I currently live in SC and do not have a Uechi Ryu dojo near me. In looking for a dojo to study I came across a dojo that teaches Waso Ryu. I know nothing about this style and would appreciate any information on it that anybody has.
If anybody knows anybody that teaches Uechi Ryu in the Florence/Darlington area that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will knoweach other.
If you do not talk to them, you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear.
What one fears one destroys---Chief Dan George
Wado Ryu
Moderator: Available
Wado Ryu
This is what I know, mostly from reading Modern Bujutsu and Budo by Donn Dreager.
Wado Ryu was founded by Otsuka Hidenori. Otsuka was a student of Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of Shotokan Karate. However, prior to studying under Funakoshi, Otsuka had trained significantly as young child in classical bujutsu/jujutsu. This was apparently significant because Wado Ryu unlike the more mainstream Japanese karate styles, maintained the notion of "ju" -- yielding/softness -- and higher stances than the other styles. Deflection was/is favored over strong blocks and the stances allowed mobility while providing foundation. These were clearly reflected in a series of photos of Otsuka in Draeger's book and contrasted with the low stances and hard blocks demonstrated by proponents of the other Japanese styles. Personally, I like this approach.
On a personal level, I had a visitor from Hong Kong who trained with me for four months. He was a dan level practitioner. What rank, how long, I didn't know nor cared. He was, however, a skilled opponent -- fast, mobile, strong and indeed favored deflections rather than hard blocks. He had my respect regardless of whether it was the style, the practitioner, or a combination of both.
Your best bet is to check out some of their classes and talk to the students. Don't sign on until you get a good sense. There should be some serious training but enjoyment reflected as well. If the students are too hard, too grim... Well, I personally don't go for that.
Good luck,
david
Wado Ryu was founded by Otsuka Hidenori. Otsuka was a student of Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of Shotokan Karate. However, prior to studying under Funakoshi, Otsuka had trained significantly as young child in classical bujutsu/jujutsu. This was apparently significant because Wado Ryu unlike the more mainstream Japanese karate styles, maintained the notion of "ju" -- yielding/softness -- and higher stances than the other styles. Deflection was/is favored over strong blocks and the stances allowed mobility while providing foundation. These were clearly reflected in a series of photos of Otsuka in Draeger's book and contrasted with the low stances and hard blocks demonstrated by proponents of the other Japanese styles. Personally, I like this approach.
On a personal level, I had a visitor from Hong Kong who trained with me for four months. He was a dan level practitioner. What rank, how long, I didn't know nor cared. He was, however, a skilled opponent -- fast, mobile, strong and indeed favored deflections rather than hard blocks. He had my respect regardless of whether it was the style, the practitioner, or a combination of both.
Your best bet is to check out some of their classes and talk to the students. Don't sign on until you get a good sense. There should be some serious training but enjoyment reflected as well. If the students are too hard, too grim... Well, I personally don't go for that.
Good luck,
david
Wado Ryu
Thank you Allen and David for your reply, I think that I will look into the Wado Ryu dojo, since I do not have a Uechi Ryu dojo near me.
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Allen M.
Wado Ryu
Wado-ryu, a Japanese style, was brought to this country in 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee. Ten or so years ago, they were, and could still be the most popular martial arts style in that part of the country, even outstripping the number of TKD dojang.
The Wado-ryu instructors in the Nashville area that I have met are well-instructed, open-minded, and are all tied in to one organization headed just north of Nashville.
Their practice: I used to bring my Smyrna, Uechi-ryu dojo to Wado-ryu Wednesday's "Animal Night" on a regular basis for sparring, and they are good at it, used to beat the pants off the best TKD and TSD dojang in and around Nashville. The Wado-ryu kata I know about are performed very crisply and very strongly with intense focus and concentration. They also do the popular-amongst-styles Pinan series of kata.
If you can't find a Uechi-ryu dojo, I recommend Wado-ryu, especially if they are cut from the same cloth as are those in Tennessee.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
The Wado-ryu instructors in the Nashville area that I have met are well-instructed, open-minded, and are all tied in to one organization headed just north of Nashville.
Their practice: I used to bring my Smyrna, Uechi-ryu dojo to Wado-ryu Wednesday's "Animal Night" on a regular basis for sparring, and they are good at it, used to beat the pants off the best TKD and TSD dojang in and around Nashville. The Wado-ryu kata I know about are performed very crisply and very strongly with intense focus and concentration. They also do the popular-amongst-styles Pinan series of kata.
If you can't find a Uechi-ryu dojo, I recommend Wado-ryu, especially if they are cut from the same cloth as are those in Tennessee.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
