Isshinryu Techniques?

[hizaguchi]

Ok, so the other day as I was getting in my car to head to the TKD McDojo I've been working out at while my ankle heals so I can go back to judo, my neighbor asked me, "Oh, do you go to karate at that free class they run out of the old rec center down the road?" And thus began my Isshinryu experience. Not long afterward, I was getting backfisted in the face by a white belt kid and wondering why I never knew this place existed.

Anyhow, on to my question. I knew the punches and blocks they use from an Isshinryu credit class I took a couple years ago, but I knew most of the kicks from TKD. They had front, side, roundhouse, and crescent kicks that were almost exactly like what I have been doing, and they were even throwing them fairly high. Is that normal for Isshinryu? Or is some of that comming from the other martial arts experience of the instructors (there are at least 5, its a community class and they split the teaching load)?

[TonyU]

Isshinryu is not known for high kicks.
Actually most Okinawan systems that I know of do not have high kicks, but may practice them in order to work strength, flexibility, and safety.

For example we have a couple of drills where we practice high kicks and are allowed in sparring, but never shown or practiced in a self defense setting.

Most kicks are practriced below the waist targets. There are a few small exceptions like kicking the floating rib area, or toe kicks into the arm pits.

[Noldar]

For the short period of time that I took Isshinryu when I lived near Knoxville I was told that Isshinryu kicks are thrown at targets below the waist.

[hizaguchi]

Ok, I've always heard that Okinawan styles keep the kicks low, but the class is practicing for a tournament, so I guess its normal. Not that I would complain if it wasn't, it just wasn't what I was expecting. Some of the instructors have rank in other styles, so I'm trying to get an idea of what is comming from where. They evidently teach some stuff from modern arnis, vee jitsu, and saunces ryu (not even sure what the last 2 are) too, and I'm wondering how that's going to work out.

[a student 1st]

Hey Brandon, you are right about kicks in isshin-ryu being low.However, a lot of classes practice higher kicks for the reasons that tony stated and they are a little safer when sparring at speed(you can see them coming, unlike low kicks).
If the instructors have other experience that can be a good thing, but, they should explain If a technique they are teaching comes from Isshin-ryu or another style. That way you can get a better idea about each style.
It dosn't matter where you do get a technique from as long as it works.
Good luck with your training.