Karate in the Olympics?

[Dark Shogun]

The goal of training is to increase skill and become more poficient.

The goal of competition is to win within the parameters of the contest.

Once you start competition the goal of karate changes from the former the the later.

There should be no karate competition. That is not to say that kumite/randori is not without use. It is an indespencible training tool, but keep it as a training tool and do not make it the goal.

[niel0092]

Hi all, a few questions and comments for you. Does anyone know what rules they will be using? Legal strikes, techs, fouls, continious fighting or stop and go point fighting? I couldn't find any info on the olympic page. It seems like kata will be part of the competitions, how does this fit in with the sparring? Is it a speperate category or are they combined in some way to determine a medalist? Where is the information on TKD being out of the games? I can't seem to find that either.

Ok, on to the comments. I started TKD just before it became a full medal event in 2000. Most events up for consideration as a full medal event must first be a demonstraion sport in the country of origin. For TKD this took place in 1988 at the S.Korea olympic games. It was my understanding that a new olympic event had to be suffeciently different from an existing event to even be considered for the games. Boxing had hand strikes, judo grappling, so TKD decided to focus on kicks for competion purposes. What will karate do to differentiate itself from the existing games while maintaining a level that is not too brutal for the average person? Like it or not, fan friendliness is a factor for the games.

With the sport side of TKD taking a predominant role on the world stage it has been harder for the nonsport side of TKD to be accepted. Try telling someone in another art you do TKD and they kind of scoff at you for "not doing a real art" no matter what your training is like. I feel for karate practioners if they end up facing this like we did. TKD taught correctly includes knees, elbows, joint locks and throws, but we are now seen as being very one dimensional, generally speaking. It makes me sad truth be told, and for as much good as the games have brought us, I feel the level of harm has far exceeded the benefits.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck to Karate practioners in your training and future with or without the games.

[Shorin Ryuu]

I sort of agree with those who stated sport karate already exists (see the quote and date in my signature anyway...). To be totally honest, the average person doesn't even know the difference between TKD and karate anyway and replacing one with the other would almost be a moot point in terms of outsider perceptions.

The other person quoted in my signature, Morio Higaonna of Goju Ryu fame, was actually asked to head up the effort to get karate in the Olympics. He declined, essentially saying he didn't want to ruin karate.

I think there will be some negative effects if karate is made into an Olympic sport. Namely, broader participation in a karate that is watered down to suit the needs of safe competition. On the other hand, things like that are already present in many styles of karate. I'm not for it, but it is not the end of the world by any stretch if it does become part of the Olympics.

[niel0092]

It looks to me that TKD is not out and karate is not in according to this article from Sports Illustrated. Not concrete proof for sure but worth a look at any rate.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/magazine/05/31/olympic.new0606/index.html

[ONE TROOF]

I will bring up my point here.

Sport Karate already exist. It is based on point sparring rules which already exist and in my opinion even if they reflects only a very limited aspect of karate (limited amount of techniques, very little contact etc.) they allow people to spar quite safely.

So why not being an olympic sport? I think this will attract people also to the art.

Most karate IS a sport. Even many of you posting do a diluted form of karate.

If they allow jiyu kumite in the Olympics it should be full contact with leg kicks, throws and submissions allowed. Something more like Shidokan or Okinawan karate BB free sparring.

How will they judge a Matsumura Seito Shorin kata like Chinto versus a Shotokan variant like Hangetsu? I can't see how allowing all styles would work. IMO they should definitely include all the good Okinawan and Japanese Ryu. It'll just be the "Big Four" though. That's all people really know about.

If it becomes "Olympicized" more folks will be attracted to the "sport" because that is what most dojo teach. Either that or some pale semblance of good karate.

Later...

[JimmyNewton]

i think there are pros and cons to having it in the Ollympics.

it could increase its populalrity and entusiasm for it, and attendance could get to like it was in the 70's and 80's

[karate kid 1]

i think that karate should be in the oylimpics it would be very interesting to see who uses what tactics

[niel0092]

Looks like Karate is out for now. Here's a clip from an article on SI.com. This section is about 2/3 of the way down the article.

"Just as startling as the removal of baseball and softball was the IOC's rejection of the five sports in line to replace them: rugby, squash, karate, golf and roller sports. Squash and karate were nominated, then overwhelmingly shot down in a final vote. With two-thirds approval required, members voted 63-39 against squash and 63-38 against karate.

"Ultimately, the session was of the opinion that none of the five sports would add extra value," Rogge said."

Here's the full link: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2104434

[Shihan Paul]

I hope that Karate does get into the Olympics. The only problem with it though is will it be watered down and lose the tradition and how much politics will be involved in the organising of it?