Hello Prizewriter:

Correct, at least one reading of the term anyway as it was explained to me... very, very carefully & slowly

Jeff

Hello Curley:

How would you go about finding another dojo, if it were necessary? As a young person, though with some experience now it will not be the art, but the school & its teacher(s) that will speak to you... Good art, bad teacher.... great teacher, so-so school... you need a match for YOU

Good teacher, right place, right price...

===============
There are many interesting books which will give you the flavor of small parts of different arts:

Jane Hallender's "Complete Guide to Kung-Fu Fighting Styles"(Unique Publications) will likely be a perfect fit to start at least.

Robert Smith: "Chinese Boxing: Masters & Methods"; 1st person stories of modern Chinese Masters & arts.

David Chow & Spengler "Kung Fu: History, Methods & Techniques. General overview.

Donn Draeger & Robert Smith: "Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts". (Kodansha Pub.) A tiny bit dryer than some but two of the original western bone-fide experts.

All of which are readily available used... there are other authors whom I could recommend Adam Hsu for example Familiar with any of these names?

Jeff

True, finding a good school is a hassel at times, but you are in the right place at least to learn the background. A good starting point for you could be to wade through the Karate posts in the reading room. There's some good discussions pertaining to the differences. Check out http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=317 raises some interesting points. The other source if you want to start learning are the video posts- while no replacement for a teacher, you're welcome to come back here with any questions or if you're looking for our appraisals of what's going on and why.

Hello Curly:

<<Karate originaly had its roots in Kung Fu

The art I study, most of us study may have ~ancestry~ from our asian cousins at some point (whether a very recent association or an ancient one)... but became & exists as something unique-different autonimous, an "adult" if you will all by itself today!

<<started learning more about the origins and some other techniques.

Exploring is a wonderful thing

<<Unfortunately i'm having trouble finding a good school, (or teacher for that matter)

Finding a good school, a good teacher regardless of the particular skill/practice is 90% of the entire battle, the rest you bring with you ! Familiar with any of the books/names previously mentioned? Unable to find a school, as yet knowledge would be a beginning...

Jeff

Hey Curly

Just checking in with you, have you tried any of the ideas i posted earlyer? with respect to comments and the roots of your style. Its has been my experince, that traditional "karate" gets alot Softer and less riged the higher you get in the forms as well the tech's that help you relax and "flow are often taught to the teachers "disiples"... as far as just were any combat art comes from is les important to me as the combat that ultimently texted & profected it. this alone should be enough insperation for one to true research their arts history (are any of the forms in the style based on a recorded battle)(is this form a combination of small encounters or fights)my point is asking the right question can open many doors to your martial quest... good luck

"asking the right question can open many doors".... Come on man, we're not the Free Masons

if you're going for Karate origin then I would find myself an art probably geographically closest to Japan. So far the big similarities come from arts that originate in Fujian. Something like Fujian White Crane? or maybe Five Ancestors?

I've never seen Karate employ anythingthing close to white crane dude, two MA styles known for the use of hooks, Mantis, and Crane, not Karate. lol. Off your case now. Stylistically from what i've seen (though not practiced), Wing Chun looks similar at times to Karate, both tending towards linear motion (Alright I agree, open hand techniques to come into play at higher dans), and both have a pretty balanced focus on kicks as well so they may complement one another. You may have problems with the stance though because Wing chun uses a traditional right foor forward stance (correct me if I'm off track)