Kyokushin: The BUDO Way

[phatkata]

Kyokushin Karate is well known as The Strongest Karate of all karate styles in the world.

[jion]

I can. But now again, I can imagine it without Shotokan, Wado-ryu and other Japanese styles as well. And the view I see in my mind isn't ugly...

And how does the view look like?

[Jussi Häkkinen]

And how does the view look like?

Like Okinawan karate. Traditional, real and pure. No sports. No big publicity.

Better, IMO.

[Meguro]

The competition aspect of Kyokushin Karate is greatly misunderstood. There is no denying the spectacle aspect of the big tournaments. Understand that this is all to defray the costs of hosting the events and paying bills and businesss. Beneath the glitz are many, many karateka who will never make it to the winner's podium, yet train full time, sustaining and overcoming injuries, overcoming fear and doubt, putting their karate on the line. It's not the destination, it's about the journey, isn't it.

Training for the competitions is a forge where the future leaders and instructors are made. Virtually all Kyokush blackbelts will have competed in a knockdown tournament. Without doubt all uchi deshi, compete. The branch chiefs and seniors in the organization are the most accomplished of fighters. What they teach, and what is passed on, isn't pretty kata, nor is it quick tag techniques. I recently watched a lightweight fighter from my dojo make it through a vast field of open-weight competitors, with some competitors easily 50 to 100 pounds heavier. He didn't win. A middle-weight fighter took the whole thing.

When these guys take leadership of their own dojo not all their students will find success on the mat, nor will they have encyclopeadic knowledge of martial arts trivia. Their future students will share an important lesson of Kyokushin: digging deep and taking your best shot. This might not jibe with what others might think of karate. Fortunately there are other styles of karate to satisfy everyone.

[b3n]

Good post Meguro.

[Meguro]

Thanks. Not too over the top I hope.

[Charlie]

One of the previous posters on this thread appears to believe that the proper form of Karate is adherence to it's "original," classical, traditional, Okinawan "roots." Actually, if you want to be true to the origin of Karate, then don't you have to go even further back to when Karate was a martial art in China before it came to Okinawa? Furthermore, don't many believe that before it was in China it actually came from Buddhist practitioners in India in the very distant past? Thus, along this line of reasoning, wouldn't Okinawan Karate be considered a relatively "newfangled" modification of the original, pure form of this martial art from India?

I can understand that someone is attracted to and satisfied with studying what they believe to be the "pure," traditional form of an art. But, it is problematic to say that newer, modified forms of this art damage the "view" or complete picture of what this art means and signifies for the current community in which it is practiced in.

[b3n]

One of the previous posters on this thread appears to believe that the proper form of Karate is adherence to it's "original," classical, traditional, Okinawan "roots." Actually, if you want to be true to the origin of Karate, then don't you have to go even further back to when Karate was a martial art in China before it came to Okinawa? Furthermore, don't many believe that before it was in China it actually came from Buddhist practitioners in India in the very distant past? Thus, along this line of reasoning, wouldn't Okinawan Karate be considered a relatively "newfangled" modification of the original, pure form of this martial art from India?

I can understand that someone is attracted to and satisfied with studying what they believe to be the "pure," traditional form of an art. But, it is problematic to say that newer, modified forms of this art damage the "view" or complete picture of what this art means and signifies for the current community in which it is practiced in.

You said exactly what I was thinking.

[y2_sub]

Kyokushin = Budo , Budo = Kyokushin

[b3n]

Whats with the "drunken devil ryu" y2_sub?!?