To some people Shotokan and Wado Ki Kai are recognizable but to most it just looks like random letters that are possibly asian and possibly just made up. To the majority of you that don’t know, here is an explanation..
They are both Karate styles, so yes they are Japanese words.
Shotokan is the ancient original karate style that has been around since the 1600’s and is what you see in Karate Kid and other karate movies.
Wado Ki Kai is a form of karate that was brought here in the 1970’s and translates to “To learn from all things”. This karate style utilizes the punches and power of Shotokan style with the more powerful kicking of Tae Kwon Doe. There are also elements of Jujitsu mixed in. This style is a mutt but more complete and rounded (in my humble opinion).
The Dilemma:
I want to take karate training, that part is for sure, but I have a problem of choice. I really would like to take the Shotokan karate but there are some serious factors to consider.
Wado Ki Kai is hosted very near to where I live in the Bladium sports complex. My membership would cost $90 a month for full access to the complex, this includes a rock wall and full gym. It is a short drive.
Shotokan is hosted at the Berkeley YMCA. It takes 45 minutes, in traffic, to get there and the membership dues are $112 a month. There is a pool but no rock wall and I probably wouldn’t use the gym as much because parking is a pain as well.
I would much rather study the traditional style of Shotokan than the mutt Wado Ki Kai but I am kind of leaning towards the Bladium because of the ease and rock gym. AH! I can’t decide!
Links:
http://www.wadokikai.com/ - Wado Ki Kai website
http://berkeleyska.org/ - Berkeley Shotokan website
http://www.ska.org/ - Shotokan of America website
www.bladium.com/ - Bladium website
www.baymca.com - YMCA website
5 Responses
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mike-
I have studied each system for a short time. To be honest the “mutt” in my opinion wins.Wado Ki Kai katas are also barrowed from other old Okinawan styles like Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu and from Okinawan Kenpo. They also have weapons training, a grueling physical fitness component and the system keeps adding and evolving to better itself.
-rick
i agee i do go kan ro karate and all our words are in Japenese. sam 12
$90? Mate, I’ll move there to train! Lol Choose the style YOU like and is the best fit for you and do you like the instructor and the other students?
I help to run a Shotokan Club in Neutral Bay - Sydney Australia. There is Shotokan (JKA) and there is Shotokan (what we do). It’s not a ‘crash bang’ big man always wins, approach.
both styles have the same katas (forms)- these katas were created by anko itosu, an okinawan school teacher (1831-1915)- the katas were created in order to teach CHILDREN basic movements, rudimentary coordination, footwork, etc., 1600s? nope- wa means harmony or peace but can also mean ‘japanese’- usually wado is translated as way of peace- there are only minor differences between these styles- wado says they emphasize relaxation but i’ve never seen a wado practitioner perform kata any more ‘relaxed’ than other karateka- but shotokan practitioners also emphasize relaxation to some degree- shotokan has definately produced more exceptional karateka- tanaka, egami, asai, kanazawa- to name a few
I am currently a student of Sensei Rod (Wado Ki Kai). The system is awesome and I would encourage everyone to take it. You get to learn a lot of stuff because it’s based on so many Okinawan and other Japanese systems. The only downside is that we have too many katas in our system (33, I guess). it’s hard to be perfect at all of them, but this thing also makes Wado Ki Kai unique. There is also a lot of interaction with all the Senseis since ther are not a lot of people in the system. After doing it for 2 months, you’ll start feeling like a part of it.