Karate rambling

[Judodad_karateson]

This is going to be kind of a ramble, I just want your thoughts. Or maybe I just need someone to listen, who knows. Your thoughts are welcome either way.

As my name implies, and some of you know, I'm an old Judoka. Judo isn't very popular in my area (nearest school is hours away). Due to that, money, and scheduling purposes, my 5-year-old and I ended up going with Karate, and we love it... for a while. Lately, I see him looking kind bored in class, and I have to admit, Karate isn't nearly as exciting as I recall Judo being.

Well, schedules, money, etc, has all changed, and I found a new BJJ in my area that I think we will love. I will enjoy grappling more, and I think my son will. More contact, more interaction, for someone with Adult ADD and a 5yo boy, grappling classes are just more engaging. Honestly, I'm pretty excited about putting the thick gi back on, and seeing if my son will love it as much as I did.

HOWEVER, I can't shake the feeling of guilt, I love my karate school. The Master very knowledgeable, even has some judo training. We have a lot in common outside of MA. His wife, who teaches the kids, is wonderful with them. Lots of black belts who are well trained and happy to teach, and plenty of students at my level who can enjoy the journey with me. I've also very interested in the unique skills that Karate offers that Judo and BJJ do not (kobudō, Kata, Tameshiwari, etc). But I just don't know if my heart is in this art.

[mazzybear]

I think your heart must be in it somewhat, why else the guilty feelings? Is it purely just about leaving your instructor? While he might be sorry to see you go, I doubt he would lose much sleep over it, he will have seen it a million times and each time the school carries on regardless. Ask your son if he is indeed bored, if he's only 5 priorities in his head may not involve the MA at this point. I started my 6 year old nephew at karate last year and it didn't take him long to change his priorities from karate to minecraft Is it feasible to perhaps do both for a while and get a better idea of where you want to be? Don't rush your decision though, take your time and mull it over for a while.

Mo.

[Kyonovice]

Speak to your instructor and explain the concerns you have over your son appearing bored. Put it across to him in a way in which you are asking for advice on how to engage your son more etc, I am sure it won't be an issue.

You say your instructor has some background in judo, this is not that unusual. My instructor builds randori into my karate sessions, we grapple a bit as a warm up and we have been looking at how you can bring things like osoto gari and other judo throws/techniques into the karate world (so basically how to implement a throw from a block rather than from a "typical" Judo hold). This I find quite amazing and engaging as when I studied karate before, the instructor had been very much karate is karate, we looked at sweeps in a small way but certainly nothing like what I am doing now.

To me, karate should be an all round self protection thing (certainly from my experience and readings anyway - I do not confess to knowing all there is to know!). As such, surely as karateka we should be looking at all techniques from all arts and not being single minded in our ways of karate being purely a striking art?

[Judodad_karateson]

I think your heart must be in it somewhat, why else the guilty feelings? Is it purely just about leaving your instructor? While he might be sorry to see you go, I doubt he would lose much sleep over it, he will have seen it a million times and each time the school carries on regardless. Ask your son if he is indeed bored, if he's only 5 priorities in his head may not involve the MA at this point. I started my 6 year old nephew at karate last year and it didn't take him long to change his priorities from karate to minecraft Is it feasible to perhaps do both for a while and get a better idea of where you want to be? Don't rush your decision though, take your time and mull it over for a while.

Mo.

Yeah, that's true, I don't think I'd burn any bridges. And he knows I have an interest in Judo/BJJ.

Actually, that is a good idea, I think I could work both. my son couldn't because of the timing of the kids classes, but the BBJ school is pretty flexable, I could take both for a little while. I would enjoy that, I think.

[Judodad_karateson]

Speak to your instructor and explain the concerns you have over your son appearing bored. Put it across to him in a way in which you are asking for advice on how to engage your son more etc, I am sure it won't be an issue.

You say your instructor has some background in judo, this is not that unusual. My instructor builds randori into my karate sessions, we grapple a bit as a warm up and we have been looking at how you can bring things like osoto gari and other judo throws/techniques into the karate world (so basically how to implement a throw from a block rather than from a "typical" Judo hold). This I find quite amazing and engaging as when I studied karate before, the instructor had been very much karate is karate, we looked at sweeps in a small way but certainly nothing like what I am doing now.

To me, karate should be an all round self protection thing (certainly from my experience and readings anyway - I do not confess to knowing all there is to know!). As such, surely as karateka we should be looking at all techniques from all arts and not being single minded in our ways of karate being purely a striking art?

I agree, Karate should be/could be/is more that just striking. And this school does incorperate throws and sweeps a lot, plus if it wasn't for the fact that the Karate class is temporally taught in a church due to landlord issues, there may be more grappling here. I don't necessarily agree with the BJJ logic that "90% of fights go to the ground" but a large chunk of fights will result in some form of clinch as some point, and having some experiences dealing with that would be very useful. ESPECIALLY with the popularity of MMA, people are far more likely to grapple with you than in the past, when Boxing was the most viable combat sport.

But doing randori into class, and grappling all class are 2 entirely different experiences.

[Kyonovice]

Speak to your instructor and explain the concerns you have over your son appearing bored. Put it across to him in a way in which you are asking for advice on how to engage your son more etc, I am sure it won't be an issue.

You say your instructor has some background in judo, this is not that unusual. My instructor builds randori into my karate sessions, we grapple a bit as a warm up and we have been looking at how you can bring things like osoto gari and other judo throws/techniques into the karate world (so basically how to implement a throw from a block rather than from a "typical" Judo hold). This I find quite amazing and engaging as when I studied karate before, the instructor had been very much karate is karate, we looked at sweeps in a small way but certainly nothing like what I am doing now.

To me, karate should be an all round self protection thing (certainly from my experience and readings anyway - I do not confess to knowing all there is to know!). As such, surely as karateka we should be looking at all techniques from all arts and not being single minded in our ways of karate being purely a striking art?

I agree, Karate should be/could be/is more that just striking. And this school does incorperate throws and sweeps a lot, plus if it wasn't for the fact that the Karate class is temporally taught in a church due to landlord issues, there may be more grappling here. I don't necessarily agree with the BJJ logic that "90% of fights go to the ground" but a large chunk of fights will result in some form of clinch as some point, and having some experiences dealing with that would be very useful. ESPECIALLY with the popularity of MMA, people are far more likely to grapple with you than in the past, when Boxing was the most viable combat sport.

But doing randori into class, and grappling all class are 2 entirely different experiences.

I totally agree, however, a little bit of something is better than doing nothing at all. I do feel that I am benefiting from the randori stuff and it is opening my eyes to different elements of my art, making me think of my body position more etc and where I can go after (arm lock and so on)

[Judodad_karateson]

Speak to your instructor and explain the concerns you have over your son appearing bored. Put it across to him in a way in which you are asking for advice on how to engage your son more etc, I am sure it won't be an issue.

You say your instructor has some background in judo, this is not that unusual. My instructor builds randori into my karate sessions, we grapple a bit as a warm up and we have been looking at how you can bring things like osoto gari and other judo throws/techniques into the karate world (so basically how to implement a throw from a block rather than from a "typical" Judo hold). This I find quite amazing and engaging as when I studied karate before, the instructor had been very much karate is karate, we looked at sweeps in a small way but certainly nothing like what I am doing now.

To me, karate should be an all round self protection thing (certainly from my experience and readings anyway - I do not confess to knowing all there is to know!). As such, surely as karateka we should be looking at all techniques from all arts and not being single minded in our ways of karate being purely a striking art?

I agree, Karate should be/could be/is more that just striking. And this school does incorperate throws and sweeps a lot, plus if it wasn't for the fact that the Karate class is temporally taught in a church due to landlord issues, there may be more grappling here. I don't necessarily agree with the BJJ logic that "90% of fights go to the ground" but a large chunk of fights will result in some form of clinch as some point, and having some experiences dealing with that would be very useful. ESPECIALLY with the popularity of MMA, people are far more likely to grapple with you than in the past, when Boxing was the most viable combat sport.

But doing randori into class, and grappling all class are 2 entirely different experiences.

I totally agree, however, a little bit of something is better than doing nothing at all. I do feel that I am benefiting from the randori stuff and it is opening my eyes to different elements of my art, making me think of my body position more etc and where I can go after (arm lock and so on)

Exactly, exposure is a wonderful thing. Some people try and sell grappling as superior to striking-focused arts, but that's not entirely true. In my experience, it's not the superiority of grappling, but the lack of exposure to grappling in some striking arts. Knowing is half the battle!

[Kyonovice]

I honestly do not know why other karate clubs (in my area at least) don't do more grappling....Funakoshi did!

[Judodad_karateson]

I honestly do not know why other karate clubs (in my area at least) don't do more grappling....Funakoshi did!

I think it's a lot of factors. You can't just throw people at the local Y, you need some pretty pricy mats. Even if you have your own facilities, that price may be too high if your style is striking focused anyways. It also means the students will either have to buy a Judo/BBJ gi, or replace their karate gis more often. The training is pretty specialized, as well. An instructor with limited grappling training could lead to some seriously injured students.

And then there are the McDojos, as wel. You can "punch-kick-air" all day long and never have a student question you by avoiding sparring, but you HAVE to pair off and work moves in grappling, you can FEEL an effective air bar or a hip throw.

[Kyonovice]

I honestly do not know why other karate clubs (in my area at least) don't do more grappling....Funakoshi did!

I think it's a lot of factors. You can't just throw people at the local Y, you need some pretty pricy mats. Even if you have your own facilities, that price may be too high if your style is striking focused anyways. It also means the students will either have to buy a Judo/BBJ gi, or replace their karate gis more often. The training is pretty specialized, as well. An instructor with limited grappling training could lead to some seriously injured students.

And then there are the McDojos, as wel. You can "punch-kick-air" all day long and never have a student question you by avoiding sparring, but you HAVE to pair off and work moves in grappling, you can FEEL an effective air bar or a hip throw.

That's a truth there...realised that cheap karate gi's just don't hold up to grappling.