Karate at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

[wildbourgman]

Mark me down on the "mixed feelings' side of the equation on this topic.

In the big picture I don't think Karate in the Olympics changes any of the challenges or successes that karate has in front of it very much.

The funny thing is that if Karate in the Olympics has great ratings (Which I don't expect) it could create new or more than likely exacerbate and drag out old problems. If Karate was to fail miserably as an Olympic sport I think it could force the sport karate community to get on board with the movement back toward self-defense training or just be totally irrelevant. An embarrassing failure would possibly reinforce the MMA community's grip on sport martial arts competition worldwide.

I don't think it will fail or win big, I just don't think enough people will care either way, but a sport karate failure could mean a move in the right direction for karate in general.

[Dark Shogun]

Kata is central to karate and should be included, even more so than kumite.

That said, it would be great to have both.

I'd like to see more contact in kumite. Maybe Kudo rules?

[LLLEARNER]

I am not an Olympics watcher. Growing up there was not a tradition of watching sports in my house. I was usually camping or doing chores on the weekend and summers. That being said, I am now desiring to start some watching sports. I have no desire to watch the big four team sports. I would rather watch something like martial arts. I am starting from scratch, learning when events are shown, who the athletes are, etc. I have only been taking karate about 4 months and am testing for yellow next month.

That being said I would like to see 1 round of kumite, and 2 of kata. Kata is integral to karate and to most martial arts. It is very rooted to tradition much more than modern sports, but it also needs to display growth and adaptation.

1 round of kumite (single or double elimination),

1 round of traditional kata,

1 round of independent kata.

All scores weighted equally.

All competitors must participate in all three rounds. To avoid injury sidelining a competitor early, hold the kata events before the kumite.

I think this would help keep roots in tradition, while displaying future growth. Including an independent self-choreographed kata it encourages creativity and helps remove the idea that karate is that tired old activity for kids. It also can be a great chance to display some really amazing talent. I think this would keep with the tradition Fumia Demora started when he adapted karate to western audiences.

By keeping equal score weighting there is no emphasis on one being more important that the other, and by requiring all athletes to compete in all three events it prevents ringers. Each athlete must be well-rounded.

By including both kata segments tradition and future growth are treated equally.

[LLLEARNER]

I hope that Karate doesn't become an official anything with the Olympics. Why? I believe it might further devalue Karate. How? Karate ISN'T a sport, and this is my opinion, and Karate shouldn't become a sport.

Hence, Karate-do!!

Just because Judo and TKD are a part of the IOC, doesn't mean that Karate should follow suite. I'm not going to speak toward Judo and TKD being a part of the IOC beyond that they are, because, I'm not either a Judo practitioner or a TKD practitioner.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, but as far as Karate is concerned, imho, it's not, not in the least.

Call me old fashioned!! Nonetheless, change is good...except this!!

OLD-FASHIONED!!!!

There I said it.

[RW]

Interesting.

I came across this:

http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__55878/Title__Karatekas-to-find-open-pathways-to-the-Olympic-qualification-process/292/Articles

"The WKF's initiative will allow Karate athletes who are currently not integrated into the WKF to participate in the way to the Olympics through the system of Olympic qualification to be set for this purpose by the WKF. "

Given the variety of karate styles, I wonder how this will work? I mean this tells me that non-WKF practitioners can qualify, which is great.

What about styles? A kyokushin practitioner may be too different from a shotokan practitioner, who may be too different from a Shito Ryu one.

Then we delve into other odd situations, such as the case of Kudo (http://www.ku-do.com/eng/kudo/ ), which apparently began its life as "Kakuto Karate" and later changed its name.

What about styles such as Kenpo that refer themselves as "kenpo karate" or things like that?

[Nidan Melbourne]

I am not an Olympics watcher. Growing up there was not a tradition of watching sports in my house. I was usually camping or doing chores on the weekend and summers. That being said, I am now desiring to start some watching sports. I have no desire to watch the big four team sports. I would rather watch something like martial arts. I am starting from scratch, learning when events are shown, who the athletes are, etc. I have only been taking karate about 4 months and am testing for yellow next month.

That being said I would like to see 1 round of kumite, and 2 of kata. Kata is integral to karate and to most martial arts. It is very rooted to tradition much more than modern sports, but it also needs to display growth and adaptation.

1 round of kumite (single or double elimination),

1 round of traditional kata,

1 round of independent kata.

All scores weighted equally.

All competitors must participate in all three rounds. To avoid injury sidelining a competitor early, hold the kata events before the kumite.

I think this would help keep roots in tradition, while displaying future growth. Including an independent self-choreographed kata it encourages creativity and helps remove the idea that karate is that tired old activity for kids. It also can be a great chance to display some really amazing talent. I think this would keep with the tradition Fumia Demora started when he adapted karate to western audiences.

By keeping equal score weighting there is no emphasis on one being more important that the other, and by requiring all athletes to compete in all three events it prevents ringers. Each athlete must be well-rounded.

By including both kata segments tradition and future growth are treated equally.

Currently the IOC only recognises the WKF, and none of the other International Organisations that operate tournaments (ie NASKA/ISKA). I believe this is because of how it is organised at an international and national level.

Also what do you mean by an "independent kata"?

[LLLEARNER]

Currently the IOC only recognises the WKF, and none of the other International Organisations that operate tournaments (ie NASKA/ISKA). I believe this is because of how it is organised at an international and national level.

Also what do you mean by an "independent kata"?

I was thinking something similar to a gymnastics freestyle floor routine or figure skating competition. It would include a list of required elements graded on difficulty but open to creativity in arrangement, additional elements and musical integration. It could help show that karate or other martial arts are for the future not just relegated to the past. It would also help display some of the amazing talent and creativity of our athletes.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Currently the IOC only recognises the WKF, and none of the other International Organisations that operate tournaments (ie NASKA/ISKA). I believe this is because of how it is organised at an international and national level.

Also what do you mean by an "independent kata"?

I was thinking something similar to a gymnastics freestyle floor routine or figure skating competition. It would include a list of required elements graded on difficulty but open to creativity in arrangement, additional elements and musical integration. It could help show that karate or other martial arts are for the future not just relegated to the past. It would also help display some of the amazing talent and creativity of our athletes.

For me by doing that [independent kata] may detract from the original values of karate. By that i mean that by allowing free reign that it wouldn't have a practical approach to it via Bunkai.

I understand that many athletes would like the addition of it, but for me the musical integration wouldn't be a smart idea in my eyes. Although many others wouldn't like it because it doesn't stay with those core values that we begaan our training with. BUT i do understand where you are coming from with your ideas.

In relation to the idea that Karate and other martial arts are relegated to the past. I disagree because it is where we all come from, and it is our foundations that built where we are today. We are continually involving each of our arts everyday, as you need to understand is to be able to understand the new.

[brickshooter]

Personally, I would prefer Olympic MMA over Karate.

[sensei8]

I hope that Karate doesn't become an official anything with the Olympics. Why? I believe it might further devalue Karate. How? Karate ISN'T a sport, and this is my opinion, and Karate shouldn't become a sport.

Hence, Karate-do!!

Just because Judo and TKD are a part of the IOC, doesn't mean that Karate should follow suite. I'm not going to speak toward Judo and TKD being a part of the IOC beyond that they are, because, I'm not either a Judo practitioner or a TKD practitioner.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, but as far as Karate is concerned, imho, it's not, not in the least.

Call me old fashioned!! Nonetheless, change is good...except this!!

OLD-FASHIONED!!!!

There I said it.

ROFL!!