> To consider Wado Ryu based Karate when I have 'mechanical'
> backpain?

My doctor told me that I should do only yoga and stop doing karate
when it appeared that I have scoliosis. I did not stop, but
integrated excercises my physiotherapist recommended nicely with my
wado training (I either warm up with them or do them after training
or both). Yes, it hurts sometimes but it has got much better since I
started specific excercises (and it is much more meaningful and less
annoying to do them somehow during karate training than alone at
home). Basically I don't like doing kicks very high, some stances can
be painful after excercising them too much, but other things are okay
for my mind. Just don't do anything that you find painful or too
demanding for your back (for example some streches)! Inform the
instructor about it in advance... Also some pain in the back is
actually sign of getting better, some pain means more injury.
Muscular pain which also affects backbone should be fine, I think.
Musclular pain which leads to better posture and support of backbone
seems great for me. I personally find extremely healthy for the back
doing every kind of ground fighting, I mean locks, holds and spar for
submission like this. Throws are generally fine too, if properly
excercised. It doesn't just exhaust your backbone but develops in
natural way every kind of back muscles which are good for supporting
backbone. So if your club doesn't stress only on punching/kicking but
does also traditional jujutsu part of wado, then it would be great
too (BJJ should be good in this case also)! Although, practising
karate or whatever traditional martial art should be good for
developing healthy body posture in every situation.

MP