]

Man I wish Shidokan was available in Brisbane, Australia.

[bobh]

@Dent, are you sure you can still do knuckle push-ups at home?

@netsecure, Good luck to you! It seems you are in a good situation.

Osu!

[netsecure]

you are lucky to be in brisbane to train under gary oneil the greatest fighter. http://www.kyokushinbrisbane.com/