What do I have to do in this situation?

[Himokiri Karate]

Ok this thread topic pertains to my username. So to give you a bit of a backstory.

Himokiri Karate is a fictional karate style in the anime series called Baki the grappler. Within the fictional universe, this style was ridiculed as " a gimmicky style" That being said, the karate style principle is extremely sound and the principle is in my signature.

It begins with the knowledge that the severity of a strikes impact is amplified by a smaller surface area

What I am trying to attempt is possibly make Himokiri karate a real life style. What I am wondering is, how do I legitimize this style that is respectable? Do I enter full contact competition? Demonstration of techniques?

To give you a better idea, the Himokiri karate techniques are, Ippon-ken, Hiraken and the main one, Nukite. Using small sharp attacks to amplify the strikes impact. The specific techniques are based on old school karate techniques that are 100 percent real.

[sensei8]

What I am trying to attempt is possibly make Himokiri karate a real life style. What I am wondering is, how do I legitimize this style that is respectable?

EXPOSURE!! Without it, you're dead where you stand. The one thing about exposure, is that, there are two kinds...good and bad. How one brings said MA style to the MA masses means everything.

Your prospective student body defines whether or not if your newly founded MA style is either legitimate and/or respectable!!

How one legitimizes and garners respect for ones brand new MA school whenever it's first opened, is exactly what one does in this thread's regard.

Suspect!! Yes, anything unfamiliar is suspect. This will not be an easy sell!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[OneKickWonder]

Some of the more 'specialised' (for want of a better word) strikes require years of conditioning and a mind that doesn't care about pain.

Can you repeatedly hit things full force with finger tips? Does it matter if your fingers are all crooked and gnarly and riddled with arthritis?

These strikes can still work with modern western fingers, but then you have to be very selective and very accurate. But also a little bit insane. Do you really want to stick your finger tips so violently into someone's solar plexus that you disrupt their heart and possibly kill them? Some might answer yes, if my life depends on it, but if you're life depends on it, would you really be so calm and methodical to pull it off without panicking?

None of this is meant to discredit the style. It's just things to think about.

[JazzKicker]

I think you'll be at a disadvantage, credibility wise, with anyone who knows the "origin story" you describe.

People, whether it's old time Okinawa, or modern day America, claim their own style after years of training and teaching (again, if they're credible).

The principle you describe is not unique, it appears in traditional karate systems, but I would say it's much less emphasized in modern training where people are padded up and don't do hand conditioning, etc. You yourself could explore and emphasize these techniques in your current style and training.

[OneKickWonder]

Here's a thought. What if you market it as a performing arts / fitness class?

Every new martial arts club or style tries to sell themselves as the most credible modern day combat or self defence system. But why? There are plenty of folks that would like to do something, but don't want to start running, are a bit frightened of the idea of combat sports or martial arts, and generally can't find something they enjoy.

I think this is why martial arts are leaking into regular fitness gyms, often thai boxing to music for example.

I'm not suggesting that your karate is just a dance system. Of course not. But I think if you're reaching out to wannabe martial artists, you'll struggle because they'll want traceable traditional martial arts. If you reach out to wannabe cage fighters, you have no chance against the BJJ and MMA clubs. But if you reach out to those that want to have some fun, make some friends, and learn something that might one day prove useful, then I think there's a big market.

[Himokiri Karate]

What I am trying to attempt is possibly make Himokiri karate a real life style. What I am wondering is, how do I legitimize this style that is respectable?

EXPOSURE!! Without it, you're dead where you stand. The one thing about exposure, is that, there are two kinds...good and bad. How one brings said MA style to the MA masses means everything.

Your prospective student body defines whether or not if your newly founded MA style is either legitimate and/or respectable!!

How one legitimizes and garners respect for ones brand new MA school whenever it's first opened, is exactly what one does in this thread's regard.

Suspect!! Yes, anything unfamiliar is suspect. This will not be an easy sell!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

True, I remember in the "obscure karate" thread that there are many karate styles that has yet to be exposed to the public. Some might have different basis like more judo oriented or some are more for exercise and flexibility and less combat. Or some are more weapon based.

But if its not promoted right or if they don't train people to become martial artist then the art stays in the family and publicly is not recognized.

Its funny, cobra kai is a fictional dojo from a movie in the mid-80s. Yet a jujitsu a gym was able to take the name and make a business out of it in real life. I remember you said something that resonated to me in that karate thread. That was, a martial art style is legit if...it can survive on the floor.

I like that, the proof is on the floor, if a person uses the techniques that are in the tool box that is called himokiri karate and wins, then it works. To tie my "weird, strange instructors" thread. I mentioned to have an AMAZING but eccentric boxing coach.

He told me that, people have a right to critic any unconventional boxing technique. Thus we don't argue with them, we go out there and we win every fight and every sparring session out there.

I suppose in todays combat oriented martial arts culture, I have to compete in bareknuckle karate fights to prove it. Here is a cool fact, Himokiri karate is based on Uechiryu karate/Pangai Noon kung fu. More emphasis on smaller target strikes.

Some of the more 'specialised' (for want of a better word) strikes require years of conditioning and a mind that doesn't care about pain.

Can you repeatedly hit things full force with finger tips? Does it matter if your fingers are all crooked and gnarly and riddled with arthritis?

These strikes can still work with modern western fingers, but then you have to be very selective and very accurate. But also a little bit insane. Do you really want to stick your finger tips so violently into someone's solar plexus that you disrupt their heart and possibly kill them? Some might answer yes, if my life depends on it, but if you're life depends on it, would you really be so calm and methodical to pull it off without panicking?

None of this is meant to discredit the style. It's just things to think about.

You bring up an extremely important point, I am kind of am an odd dude when it comes to this stuff. Problem is, I am in to doing high repetition training and being obsessive to the point that these exercises for me takes priority over a social life. ( which I don't really have)

Upon thinking about it further more since I made this thread and comments. I believe that Himokiri karate can exist BUT... Himokiri karate business is not a good business model if I am trying to make a living from it. That being said, I did read your latest post, good point on the martial arts and MMA combat crowd. There might be a market if Himokiri Karate is meant for a demonstration. Like the kung fu master that goes around breaking coconuts with his fingers. People pay him to break coconuts and he makes his living from it but no one is paying him to teach his skills.