Proposal: bareknuckle, full-contact Karate with no kicks, just body punches and nothing else.

[bushido_man96]

On 4/20/2025 at 12:24 PM, Zayd_Nofal said:

Good punch = no need for grapple.

This is a good thought, but I think the early UFC's pretty much quashed this theory.  And the body is quite resilient.  I'd consider myself a rather decent puncher.  I know how to generate power from the ground up, I know how to use my hips to add power to a punch, etc.  But I've got too teenage boys that are experienced wrestlers, and are also offensive/defensive football lineman.  They know how to close, how to take someone down, and how to keep them there.  Assuming you can knock someone out with one punch that is actively in defense mode and skilled at takedowns is a recipe for humble pie.

[Nidan Melbourne]

On 4/27/2025 at 4:01 AM, Zayd_Nofal said:

I do commend anyone who reaches 4th Dan in any style, no matter what it is. In fact, that seems to be the point at which someone can become a competent fighter in one of the "point" fighting styles (Shotokan, Wado, etc), so not only do I respect those people but I think they can probably fight well.

But with that being said, a 4th dan in Kyokushin will always wipe a 4th dan in Wado-ryu or a similar style.

You say "Always" but there is a flaw to your logic. 

Kyokushin in itself as a whole has their own specific rules when it comes to kumite in the dojo and for tournaments. In comparison to the "other" styles where they all often compete against one another with a unified ruleset. 

At tournaments here in Australia we have National All Styles (NAS); which all styles (including Kyokushin) compete under the same rules. And Kyokushin Fighters often are at a disadvantage when it comes to those bouts. 

Then we have Karate Australia; which operates under World Karate Federation (WKF) Rules. So no Kyokushin Dojos have joined or compete in those tournaments. 

So for your logic to work effectively; you would need fighters to fight on an even basis where the competitors can demonstrate their styles to their fullest. Which in my mind is close to the UFC. 

 

Now something I do when teaching, but with Adults with sufficient experience and their consent and forms signed stating that they didn't hold me, the club or the other participants liable for injury.  Is to do rounds of sparring; but as close to realistic as possible so slaps, grabbing, pushing, shoving all that fun is ok. But to start our rounds we just bow to each other as a whole, and go. But we do also rounds with specific situations; but we don't give the "attackers" or "defenders" any guidelines on what to do. Just to either be a threat or stop the fight. 

[sensei8]

Let’s not forget that tournaments have rules, no matter the venue, and there are no rules in real life battles. 

[Wastelander]

On 4/26/2025 at 1:01 PM, Zayd_Nofal said:

I do commend anyone who reaches 4th Dan in any style, no matter what it is. In fact, that seems to be the point at which someone can become a competent fighter in one of the "point" fighting styles (Shotokan, Wado, etc), so not only do I respect those people but I think they can probably fight well.

But with that being said, a 4th dan in Kyokushin will always wipe a 4th dan in Wado-ryu or a similar style.

I have personally tossed around and dropped Kyokushin 1st, 2nd, and 5th Dans, while I was a 2st Dan, myself. These sorts of generalizations and style-vs-style claims don't hold up, and don't serve any real purpose.

[KarateKen]

While attempting to master the one punch knockout is great, if that is all a student is focusing on, they are severely limiting their ability. 

[DarthPenguin]

On 4/28/2025 at 2:53 AM, bushido_man96 said:

This is a good thought, but I think the early UFC's pretty much quashed this theory.  And the body is quite resilient.  I'd consider myself a rather decent puncher.  I know how to generate power from the ground up, I know how to use my hips to add power to a punch, etc.  But I've got too teenage boys that are experienced wrestlers, and are also offensive/defensive football lineman.  They know how to close, how to take someone down, and how to keep them there.  Assuming you can knock someone out with one punch that is actively in defense mode and skilled at takedowns is a recipe for humble pie.

simplest example i can think of this is Khabib - he was hardly known for being a top top tier striker but he managed to make it work! Much as i personally dislike Conor MacGregor i can't deny he was a skilled striker and look what Khabib did to him. Plenty of other examples out there too.

Don't get me wrong - a skilled striker / puncher is by definition always dangerous but it makes a massive difference the situation of the fight plus the resilience of the opponent. Take many of the 'lighter hitting' pro boxers - i am confident that if they were to strike an unsuspecting opponent (that they couldn't hurt much in a pro fight) they would do some damage but once the opponent is prepared and braced they take it better.

From personal experience the thing that got me to start training bjj years ago was going to a class and being absolutely destroyed by someone i was almost a foot taller and probably about 70 / 80lb heavier than. At the time i, while by no means amazingly skilled, had been training in striking based styles for a decent amount of time and usually found i could hold my own decently with experience people due to a combination of some limited ability plus size. When it came to grappling that was a complete no! To a lesser extent i have noticed similar since i started to train judo too - i have an awareness of grips and once we hit the ground i feel comfortable but when standing i am basically a throwing dummy for a skilled practitioner!