East West Karate/ Twin Cities, MN/ Shorin Ryu Karate, Matayoshi Kobudo, Zen Kobudo

[sirdarksol]

East West Karate is a dojo situated in NorthEast Minneapolis, on the corner of Stinson and Broadway.
http://www.qualitykarate.com/
Sensei John Dombeck, student of Sensei Dan Schroeder (Milwaukee East West Karate), runs the dojo. Dombeck Sensei also is a student of Sid Campbell.
The dojo itself is in a warehouse space. It has been upgraded to provide a comfortable training area. There is something of a lack of space, but, to me, the space that I train in is less important than the people who train me.

In all aspects of training, Dombeck Sensei aims toward preparedness for combat, even with weapons that have little or no use in modern application.
Unfortunately (for me), there is something of a lack of spirituality in the arts, but I am able to supply this spirituality on my own, and supplement it with books.

Both Matayoshi Kobudo and Zen Kobudo have their roots in Okinawan Kobudo (weapons combat). Matayoshi is a more traditional style, while Zen Kobudo is a bit more adjusted for a modern practitioner. Zen Kobudo allows the practitioner to decide which weapon(s) are learned. Both are focused on combat capability.

One of the greatest advantages of joining East West Karate is the great seminars. Twice a year, Sensei Tadashi Yamashita teaches a seminar at the Milwaukee dojo. These are very intense, wonderfully instructive deals. Also twice a year, Schroeder Sensei comes to the Minneapolis dojo to teach a seminar.

The Yamashita-Style Kobayashi Shorin Ryu taught at East West Karate is excellent, as well. Most of the white belt focuses on developing individual techniques, both striking and breakholds. There are a few examples of stringing techniques together at the low level, but most of it involves building the basic techniques that will be employed later.

What I love most about East West Karate's empty-hand, however, is the Suikendo, a flowing art that Yamashita-sensei developed. It seems to be heavily based on the more internal, circular kung fu (or perhaps tai chi) arts. It combines these circular arts with a more karate style directness, and flows freely between them, teaching one to use whichever is most beneficial from moment to moment.

[sirdarling]

You might want to update this now that we have been taking Shorin Ryu at the dojo.
Go EWK!
I like how focused on proper form we are... more on doing it correctly than making it really flashy or how you can use the technique to win in a tournament. The most i've ever heard is you do this and it will work better for you if you are attacked.