I want to begin by saying these are my thoughts and are not intended to offend anyone. I am speaking from my experience in Isshinryu Karate. The subject is mastering more than one style or studying more than one style. I would like to begin by quoting Grand Master Shimabuku (I have only scratched the surface of Isshinryu Karate, for every technique I have discovered in the Katas there is Ten more that I haven’t). Also the thoughts of Master Harold Long about studying more than one style and I Quote (why should you waste your time studying something that you have superior knowledge to. I have been in Isshinryu for 20 years and every time I go the dojo I try to learn or discover something new. I have watched other styles and watched there techniques, I then go back to the Dojo and look for the techniques either in the katas or our basics and 9 times out of 10 I discover the bases of the technique in Isshinryu. I'm not saying not to watch other styles all I am suggesting is go back to the dojo and look for the techniques in Isshinryu whether it's a grab, choke throw or brake You may discover that Isshinryu has more to offer than what's on the surface, If you look hard enough and study long enough. I feel it takes a lifetime to master one style, be it Isshinryu or any other martial art. My thoughts are, there's a lot of what I call Jack-of-all-trades out there. But very few true Masters. Think of it like this would you hire a handyman to wire your house for electric or would you hire a professional electrician? Thank you for visiting my page at Angel fire. Please come back and visit again!
Mastering your Style
First I want to apologize for the English Language I’m about to butcher, and the frankness in the way I write.