For a little over a month, I've been studying at a Shito Ryu dojo. At first I didn't think I was going to like the changes from kenpo to shito ryu, but I've been adapting fairly well IMHO. I think most of the things mentioned above comparing the two are pretty accurate. The basics of yellow and orange belt students at my new dojo are better than some of the purple or blue belts at the kenpo school I studied at for a year. The pace at which new material is learned is far slower in shito ryu, which I like and dislike at the same time, but I understand why the pace is where it is.
Another huge difference(at least with the dojos I've been a student at) is the emphasis placed on drillwork to improve perception, hand-eye coordination, plyometrics to strengthen fast-twitch muscles, etc. In the kenpo school I was at these types of drills were rarely done and there was no streching before class unless it was done individually on our own time.(my old instructor doesn't think kicks should go much higher than the waist) As a result I am horribly out of shape and need a lot of work improving my flexibility.
Right now I plan on continuing to study Shito-ryu and sometime in future going back to learning kenpo after I've built a foundation of powerful techniques by studying shito-ryu.
~Fletcher
Another huge difference(at least with the dojos I've been a student at) is the emphasis placed on drillwork to improve perception, hand-eye coordination, plyometrics to strengthen fast-twitch muscles, etc. In the kenpo school I was at these types of drills were rarely done and there was no streching before class unless it was done individually on our own time.(my old instructor doesn't think kicks should go much higher than the waist) As a result I am horribly out of shape and need a lot of work improving my flexibility.
Right now I plan on continuing to study Shito-ryu and sometime in future going back to learning kenpo after I've built a foundation of powerful techniques by studying shito-ryu.
~Fletcher
