senseirussell

Kata competition is good for a few things, in my opinion: 1. It's a great way to help you conquer any kind of nerves you might have about being put on the spot and scrutinized by total strangers. 2. You get to see some kata you might never see, being done by some great forms competitors. 3. It's a great boost to your self-confidence to win a trophy, if you've never had that experience before. However, judging, of course, is VERY subjective, and not all judges, even the few who are judging you, are looking for the same thing in your performance. I firmly believe that it's very possible, if the great Okinawan Goju-Ryu master, Morio Higaonna, in his prime, competed in some of today's tournaments, as great as his kata undeniably is, he might not even place! Sounds like heresy, but I've actually seen threads on youtube of his katas, where supposedly experienced karateka think his basics are weak, and pick apart his technique! Anyway, being yourself, and doing the best performance of your kata possible is the all you can control in kata competition. If you start changing things for competition, you'll drive yourself crazy, since every tournament is likely to have different judges scoring your performance. -RB

I do see what you are saying here. However, you can only learn so much of a culture from a Martial Art. If I wanted to specialize in learning the culture of a country, I could find it in more intensive study through paths other than the country's Martial Arts. Its like I have said before; a side kick is a side kick, and if it hits you, it doesn't matter which language it is in. Yes, but a side kick doesn't equate to karate-do. Someone who has never set foot in a dojo, nor taken a class, can learn a sidekick from youtube. Doesn't make him a karateka, even if he has a great sidekick. Karatedo is a way of life, and part of that way is the budo philosphy. If you want to learn karate techniques, you don't need the Japanese element — if you want to learn karatedo, I think the Japanese language and philosophy of the art is necessary. -RB

It can be called that, sure, but it can have it's purposes. It can teach you to look for openings and it makes you use combinations to get there. We had to points spare for our 6th, 5th and 4th kyu so that we could demonstrate that we knew how to create openings and opportunities. It's a good way to learn how to move and prepare for "continuous" sparring. But in competition, it's a much too unrealistic way (for adults) to compete in kumite, since they stop a fight after even a potential "point" was scored, whether it had any effect or not. Continuous point sparring, where competitors keep going, without stoppage for point calling, would be much better. Judges can keep tabs during the rounds, and call accumulated points after the round is done. Too often, point-fighting competitors think they've scored a point, then stop, showboat, and (!!!) turn their backs and walk away from the fight. That's ridiculous, but happens all the time. Or even worse, as I described in an earlier post, they bounce and feint for the majority of the "fight" waiting to sneak in a "clean" point. It's a game of tag, and only very remotely prepares anyone for what might actually occur in a fight outside of the dojo. Again, though, it IS a nice way for kids to spar in competition, though. -RB

You hit the nail on the head. It's a game of tag. Points can be scored, even if they would have done little or no damage to your opponent. I watched a high-level JKA tournament where 3/4 of the fight was nervous bouncing back and forth, by both finalists, waiting to score a single point. It was maddeningly boring and pales in comparison to the effectiveness and watchability of say, a Kyokushin match. I guess for kids, though, it's ideal. -RB

I agree 100& -- a black belt should understand that a beginner is just that -- a beginner!! Like you said, you first need to learn the technical side, and become comfortable with simply how to move and block and strike, before being shown the reality of face contact. I agree that at some point, you need to see that not protecting your face has consequences, but in the case of a beginner, he/she has enough to contend with just trying not to be nervous and feel awkward moving and doing basics. The aforementioned black belt, who kept walloping the original poster in the face, missed something in his training if he doesn't realize how to teach a beginner to spar. Osu,

Damnright...the legs get quite the workout with those kiba-dachi stances. I love this kata, and the kiba dachi is the key to the workout you get from it. Now i'm gonna nitpick a little…I hear this a lot — kiba dachi means horse or horseback stance, but a lot of people say "kiba dachi stance" which means "horse stance stance" If you say dachi, you don't need to say stance after it. Sorry — it seems minor, but for some reason I have to say something when I hear it — I can't help myself!

That is exactly right. This black belt who was striking the beginner in the face to the point of injury needs to show a LOT more control, and/or get a taste of his own medicine in a private sparring session. Osu,

I don't oppose a tap on the top of the head — that's a reminder to keep your hands up. I do that myself to all whom I spar with, regardless of rank. I agree with you — it would be a disservice to beginners and experienced students alike if a black belt didn't do something like that to remind them to protect their face area. Bad habits like that are hard to break — so a tap's a good idea, certainly. But I was responding to the kind of contact the original poster here was describing, which was hard enough and repeated enough to cause injury to him/her. That is avoidable at all times, if a black belt exercises the kind of control a black belt should always have. Osu,

Black belts, especially, should know better, when sparring with beginners. The idea in sparring with a beginner is to encourage them and go easy and slower than normally, with only light contact to the body. Beginners have such a disadvantage, what with nerves, inexperience, etc. that only a natural-born bully would hit them in the face, knowing full well that the white belt is so overmatched and intimidated. If I saw a black belt doing that in my class, that would be the last time he sparred for quite a while, with ANYBODY. Osu, Sensei Russell Bianca Brooklyn Kenshikai Karatedo