Legends of the Martial Arts: TATSUO SHIMABUKU, ep. 2

[@SoldierDrew]

Although the isshin ryu school has a superior punch that emulates old school english pugilism punches, the high kicks favored by isshin ryu are not as practical for unarmed combat defense wearing modern western clothing and work boots. And the pagan goddess worship is a major turn off for biblical christian kara te practitioners and traditional Jews whom are forbidden from idolatry and honoring pagan gods & goddesses. Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu are effective at creating very strong elderly men while also cultivating efficient unarmed combat defense. Without the cult teachings. Kyokushin kai , Ashihara and Kudo are highly effective empty hand combat defense schools that do not incorporate any pagan goddess , gods or shinto kami spirits into their schools.

[@martialartsmadness-g1j]

Thank you for the comments. I appreciate them very much. The goddess symbol is a turn off to many Christians, but not all, as I know many who would claim wearing the patch does not represent a belief in Mizu-Gami, but it is just a device to bring out symbols of strength and peace, etc. I can respect both sides of the argument. As a teen, and a Christian, the patch didn’t propose any problems for me even though I attended a very conservative denomination (I was raised Seventh Day Adventist, but converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in my mid-30s). Nor did it for the Christians attending who class, which most were Christian. However, it did bother me once I got in my 20s and delved deeper - theologically and spiritually - into my faith I did have more "qualms" about the patch. I know some great Isshin-Ryu practitioners who are great Christians, or if I may use your term, Biblical Christians, who are of the conservative Protestant variety who do not find any issues, for very much the same way I did not as a teen. Wearing the patch is not necessarily committing idolatry or giving honor, but letting the symbol demonstrate the power and strength of Isshin-Ryu. I do know one Isshin-Ryu instructor who developed his own patch therefore not having the Mizu-Gami symbol on it. I do, however, respect those who take an opposite view and will not wear something that may represent paganism, whether their intent is to honor or not. If you're curious about my view now, let me know and I'll gladly explain it. In developing the video, whether I agree with the symbol or not, the purpose is that many (and I am included, after all, I made the video) consider Tatsuo a legend. By so doing, I am not endorsing everything about Isshin-Ryu or him, but acknowledging his contributions. After all, if I sought out to make a video on a perfect martial artists, there would not be any. The high kicks in Isshin-ryu are balanced with medium and low kicks. I studied Tang Too Do at the time I studied Isshin-Ryu and found the Isshin-Ryu system of kicking to be more balanced. Its emphasis on kicking, at least in the curriculum I received, was balanced. The veritable fist and high stances are its strongest parts of the system. I am a big fan of Kyokushin and its diversities including Kudo, Ashihara, Ensign, etc. Those styles also place an emphases on kicking all three area (low, medium, and high) and do so effectively. I would later go to Goju ryu under Hanshi Dan Hect and would be his first black belt of which I am very honored. I can say that with Goju, and maybe because Hanshi Hect was such a skilled teacher, I for lack of a better word, fell in love with the art. And I hope you're right that it makes strong old men, especially now that I have entered my 60s...lol. Thanks again!