Hello from northern CA

[maruchan]

I've been lurking here for a few days and I thought I would register and introduce myself - I just started studying Tracy Kenpo and Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate at a local dojo, and so far I have a yellow belt in Kenpo.

Prior to this I studied Tai Liu Chuan Fa for 2 years and ended up getting in a bad car accident before I could test for my black sash. That was five years ago...since then I've been getting more and more out of shape, trying different arts (TKD, Mo Duk Pai) for a few days before deciding (with my wife) to move to a new area, and so on. Frustrating!

It seems I'm going to be living here for a while (started my own web development business) so I signed up at this Kenpo/Karate school. They also teach MMA there, but my primary goal is fitness, and I don't like how ground work "feels"...so maybe later, down the road sometime.

Kenpo has been very interesting for me - it dovetails nicely with the poison hand/master hand techniques I learned in Tai Liu. The speed and power remind me of my former Tai Liu instructor - he was all about that.

I do love the systematic approach, with a binder full of techniques and explanations. What a help! I wish I had that for Tai Liu. Mo Duk Pai has something similar - a thick binder that explains kicks and combos right down to the last detail. This sort of thing really helps me.

My Sifu didn't have a high opinion of "linear" traditional Karate (like the Shorin-Ryu I'm studying) but I really enjoy it so far - I try to keep an open mind, and I'm really picking up some good tips as I study the different kata. It may be linear, but I lived in Japan for a couple years and I really feel connected again when I study it. Hard to explain.

Anyway, I look forward to hanging out here...I wanted to find a place to ask questions between classes.

Thanks!

[sifuroy]

First of all,Welcome to KenpoTalk. you will find some great people here that are willing to help you.

I have some Mis-givings about you studying both Shorinryu and Kenpo at the same time as the stances are quite different. We had a Shorinryu School here that taught both. His techniques never seemed to work well for him. When I watched,I immediately saw why. He was trying to do the kenpo techniques out of the Shorinryu Stances. They just don't work in Kenpo. You don't have the proper reach or power when you need it. When you are studying 2 styles the basics are different and you tend to get them confused. The instructor was first of all Shorirnryu and he always tried to do the Kenpo out of their stances.(Ingrained habit). I would recomend one style or the other.
Good Luck with it.

I am Most Respectfully,
Sifuroy

[maruchan]

Hi Sifuroy, thanks for your reply. I'm grateful to be able to study both styles and I know I'll probably get some things confused. I'm also continuing my Tai Liu stances and techniques at home when I have time, so I guess there are three different styles to confuse me, lol.

Anyway, we don't use the Shorin-Ryu stances when we study Kenpo at this school. There's a lot to learn, being just a beginner, but that much I can say. Thanks for the heads-up, though.

[Rob Broad]

Welcome to KenpoTalk. I have studied both Matsubayshi Ryu and Tracy's Kenpo

[kenpo0324]

Welcome to KenpoTalk.

[jdinca]

Welcome! Where abouts are you located in NorCal? I'm in the East Bay Area.

[maruchan]

Welcome to KenpoTalk. I have studied both Matsubayshi Ryu and Tracy's Kenpo

Cool! I would ask a question or two about your studies, but I'm so new to it, I don't even know what to ask. Advice?

Where abouts are you located in NorCal? I'm in the East Bay Area.

OK, been down there a few times. I live about 45 minutes north of Santa Rosa.

[NickName99]

Welcome to kenpo talk

[RDCParker]

Welcome to the board.

[sifuroy]

Which style do you figure to be your main style? Shorinryu or Kenpo? They both can't really have equal significance to you. I find that most people go into their most familiar stances when they need to use their Martial art.

We have been teaching over 35 years and have had the most problems teaching people with previous Martial arts experience. They tend to by instinct to revert to their old style. IT takes longer to train out habits learned in another style that to train them from the beginning. After you have been at it a long time and gotten the proficiency of Black Belt then is a good time to experiment with other styles. you then have the experience to judge what the other style is all about.

Most people take 5 to 6 years to Black Belt with us. People with other experience probably more. " You first have to empty your cup before you can taste my tea" With 2 styles your cup is always half full. 3 even more.

Good luck,

I am Most Respectfully,
Sifuroy

[John Brewer]

Welcome!

[Celtic_Crippler]

Greetings and salutations! Welcome to KT!

Glad to hear you're back into training.

[Arizona Angel]

Welcome to KT. Happy to have you here.

[amylong]

Hi.

I'm in Elk Grove. Where exactly are you? Our school is off of highway 50 at the former Mather Air Force Base, now known as the Mather Sports Facility.

And which school are you studying at?

Welcome to the board. We're glad to have you.


--Amy

[maruchan]

Thanks for the welcomes, everybody!

You first have to empty your cup before you can taste my tea

Great advice...

And which school are you studying at?

Tollow Dojo, Ukiah.

Elk Grove? Cool. I'd guess that's about 2.5-3 hours away from me? Sac Int'l Airport is 2 hours away so it's "our" airport for most departures. Last time I was down that way, not including airport visits was for James Blunt last year.

[ronin6]

Hello and Welcome

[amylong]

Tollow Dojo, Ukiah.

Elk Grove? Cool. I'd guess that's about 2.5-3 hours away from me? Sac Int'l Airport is 2 hours away so it's "our" airport for most departures. Last time I was down that way, not including airport visits was for James Blunt last year.

Well, perhaps we can share information about seminars and such. I've been to Ukiah.....and then I went past. lol.

Glad you're here.

--Amy

[John Brewer]

Don't forget you Northern California people Dr. Dave is trying to set something up in Santa Rosa in 2 or 3 months

[amylong]

I just noticed that and put my .02 in.

I would SO love to go to that! It would be a ton of fun.

Anytime I can get around a bunch of people wanting to train, then I'm a happy camper.

--Amy

[T-Bo]

Welcome to KT!