I am so happy to see you covering Isshinryu Karate in this episode. That is the style I train in, and I love it. It's rare to ever hear or find things about it but I love it!
I have watched all your videos and learned so much. As a Isshin ryu practitioner I absolutely loved this episode and it saddens me to hear Isshin ryu has been reduced to only 2 dojos left in Okinawa. But thank you for having an open mind to see this style, and showing the respect you did for it.
Glad you experienced the vertical fist of Isshin Ryu. My master Angi Uazu has been an inspiration for the last 41 years of training. Thank you for sharing.
He Sensei Encamp, I wished I could train under you. I admire your open-mindness to other styles and your kindness. I love my school and my Sensei, but there is a hint of a Mcdojo.
I have been practicing Isshin-Ryu karate for many years and actually recently earned my 1st dan. It’s a really beautiful style and it takes a lot of work to learn. It also took me a while to get the vertical fist too lol. I also agree with your comment about how you should wear a white belt to a new dojo out of respect because I have seen black belts from other styles come in with their ego at max and that annoys me. They should come in to be willing to learn what we do and be humble and respectful about it.
Jared Genesis yeah. It's not relevant to today. It's more for killing. It focus it's destruction using it's hands. That doesn't work in MMA or other sport martial arts competition.
When I switched from TKD to Karate, my sensei allowed wearing my black belt for class out of respect and recognition of the years of effort in my previous style. Belt testing was different, you wore the appropriate Karate belt. There should be some sense of pride in achieving a Dan, it's a lot of work and requires dedication. Maintaining humility in all things doesn't mean you conceal your accomplishments but should never include boasting or arrogance. Just MHO.
Sir, I like your video very much, I wish to visit Okinawa but from your i am able to know and saw our traditional art. You are a Black Belt perhaps you were wearing white belt because you want to learn
bro i share your thinking about the belt, but when i put on my white one in a new dojou, he shihan told me to put back my black belt on since it would be a disgrace for my former sensei, all the years he invested in me would be like declined by me
I’ve been practicing Isshinryu for over 13 years. I went to Okinawa for a week to train with Master Uechi and Andy Sloane Sensei. Best week of my life.
I've seen hundreds of karate and other martial arts youtube videos. Your videos are the best I've ever come across. It's almost like if I was actually there with you while filming in Okinawa. 👍 Do you by Any chance know if okinawa karate masters use Chinese liniment/ dit da jow for makiwara training?
I’ve been practicing Isshinryu for many years. The one aspect everyone struggles with is the vertical punch. It really can be a devastating blow if done correctly. Great video!
I have been practicing martial arts for around 20 plus years. Although we didn't use belts, we did have a ranking system. I never took a test to progress in rank. I didn't want that sense of superiority or I'm better than you mentality to creep into my head. If someone is better than me regardless of rank I want to learn from them. If someone is having trouble with something that I understand, it's my job to help them.
as a sandan in isshin-ryu i can safely say this was the best video i've ever seen. my training has taught me that karate is a discipline where maintaining a white belt mentality, no matter how much you've learned, is the secret to long-term success.
All ASPECTS of LIFE is a JOURNEY a PROCESS it is NOT a DESTINATIONATION Just your doing CREATIVITY NEVER STOPS it NEEDS REST to REJUVENATE to REVITALIZE
I actually study the art of Isshin-ryu Karate. I have been in it for a few years now. A lot of the punches and blocks are different than other arts you may see like you mentioned. I love your content, I learn tons of new information from every video I watch of yours! Keep it up!
“Once a kata has been learned, it must be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a form in Karate is useless.” -Gichin Funakoshi
I was an isshinryu karate leaner 21years ago. I've trained around 2years only and was forced to stop my training. Till now I am addicted to karate learning and your video motivated me to restart my training. Thanks sensai Jesse ..be humble and spread humbleness...
I've been doing Isshinryu for 38 years - I loved this episode. Thanks Jesse, it was great watching you pratice it. Sharign this episode with all my students.
All styles of karate are good. It just depends who is practising it. Of course, if the karate nerd is doing it,it must be good, as he makes it look simple.🤣😋🥋
This was great Jesse San! You are the Anthony Bourdain of Karate! I really appreciate how you bridge the culture, history, and stories into your work. This is truly worthy of being aired on CNN travel, Discovery, or NatGeo! Is it next Sunday yet? 😜
Hello Jesse, I am currently learning Isshinryu in NYC at a dojo called Traditional Okinawan Karate. If you are ever in Brooklyn,NY you are welcomed to stop by to learn some more techniques. Thank you for all of your hard work in bringing your teachings, adventures and life experiences to the masses. May the universe continue to guide your journey warrior !
My first martial art learned from a marine as a dependent teenager on Guantanamo bay military base… you got a white belt and that’s it. We did stuff I could never see schools doing today like running 2 miles barefoot on 100 degree asphalt.. punching 5 gallon buckets of rocks.. isshin-ryu will always be my first love of martial arts.
I LOVED THIS EPISODE!! 20 years ago I had a customer of my business who held a 5th Dan in Isshin Ryu. In the Marines he trained Isshin Ryu and wound up marrying his Masters daughter. He showed me all kinds of great techniques, especially pressure points for use in the clinch. Very unique style. Sad it is dying. I had no idea.
Isshin-Ryū (一心流 Isshin-ryū) is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku (島袋 龍夫) in 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart way" (as in "wholehearted" or "complete").
I had to return to this video after watching the one about Motobu Choki. That one made me read up on Motobu and I learned that one of his students was none other than Tatsuo Shimabuku…the founder of Isshinryu.
I think it is very inspiring how passionate you are about karate, and how much you know about it, for us karate nerds it’s a treasure to get to see and learn about all those styles and see all those places, for that thank you very much, I hope you keep on spreading all over the world the love for karate, your message have reach many of us! Thank you sensei!!!
And other interesting fact. In some goju-ryu schools, they punch with an external rotation on the elbow so they can hit like the tate-ken but with the punch in horizontal position.
I've been watching waiting for you to stumble upon Isshinryu. I would ask the same question but in reverse. Do you know how hard it is to use a vertical fist with your thumb stacked on top for over two decades and then begin to learn how to throw a corkscrew punch? Your journey is a great one. Much respect to you and welcome to "the vertical fist"!
Isshin-ryu karate- do. That's what we use to call it in the mid 80's when I studied it. Being the only style of karate I practiced, I never knew it was so different. Almost 40 years since I've been active in it, I can still perform the basics. Trust me when I say they were big on the basics. They taught you to advance your techniques. Example-mid block with forward punch was a two part practice for beginners. Including your breathing and stance. Advanced, it was all done in one swift and powerful move. Wish I had studied longer the 3 Years. But teenage life got in the way..
Depending on where you live it may be difficult to find an Isshin Ryu school. Since it's not focused on the sport of karate, it's not very commonly taught. I live in Eastern TN in the USA, where one of Tatsuo Shimabuku's students (Harold Long) lived and taught, so there's a reasonable number of schools in the area from his lineage. There's also a concentration of Isshin Ryu dojos in the NY, NJ, PA area thanks to Master Don Nagle. I believe I've read that another former student-turned-teacher settled someone in the Pacific Northwest as well. Good luck in your search for more information.
Loving Karate Nerd in Okinawa p.2. It's really cool to see new styles that aren't commonly practiced outside of Okinawa. You're really an inspiration, and a great example of a karate nerd.
Just discovered your channel. I study an American style of karate that descended from Isshin-Ryu so it’s really cool to learn about the history of Isshin-Ryu and see the techniques that I recognize in my own style.
Isshin Ryu appears to make a lot of sense. Watch you Jesse has made me realise that there is no one true "great" karate style and that a complete karate practitioner is someone who who can adapt, change and learn new styles.
Un muy buen episodio Sensei, me sorprendió mucho el estilo nuevo de Karate, nunca lo había escuchado ni visto antes y yo también soy un poco nerd con el Karate y las artes marciales en general. Muchas gracias por compartir estas increíbles experiencias y espero que sus viajes continúen, saludos desde Chile.
it is like scratching my wounds when i see someone practicing karate in its birthplace okinawa ... according to me it may be every karate-kas dream to practice karate in its birthplace...n seriously when i saw u there practicing with old masters i feel myself there too as practicing karate in their dojo..BTW u r so lucky...keep growing Jesse Enkamp☺
Jesse, I've just discovered your channel this evening and I love it. I received my Shodan in Isshinryu when I was 15 (42 now), and was lucky enough to have teaching at my dojo be my high school job. I've recently started teaching my son some of the basic techniques and it's caused me to polish up my own practice. I found your video while searching for some Isshinryu references. I LOVE your enthusiasm and what you said about wearing your white belt because you're humbling yourself and trying to learn with an open mind. It was really interesting to hear you comment on the form of the fist and blocking with the two bones instead of one. I knew these were modifications Tatsuo Shimabuku made when he created Isshinryu, but they were what I was always taught. It was cool to hear you talk about those things. Did Master Uechi talk about why the thumb was on top of the fist? We were always taught the knuckle on your thumb was itself a weapon. One of my teachers, Sensei Michael Upchurch, used to show us thumb strikes on all kinds of pressure points that would make our limbs go numb for several seconds (yes, just like Daniel learns in the Cobra Kai series but less dramatic). Thanks so much for this. I'll definitely be watching more of your videos! Arigato gozaimasu!
Thank you so much for this new season Jesse-san, it reminds me of my own trip there a couple of years ago ! :) According to a legend, there is cave where a Chinese "wako" (pirate) called "Chinto" was living after a shipwreck. He apparently taught many locals and also the famous "Bushi" Matsumura. Here is one of the many possible versions of the story : because Chinto was stealing food from the locals to survive (which of course didn't please the locals and the authorities at the time), they sent Matsumura Sokon. Indeed, this Chinese pirate was so skilled that no one could defeat him thanks to his awesome skills in Quanfa (another generic term for Kung Fu). His reputation became so great that the King of Okinawa sent Matsumura Sokon to defeat him and bring peace to the neighborhood. But despite all his attempt, the great warrior Matsumura could not find and defeat him... So instead he tried another approach and tried to befriend and protect Chinto instead. Mastumura soon realized how great a warrior the Chinese pirate (or merchant according to another version) was. So he learnt from him and would create a kata called.... "Chinto" to honor him and his skills ! Do you know if that would be the same cave by any chance ? (I know there are many caves in Okinawa so maybe that's just another cave for another great story). Glad you didn't meet any snake though ! (PS: I would love to get a poster from the Kaikan for my room as I probably won't make it to Okinawa before a long time :D)
I learned Isshin Ryu from Uechi Sensei in Okinawa between 2000 and 2003 in the Dojos at Gunner's Gym on Marine Corps' Camp Foster and the main Gym on Kaden Air Force Base. The other black belt I remember him also He used to be a policeman.
Never in my life I met someone who used a white belt while practicing a style that's not their own. It is something that even I never really gave a thought about. This is a very important lesson that I'll definetely pass on. Thank you very much.
@@phillipmoore9012 Exact same here. I’m a 2nd Dan in Song MooKwan TKD currently practicing as a white belt in Chito-ryu Karate. I am not a black belt in this form of Karate, so why would I wear my advanced rank belt from another style in their dojo?
Jesse : I’m really enjoying these videos, especially the visits to Okinawa. The time you spent at the Isshin-Ryu dojo was great. I used to study Isshin Ryu in New York City. My Sensei learned from the founder of the style, Tatsuo Shimubuku. He was in Okinawa whining he was in the US Marines. I never got to black belt. I got as far as Brown Belt. I started when I was older than most, so I got injured a lot. Had to quit, but it was a good place to train in New York. I was taught the vertical fist too. I also learned that there are several Kung Fu styles that use it too. The Chinese call it Sun Fist. Anyway, thanks for the Okinawa visits.
Hi Jesse. I always enjoy your videos. This one was no exception. I respect your honesty about your views and values. As an instructor of Goju ryu I have gain so much first from you blog about 5 years ago. And now have become a RU-vid junkie do in part from your videos. Despite the fact that I have wanted to visit Okinawa for the last ten years. This video series has allowed me to see more of it. For that thank you. Safe journey and I look forward to your next video. Sensei Ron (From Ontario Canada)
WOW it's not just a dojo, it's a genuine karate university! i love this! Also my brother studied Isshin Ryu Karate while I studied American Kenpo Karate. SALUTE
Jesse, thank you very much for how you approached this crossing in Okinawa. When I watch your videos, it's as if I was traveling through the region myself. It is excellent to know schools that practically nobody knows, styles and it was very good to have known the monument and the cemetery with the history of the Chinese master and his cave. Regarding the belt, it seems more than correct, it is a way to respect those great teachers and to show that you are learning something new. As always, it is not a belt that shows what you know, but what you carry inside and how you apply it. I'm anxious to see the next chapter. Greetings from Argentina.
You are very lucky, wonderful dojo, and Uechi Sensei is an amazing Isshinryu practitioner.Did you get the privilege of sampling any of our Isshinryu Kata?
I really love your Okinawa videos. I think, we in the West know way not enough about eastern cultures. Such honest documentaries as yours are valuable.
Straight up, I am impressed with that video! I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did because of the type of movements I have traditionally seen Karate performed in the states, (It will be a challenge for me to properly articulate what I mean, but somehow, I think you will get it.) By the way, your approach to explaining the information is exceptional. I am accustomed to seeing karate performed in a strict and rigid manner. (It lacks an element of flow?) However, even though I studied Isshin-ryu karate our instructor gave us an improved way to perform movements. I loved your explanation of a sneeze! Something that may help explain it even better is snapping a towel at someone like you did in gym class as a kid......Initial position...coil....flow...snap quickly and reset! You might like this better as it gives the same concept, but there is a proper way to finish after the power is released!....you must set up to deliver again? Out of respect and fairness to you, I must confess that I know very little about the tradition. I am a nerd only in that I study movements and anatomy. (I am a biochemistry geek.) A vertical fist was the only type of punch I am accustomed to performing. called a sihcan (sp?) knuckle punch, (Thumb on top like you said, pushing down to add hardness to "the weapon". (Not only this helps the student to aline their ulna /radius bones, thus ensuring that striking surface is on the flat side of the top two fingers/knuckles This small detail is critical in it ensures the force delivered aligns with the "forearm". I got a kick out of your explanation of the coffee.....I too am a coffee guy. I will share with you something I learned about coffee...Iced coffee to be exact? I guess something magical happens when you take hot, freshly brewed coffee and pour it directly over ice? (My old boss insisted on having his coffee serves with a plain cup of ice...now I think I saw something else in you video? The barista poured the coffee over is using a diffuser onto the ice? (diffuser = an inverted cone-shaped device that induces a unified flow (laminar flow) over the ice? I don't know if this causes the interesting taste or if it was perhaps the origin of water used? I hope you might have something I said interesting like I enjoyed hearing from you. I am going to like and subscribe to your channel. I must confess, I don't recall watching videos on the topic of martial art, just because traditional I have not vared foe that sory of thing? You almost make m feel like I am missing ours. p.s. I am a 2nd degree and I have been involved with isshinryu since for the past 39 years. (14 years ago, I was struck by a car on the expressway.....it gets worse as I go.....as a pedestrian. Really the only involvement I have had in karate in the oast 14 years is, I have coffee with my instructor every Saturday, just to talk. I wish you all the best in your training friend. undoubtedly, there are a ton of spelling error in my post but I hope you will cut me some slack as I am disabled, type with one hand, only looking ay the keys as I type.... Best, ~Ira Bliss Jr (Isshinryu karate instructor Wauconda, IL.)
As a lifelong Isshinryu practitioner, I really appreciate this video. Thanks Jesse! Would like to point out though... advanced karateka of the Isshinryu style actually block with their knuckles, turning the block into a strike.
OSU, The beginner's mind, and We begin with respect and end with respect. It's what I have taken with me and try to practice each and every day. Its is a way of life, and I'm grateful to Kaicho Nakamura for his teachings. Its is great to hear that you too offer the same good advice, and the humility whenever you share your experience. Osu
Jesse explained in one of his videos Okinawans never say Osu which they consider offending. He said they keep silent or say Hai (yes). You need to learn your lessons and do your homework! 😉
This is fascinating, I study and still Train in Isshinryu techniques, I always love talking to other people who took lessons as a kid in various styles and to see the shock on their faces when I tell them about training regime and what we were actually taught about combat let alone the days of Sparring in the early and mid 90's. Bo-sai katas at full speed with full Sai and War Bo good time's to be a kid.
The ending was great Oss. I like that you wore a white-belt because you are not a black-belt in Isshin-Ryu. Those front kicks were awesome at the end by the Sensei! It was a great whipping motion. That style seems practical and has some cool variations. I think I herd a lot of competition karate fighters practice Isshin-Ryu? Oss I enjoyed.
Been practicing karate for 10 years and I m always able to relate my karate practice to your videos. I love the episodes and watching at it I feel like I'm there at that time practicing it. I'm 19 and I also have 3 students and I recommend them to watch your videos. Waiting for the 3rd episode. Oss!
Fully agree about the belts and the beginners mind. You can't learn anything if you think you know it already. And really enjoyed the Isshinryu dojo! Was kind of odd seeing the basics being done as an actual class on here as opposed to just a video of one guy haha.
Jesse thank you so much for highlighting Isshinryu in this episode, have been a practitioner of Isshinryu for over 50 years. It was great to see the basics being taught the way I was taught more than 50 yrs ago here in the states, fyi I know Andy he's a great Isshinryu Kara-te historian.
Thank you for doing a bit on Isshinryu. The Yin and Yang is very good idea in approaching Isshinryu. Tatsuo Shimabuku said in our code that the method of spitting is hard or soft. You blend with the energy on the opponent and then circle the energy back to him and become hard at the moment of impact. I am a Go dan and 70 years old and I still need to learn, especially the basic source of power. Isshinryu is hard and direct to the beginner but as time goes on you learn the power of a relaxed body and mind. One of our katas is 'Chinto', which contains knowledge and was handed down from that shipwrecked Chinese sailor. It contains many circular movements that are parries but become a hard attack. I really enjoy your segments and often learn something, even if it is only a new way of thinking about karate. As my sensei said to me: "you fight the way you train" and " if a technique will not work in a real fight then discard it or learn a better bunkai". I see new bunkai in your videos. Please keep learning and sharing with us.
It made me so excited to hear you say that you would be studying Isshin Ryu in this episode. I'd noticed the vertical fist in the artwork and wondered if that might be the case. By all accounts I've read, Tatsuo Shimabuku was an amazing martial artist and it makes me a bit sad that so little of his legacy remains in Okinawa. Isshin Ryu is now more common in certain parts of the USA than it is in its birthplace. The emphasis in Isshin Ryu was more in practical self defense than in sport, which I believe is part of the reason that it has faded. Unfortunately, infighting between different lineages and visions for the art also contributed to its decline. I hope as my son gets older I am able to take him to Okinawa and seeing this gave me some hope that we will be able to expand our Isshin Ryu training there.
Great video! This style was founded by Tatso Shimbuku. It mirrors Shobiyash Shorin Ryu. The head of Shobiyashi was Ezio Shimbukuro. He recently passed last year. Tatso was the older brother of Ezio and both were trained under Kyan. I enjoyed your videos keep it up! Thank you!
I agree completely about attaching too much ego to the belt. I earned a Sandan years and years ago, but sadly life got in the way and I stopped training, gained a lot of weight back. Several months ago, however, I found an amazing little karate/jujitsu school and was more than happy to put a white belt on again and start over! I actually test for my yellow belt soon! There is nothing more exciting for a black belt than to set it aside and start over. Thank you for your videos! They are a great inspiration to me.
Interesting vision from ishin ryu karate. Is this style a traditional okinawan style? Tomari-te has another name in modern styles of karate? Is very curious how in a little island such quantity of fighting styles appeared maybe is better not to know why did they needed it (i mean that karate exist because in old times you had to learn self-deffense) nevertheless we love it today, ironic.
I enjoyed this episode,for sure. As mentioned on another episode,I had studied this style for a couple of years…1990-92,in Tyler Texas. I was unaware at how this style was dwindling down. My time in the Navy,while stationed in Okinawa,sparked my interest in this style. We were taught that this style was a hybrid of Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu. I am now studying Sil Lim Fut Ga Kuen. Thank you for these videos!!!!
Isshin-Ryu Karate is the style I learned when I was a kid! The city I'm in now doesn't have any Isshinryu Karate dojos so I'm sad I can't go back to it here.
