What Do You Feel Is The Most Important Aspect In Karate?

[Killer Miller]

I'm curious as to the different oppinions to this question.

 

Feel free to add other applicable catagories.

 

- Killer -

[shotochem]

Effort,Blood,Sweat,Tears,Heart,Desire,Perserverance.

 

If you have all of these, any of the others are just an added bonus.

 

There are many with natural talent who do not achieve their potential.

 

There are others who work hard and never quit and acomplish great things.

 

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

 

-Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizen in a Republic", April 23, 1910

 

A great man and a fine example.

[renketsu]

Experience, because through proper training (which experience should have given you) you will gain and improve:

 

Speed, Relaxation, Strength and Stamina!!

 

Natural talent is nice but makes a very shallow karateka in most cases from what I have seen... working for something makes someone more determined and a better student and instructor - they learn more and understand better having had to work through things themselves.

 

Just my tuppence worth,

 

Andy.

[Jade]

Dedication....and the willing to improve always your moves.

[aefibird]

Dedication and perseverence IMO. Speed, strength, experience and stamin are an added bonus!

[Guest]

c'mon! why am I the only one who votes natural talent? I know it's not PC, but it's true. Strength, speed, relaxation and stamina are all things that come naturally to sombody who is gifted. The experience will come just the same as everybody else. Natural talent will mean the difference between a great karateka and an exceptional karateka. Their potential is much higher. It's unfortunate, but I watch the people who work their behinds off to get better but never reach the same level as the naturals.

 

If you would have rephrased the question as what the most practical aspect of karate is, I would have to say technique (not an option), then strength coming in at second.

[Ripper]

Having fun in doing it.

[cathal]

Along with the natural instinct to not get yourself hurt or to hurt others, determination and commitment.

[ramymensa]

I'd go with experience too. I've never been a natural talent and I know how much I had to work to come to this point. I've worked twice as much as many natural talents and now they all think I'm a natural talent

 

So I say WORK hard and everything would follow. I've seen too many natural talents failing to become great martial artists so I stick with experience. It's a difference in the mindset. The talented ones know they are good (at the beginning, cause then the differences are the greatest) so they tend to relax, knowing we, the stiff and uncoordinated, are way behind. We, the "unnaturals", work hard in order to overcome our handicap and usualy succeed in some years to become good. There are many times when the talented ones remain behind because the refuse the idea of hard work.

 

Just my 2 leis

[shotochem]

Experience, because through proper training (which experience should have given you) you will gain and improve:

 

Speed, Relaxation, Strength and Stamina!!

 

Natural talent is nice but makes a very shallow karateka in most cases from what I have seen... working for something makes someone more determined and a better student and instructor - they learn more and understand better having had to work through things themselves.

 

Just my tuppence worth,

 

Andy.

 

True however, experience is gained over time. Without dedidication and perserverance all the time in the world would not give you the right kind of experience. With a great deal of hard work you can improve all the physical aspects(speed,strenght,stamina,ect...)

 

Natural talent would just make it easier to accomplish.