How Japanese / Okinawan Is Your Karate?

[Kusotare]

Is the use of the word “Karate” exploited?

In the UK – for the most part it isn’t, but I’m getting the impression that in the US it is.

I know that TKD and Karate have – in the most part - merged into one in the US, but a recent thread about terminology of Japanese techniques and mental approach has lead me to think about how sincerely “Japanese” most karate clubs are these days in terms of their approach and pedagogy.

I know there are some strong objections on this board to using Japanese language / expressions as a primary way to relay the teachings of arts like Karate, but just wondered whether things had moved on a little?

K.

[CredoTe]

Is the use of the word “Karate” exploited?

Definitely. It's all about name recognition. It irks me so much to see a big, lighted "Karate" sign on some prominent store front, but once I investigate closely, it is an ATA (prominent McDojo in the US) or other TKD school or other such MA. Why do they do this? Because the public at large has no clue, but when they hear or see "karate", they think eastern martial arts.

I know that TKD and Karate have – in the most part - merged into one in the US, but a recent thread about terminology of Japanese techniques and mental approach has lead me to think about how sincerely “Japanese” most karate clubs are these days in terms of their approach and pedagogy.

I wouldn't say that TKD and Karate have merged in large part in the US. Yes, there are many schools here that are a mix of TKD, Karate, and/or other arts. However, for the schools that are traditional MA, by and large they are their distinct art. They just like to confuse things by exploitation of the word "Karate", as you mention above.

I know there are some strong objections on this board to using Japanese language / expressions as a primary way to relay the teachings of arts like Karate, but just wondered whether things had moved on a little?

K.

I agree that language / origins are important in understanding the background and concepts of a given art, and that applying terms like "Karate" to any empty-handed art can confound and befuddle original uses and intents of things!

[sensei8]

Is the use of the word “Karate” exploited?

Definitely. It's all about name recognition. It irks me so much to see a big, lighted "Karate" sign on some prominent store front, but once I investigate closely, it is an ATA (prominent McDojo in the US) or other TKD school or other such MA. Why do they do this? Because the public at large has no clue, but when they hear or see "karate", they think eastern martial arts.

I know that TKD and Karate have – in the most part - merged into one in the US, but a recent thread about terminology of Japanese techniques and mental approach has lead me to think about how sincerely “Japanese” most karate clubs are these days in terms of their approach and pedagogy.

I wouldn't say that TKD and Karate have merged in large part in the US. Yes, there are many schools here that are a mix of TKD, Karate, and/or other arts. However, for the schools that are traditional MA, by and large they are their distinct art. They just like to confuse things by exploitation of the word "Karate", as you mention above.

I know there are some strong objections on this board to using Japanese language / expressions as a primary way to relay the teachings of arts like Karate, but just wondered whether things had moved on a little?

K.

I agree that language / origins are important in understanding the background and concepts of a given art, and that applying terms like "Karate" to any empty-handed art can confound and befuddle original uses and intents of things!

Solid post!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

I definitely think it is exploited.

I overheard a lady the other day tell her kid (the kid asked) that the TKD class that was running was karate. I corrected her going "Actually if you look at the back of their uniform, it says Taekwondo"

She asked me aren't they the same thing and I went "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they are very different"

TKD is more kicks and power, karate is kicks and punches.

[chrissyp]

I agree, with this post..i've seen many schools who advertise Karate, which are in reality Tae Kwon Do

[Spartacus Maximus]

The general public is comfortable with familiar labels for foreign things and concepts. It is in our nature to categorize things that share similarities in order to make easy references and explain them to more people.

Not too long ago, even the term martial arts did not exist or at least not with the meaning understood today. Judo was probably the first Eastern martial art/sport to be introduced to the West. So for a long time, everything was referred to as Judo.

Karate was next and for decades that was what people called "martial arts that use hands and feet". Karate became a familiar term to ordinary people, so taekwondo was sold as "karate" or "Korean karate".

This is the result of commercializing martial arts and has been going on ever since the first dude who figured he could earn a living by teaching. If you want to sell a foreign concept, people will need to have an idea of what it means before becoming interested.

Circa 1920-1950

Judo/jiu jitsu=Eastern martial arts

1955-1970

Karate=Eastern Martial arts

1970-1990's

Karate=kungfu=eastern martial arts

Mid 90's-now

Martial arts=exotic and deadly fighting methods from East Asia

This sounds very basic and is indeed a very crude and shallow generalization, but it is exactly what the public thinks. The only people who have a more accurate reference than this are this who are interested and involved in martial arts.

[Nidan Melbourne]

The Interesting thing is that I recently spoke to someone who claims that he taught "karate" but when I asked what specific 'Style' of Karate he taught he responded with "I teach a variety of martial arts from my experiences of karate, taekwondo, jujitsu, judo, kajukenbo, boxing and a few others"

Now I understand why he used the term karate for his school because a small portion of his curriculum comes from karate. But also it would have to be because of the way that Mixed Martial Arts is treated and viewed in many societies. So he refuses to call his school a MMA school.

Majority of the public that don't do a form of martial art don't know the difference between them. I have spoken to a lot of people who are signing up for classes and friends, and they assumed it was all the same stuff anyway.

Many people that I currently work with ask me what martial art they should do, and i ask them what martial arts they know and what they know about each. These are the most common answers i have received:

- Karate

- Taekwondo

- Its the same as karate right?

- Kung Fu

- Do I have to shave my head?

- BJJ

- Isn't that like Judo?

- Judo

- Wrestling

Until I told them that each of those martial arts were their own but there happened to be some overlap and from different countries they were surprised.

And that in many of those martial arts that there are styles within' them.

[vantheman]

Well my style, Kempo Karate is not really karate at all (save for a few katas, specifically taikyoku shodan, pinans sandan, yodan, and godan, and rohai). I'm fairly certain the term karate was added in early on because people were more familiar with it than Kempo or Kosho Ryu. Kempo Karate, especially the further you go down from Mitose, becomes increasingly American.

But to be overly-technical, karate literally means "empty hand" or "T'ang (China) hand" which can kind of apply to any Asian martial art (save those that are Jujitsu based). But I'm sure that's not what most schools are thinking about when they put the big "KARATE" sign in front of their building.

[Kanku65]

Training in a large organization, we most definitely try our very hardest to keep true to Japanese/Okinawan traditions. Of course our best isn't THE best, considering we are a dojo full of North American women, and men, and not in fact Japanese.

We learn all the techniques in English, and what i assume is Japanese. I've heard different names for almost every technique when concerned with which style of karate one is training in. Perhaps these are regional dialects, or just misinterpretations. We're semi-nomadic and currently train in a church sanctuary. Ironically most people who train with us, me included don't go to church! In my opinion, we are about as Japanese/Okinawan as it gets for North American dojos. Of course it would be completely false to say that's for sure, because i am in fact sure there are others who follow traditions closer than we do, here in North America.

Traditions are important to me, and the other members of our organization though. Many of the Shihans who come teach our seminars are Japanese and are direct students of Masters Funakoshi, and/or Nakayama, or at least graded under them. It is essential to know how to treat them with the proper respect.

When i do think about it though, it is very rare these days to pass by any martial arts school which teaches only ONE specific martial art.

For example, one business in town has a sign which reads;

Learn TKD

KARATE FOR KIDS

Weapons

I see no problem with this, but it does make me wonder if there are any specific traditions/rules they follow.

In town we also have at least 5 different gyms that teach Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA. I'm almost 937% sure none of them follow Japanese/Okinawan traditions. Which is expected. It just amazes me how fast MMA is growing.

[yamesu]

Wow, seems like this is much more of an issue in the USA and UK than it is here in Australia.

My experiences have been that schools generally call it what it is here.

It seems to work for them. TKD, Karate, BJJ, Judo, Wing Chun etc are all respected and well attended in their own right.

Then again, perhaps I have just had "blinkers" on and am not paying enough attention