The future of karate

[Maybetrue]

Just trying to get as close to the truth as possible. From the first handed experience (not from a blog or instructor that read or heard about it).

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way affiliated with any ASAI organization. Just personally knew the Asai FAMILY outside of the Karate.

[brickshooter]

Something has been seriously bothering me lately and I've not been.able to put my finger on it until now. I shall start by asking fellow forum members this simple question:

"Where do you see the future of karate?"

I am talking about a specific style, I am more interested in the overall future of karate as a whole.

As I see it, now karate is practised as various peoples interpretation of how they were taught, Shotokan is Funakoshi interpreting his teachings by Itosu and Azato, Kyokushin is Mass Oyamas interpretation of what he learnt from Funakoshi (you can get the idea here).

Now to my concern, I am worried for the future of karate. There are people.out there who are happily making a merry buck from "teaching" what they understand or want to promote as karate and it is not good. There are too many people taking what they have been taught (often by "legitimate" instructors) and making a hash job of it into something else, something that isn't karate in order to promote themselves as something new, different and even better than what they were taught when, in fact, it is quite the obvious.

I know of the theory in karate reference the changing circle (can't remember the 3 word Japanese term of it), but surely there is only so much change there can be.

I foresee a future where the dojo/school evolves rather than Karate itself. The best school that I have seen offered traditional Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu and even Kendo. Some how they fitted everyone in. Even the traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are filling their schedules by adding MT kickboxing and Judo.

However, no one is trying to teach a jack of all traits, master of none style. As a consumer this is what I want. Expertise rather than some Karate guy trying to teach a wrist lock. Or a BJJ guy trying to teach a throw.

I do not see Karate changing. Just the package offered to consumers changing.

[Luther unleashed]

Something has been seriously bothering me lately and I've not been.able to put my finger on it until now. I shall start by asking fellow forum members this simple question:

"Where do you see the future of karate?"

I am talking about a specific style, I am more interested in the overall future of karate as a whole.

As I see it, now karate is practised as various peoples interpretation of how they were taught, Shotokan is Funakoshi interpreting his teachings by Itosu and Azato, Kyokushin is Mass Oyamas interpretation of what he learnt from Funakoshi (you can get the idea here).

Now to my concern, I am worried for the future of karate. There are people.out there who are happily making a merry buck from "teaching" what they understand or want to promote as karate and it is not good. There are too many people taking what they have been taught (often by "legitimate" instructors) and making a hash job of it into something else, something that isn't karate in order to promote themselves as something new, different and even better than what they were taught when, in fact, it is quite the obvious.

I know of the theory in karate reference the changing circle (can't remember the 3 word Japanese term of it), but surely there is only so much change there can be.

I foresee a future where the dojo/school evolves rather than Karate itself. The best school that I have seen offered traditional Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu and even Kendo. Some how they fitted everyone in. Even the traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are filling their schedules by adding MT kickboxing and Judo.

However, no one is trying to teach a jack of all traits, master of none style. As a consumer this is what I want. Expertise rather than some Karate guy trying to teach a wrist lock. Or a BJJ guy trying to teach a throw.

I do not see Karate changing. Just the package offered to consumers changing.

Maybe it's just me but I learned wrist locks in karate, pretty in-depth I might add. Disclaimer: it has been questioned by some as to whether TSD is karate, it is a derivative of shotokan and commonly referred to as "Korean karate". It is in this way I refer to it as karate. If you do not feel it is karate in the sense of being a traditional Japanese art, the concepts are still the same for the topics.

I think there are places that teach as master of none and jack of all trades through. Look at freestyle karate and American systems that blend as they please. I do it, although I keep a strong base in one art I do NOT really want to specialize. The consumer is a few groups as I see it. There's people like most on this forum, and that group really cares about what style they are learning specifically. Then there is the group that just likes the school or the instructor and learning self-defense and things of that nature and doesn't care what specific style it is, that was always me, never cared, just wanted more information coming in.

Walking into a school and joining and dedicating time to your art requires a lot of trust, trust that the instructor knows what they are teaching. If you dedicate time and apply the techniques taught, in most cases I think you will see if it is, or is not for you!

For the future of karate you must look at the past. Everything that has to do with human beings will evolve, practicing traditional martial arts is great, as long as being traditional does not mean that it cannot grow or evolve, growth is important as people grow So should their endeavors, that's just my opinion and why I teach a blend of styles though. Many seem to prefer a more rigid traditional environment it seems. I simply just do not really encounter that as a whole out in the world, The mixing of arts is such a common thing that all days. I say let it grow and adapt With humanity and the direction we go. Martial arts can be something for everybody. You can tell me until your purple in the face about how effective jujitsu is, and I agree with you. I simply do not care, I have zero interest in studying the art, there will always be something for everybody out there.

Please remember one important fact about people, the future is what you make of it. Do not be concerned about the future of how others practice, you may practice and even teach the way you perceive is the best way. The future of karate is safe, as long as people are alive and practicing/teaching it.

[sensei8]

The future of Karate is what you make of it; it lives within you. And if you're the only remaining on the face of the planet still practicing Karate, well, then Karate's future is still intact, and hopeful.

Yeah, it's a romantic notion, but that's better than giving up on Karate's future.

[Maybetrue]

Regardless, of how Sensei Asai came to be the innovator that he was, the outcome is the same. As far as my debate point in this discussion on how to make the future of karate a good one, Asai was probably considered a non-traditionalist and was looked at poorly by some.

Myself, I highly doubt that the influences that Sensei Asai obviously had around him in Hawaii and Taiwan didn't seriously affect his style.

Almost every genius in every art has been influenced and has had artistic changes due to those new influences, I doubt Asai was immune to that. That's not a knock on any artist it's just a natural outcome of life.

Whether Asai picked up Kung Fu or not is beyond my point. I think that Karate is at a major inflection point where we need to decide how we are going to handle to future and Asai helped the cause. In saying that I really want to learn more of Asai's style and incorporate that into what I work on.

My instructors instructor says that you keep what works and toss out what doesn't.

Asai body structure and skill set was different from Kanazawa,Enoeda,Nishiyama,etc... The snapping techniques that he learned from kung fu was great for Asai to incorporate into his karate.

PS(dont know if many people know this):

-Asai meet his wife before he meet her brother that was a Kungfu instructor.

-Mrs. Asai was a dancer that wanted to incorporate a "KATA" into her dance exhibitions and went to the JKA dojo to learn a "KATA". Asai Sensei was assigned to teach Mrs. Asai a "kata"........yada yada...

Asai Sensei then trained with Mrs. Asai's brother who was a Kungfu expert, ASAI CONVERTED Mrs. ASAI's brother into teaching KARATE in his home country. Mrs.. ASAI nephew also converted and taught Karate .... yada yada...

Disclaimer: I AM NOT ASSOCIATED with any Asai organization. Always believe your instructor first and as more truth than a random person.

I AM JUST SOME RANDOM PERSON posting on the internet. take what i say as just one of many possible truths.

I think i should right a book..... to correct a lot of "stories" going around. would be interesting...

[sensei8]

Regardless, of how Sensei Asai came to be the innovator that he was, the outcome is the same. As far as my debate point in this discussion on how to make the future of karate a good one, Asai was probably considered a non-traditionalist and was looked at poorly by some.

Myself, I highly doubt that the influences that Sensei Asai obviously had around him in Hawaii and Taiwan didn't seriously affect his style.

Almost every genius in every art has been influenced and has had artistic changes due to those new influences, I doubt Asai was immune to that. That's not a knock on any artist it's just a natural outcome of life.

Whether Asai picked up Kung Fu or not is beyond my point. I think that Karate is at a major inflection point where we need to decide how we are going to handle to future and Asai helped the cause. In saying that I really want to learn more of Asai's style and incorporate that into what I work on.

My instructors instructor says that you keep what works and toss out what doesn't.

Asai body structure and skill set was different from Kanazawa,Enoeda,Nishiyama,etc... The snapping techniques that he learned from kung fu was great for Asai to incorporate into his karate.

PS(dont know if many people know this):

-Asai meet his wife before he meet her brother that was a Kungfu instructor.

-Mrs. Asai was a dancer that wanted to incorporate a "KATA" into her dance exhibitions and went to the JKA dojo to learn a "KATA". Asai Sensei was assigned to teach Mrs. Asai a "kata"........yada yada...

Asai Sensei then trained with Mrs. Asai's brother who was a Kungfu expert, ASAI CONVERTED Mrs. ASAI's brother into teaching KARATE in his home country. Mrs.. ASAI nephew also converted and taught Karate .... yada yada...

Disclaimer: I AM NOT ASSOCIATED with any Asai organization. Always believe your instructor first and as more truth than a random person.

I AM JUST SOME RANDOM PERSON posting on the internet. take what i say as just one of many possible truths.

I think i should right a book..... to correct a lot of "stories" going around. would be interesting...

To the bold type above...

I'd read your book, once it's available!!

[Maybetrue]

The future of TRADITIONAL Karate will always be great.

Why? The philosophy of TRADITIONAL Karate will always live. Techniques may seem outdated at times, but the philosophy in general applies to modern times and even NON- Practitioners.

[sensei8]

The future of TRADITIONAL Karate will always be great.

Why? The philosophy of TRADITIONAL Karate will always live. Techniques may seem outdated at times, but the philosophy in general applies to modern times and even NON- Practitioners.

Solid post!!

[Lugh]

The future of TRADITIONAL Karate will always be great.

Why? The philosophy of TRADITIONAL Karate will always live. Techniques may seem outdated at times, but the philosophy in general applies to modern times and even NON- Practitioners.

That's exactly what's drawing me back to Karate. Think I was too young to comprehend in my youth, but as you mature as a martial artist that philosophy becomes a lot more clearer.

[JR 137]

The future of Karate is what you make of it; it lives within you. And if you're the only remaining on the face of the planet still practicing Karate, well, then Karate's future is still intact, and hopeful.

Yeah, it's a romantic notion, but that's better than giving up on Karate's future.

The best thing I've read in quite some time. The same can be said when people complain about the selling, giving away of, or questionable self-promotion of rank.