My only fear is people (Sensei) becoming too obsessed with earning medals and the Olympics and then forget teaching us(or won't think it's relevant) the things that won't be part of the Olympics. :/
I am sure they will teach us stuff, my "fear" is related to them focusing on sport karate and forgetting about traditional. Let us hope that that won't happen. Can't change to another dojo, there's only one shitoryu school in town :3
Torchic Jess I believe you have a good reason to be concerned. That is precisely what happened to judo, and though the traditional techniques are still taught, the overall focus of the training has changed in order to favour competition. When you "sportify" a martial art you get rid of the potentially more dangerous (more combat oriented) techniques. And not only that, but you also have to make it quicker and more dinamic in order to keep the crowds atention. Judo has suffered all those things, and I'm pretty sure that will happen to karate too. It's a pity.
I don't know, man. I come home from Kyokushin training, barely being able to drive my car from all the low kicks I take. My chest is blue\green\brown from bare knuckle punches, my biceps and upper arms have tiny little green dots all over, (again, from bare knuckle hits) barely can breathe from getting repeatedly kneed in the chest and stomach. On the meantime, I am thinking about my shodan test where, I'll be fighting 10 rounds non-stop, with a new, fresh opponent after each 2min time, all wanting to kill me. Bare knuckle, no gloves not even shin pads; getting blasted in the chest, taking low kicks in the inner and outer thighs followed by ushiro mawashi geri to the head.... Then I come home and watch a YT feed about Olympic "Karate"........ NO disrespect but, this isn't karate. Osu!
Well, imagine if fencing had the same mentality... "if it isnt sharp, it isnt fencing" Not to be an asshole, but i doubt a style like kyokushin would be affected by this... And most styles of karate already avoid the "fullcontact" aproach... So making it more "sportlike" to make more people interested isnt going to make all karate styles watered down... Just like itf taekwondo still has punches to the face(wich kyokushin do not have, and it doesnt make kyokushin any less of a martial art) Im a fan of kyokushin btw, i would love to practice it someday...
Five years ago but I still found my way back here :) although it was by no means perfectly executed regarding the ruleset, I liked the way they included this wonderful art into the Olympics! I feel like people in the karate world try to forcefully split karate up abit too much, one style is better than the other, one type is better than another. Karate is karate, we should strive to learn from each other, sports karate learning from the conditioning and defense and overall toughness for traditional karate, and the latter learning speed and agility and precision from sport karate. Styles wise, who says we can't cross train? I feel like if all karateka just learnt from each other instead of fighting over who does it best, who's more practical blah blah blah, we could have such a beautiful art and sport to talk about, and show people how great karate really is in its whole form, kobudo included. And by the way, just to debunk some stuff, when training for sport kumite we don't (or at least my dojo doesn't) train the "touch only" principle, unlike what most people think. We throw actual hard punches and do conditioning, and make the competitors kick as hard as they can so they actually know how to kick irl. We just emphasize control when it comes to tournaments, which is frankly harder than actually kicking in when you're doing it at high speeds. Have a great day everyone!
I disagree that this is a good thing. Here are some ideas: Your first comment about how people see qualities like strength, determination, etc when they see olympic karateka doesn't mean much because the same qualities can be seen in any other olympic sport as well. Olympic karate will not stand out because of this. Also think about whether olympic karate actually represents real, original karate (which it doesn't). If the average person sees this sport in the olympics, they will believe that a strange non-contact sport is all karate is about. You said yourself that most people don't know that there are different types of karate. This will put many people off and encourage them to trash talk karate when they compare it to MMA or boxing. And if an average person sees karate on TV and likes the look of it, they will likely end up training in a sport-orientated dojo (more of which might begin to open as the market increases). I expect this could lead to a drift away from real karate, and more focus tends towards this thing we call "sport karate." Overall, introducing karate to the olympics might help some people get fit or try out a new sport, but it sure as hell will not do good things for the traditional martial art.
also, not all will tell you the truth. Take me for example. When i was 8 yo, I decided to join my school karate lesson coz I was so impressed w/ action movies n thought ill be able to fight n defend myself after learning. I was so naive. I keep on being positive n thought that maybe these katas and air Punching r gonna help me. After joining n still currently practising for 7 years now, got my black belt and all, no one literally no one has tell me that there r different karate style, n the one im currently practising isnt much applicable. I found out all bcoz of the existence of YT, mma matches, ufc n all of that thing. I don't want other to waste their time like i did.
I personally find Olympic style karate pretty cringe worthy to watch with all the goofy hopping, ridiculous and obnoxious kiai, unrealistic ippon kumite, etc. As a practitioner of old school Toudi jutsu, I do not much appreciate seeing karate turned into a sport. (Kyokushinkai exempt, because those guys are hardasses) Frankly, it's a little embarrassing and gives a bad image of karate to the public. But that's just my opinion.
I agree with you Jesse. I was never a fan of competition since I started karate 10 years ago. However, I think that from a dojo/bussiness perspective, competition is essential to bring kids and teenagers through the door. And now that it is an Olympic sport we are able to have the eyes of the world discovering karate. And we definitely need it!!!!.
I disagree. What Olympics, or any other competition -or "sportization"- do of a Martial Art is exemplified by the deterioration suffered by Taekwon Do. Commercialization very convenient for the Dojo owners, for the sporting goods industry etc.
J Azofeifa I agree. Look at how watered-down both Judo and TKD became. I had a Japanese student (Shito-Ryu) practice at my dojo in Canada while he was on student exchange. He came from a WKF dojo in Japan, and he told me that the WKF wants to take foot sweeps out for the Olympics, because it's too close to Judo. This guy was a black belt, and until the moment I had foot swept him to the floor, he had never seen or experienced one before. There's that sport karate for ya!
Karate in the Olympics is good for a couple of months of interest then it's gone again. The light contact and kiaing will only expose it to more ridicule compared to MMA or Krav Maga amongst people who are interested in learning a combat sport, whilst those who might value its etiquette and rituals (mostly on behalf of their kids) are not likely to be paying much attention. Karate is one small part of a puzzle of combat and self defence, but it thinks it is complete. It is mistaken and has been seen to be so. ANY publicity is good to a small degree, but just as the country is dotted with unuused velodromes and diving pools, Olympic karate will likely have fleeting benefits. To say that OUR karate is no good if it is harmed by the Olympics is victim blaming. Top level competition karateka are not generally well rounded karateka, and if their event misrepresents the rest of us, how is that because WE are at fault?
it has devolved in my opinion after learning Jeet kun do, taekwondo, and boxing along with shotokan karate. If it was more like kyokushin or WTF Taekwondo then it wouldn't be looked so down upon. The lack of contact doesn't help either
From what I hear, Olympic Karate Kumite will be full contact eg. Kyokushin and Olympic Kata will be more in the Shotokan style. Which is cool, cause it will bring mulitple styles, probably will bring the karate world together. I know with full contact kumite people will not get bored
In theory, you are absolutely correct. But it's a simplistic view in my experience. My own experience is having watched David Carradine in the 1970's 'Kung-fu Fu' series, I wanted to do Kung Fu, joined the local martial arts class (1974), which I then thought was Karate but turned out to be Taekwondo!Yes, all these years later I am still practicing Taekwondo.But the downside for anyone who is a member of the National Federation, is that they set the requirements for and test all black belt grades. Yes, I dictate how the students train, perform and when they test (to my satisfaction), but the overall national standard has fallen because of the demand for more clubs, to generate more members, to justify the public funds coming into the Federation. So how long before the national standard is reduced to McDojo level, regardless as to how the traditionalists* train? How long before those* individuals are reduced to an absolute minority because all new clubs have become solely 'front leg fencers' (see how Olympic Taekwondo has altered). Yes, there will be those who excel, but it won't even be the 10% of competitors you talk of. The majority will bear only a passing resemblance to what it should. And it's the desires of the IOC and TV that will drive it, not the masters of the art. Look at Taekwondo Poomsae and how that too has changed with the use of sensationally high, but practically useless kicks. I'm not against the sporting side for either aspect, I competed at various levels from 1976 to 2010 in both kyrugi and Poomsae. It's just now moving away from the realism, even with the sporting limitations. If the TV coverage was as important as you imagine, not only would every Taekwondo club currently be flooded with new students each week, but so too would Karate and other martial arts classes, because, like when I started, most people don't know the difference anyway. In much the same way, I've never been asked my grade by a new starter, so the instructors grade is irrelevant. If you know more than that new starter, they see you as a Master/Grandmaster, even if you are a McDojo black belt. So the descent into the substandard perpetuates. You may find it relevant to see comments on the Facebook group for 'Rise of the Kwans' in respect to this subject. I like your enthusiasm for all things martial, but it's a shame that bad politics, TV ratings and sponsorship money doesn't adhere to the same principles.
I like the right point you wrote down here. It's absolutely is as it is and you wrote it exactly. I love Karate of all styles and all levels, as I love all Martial Arts of all levels at all - Spiritual, Philosophical, Traditional, Cultural, Artistic, Gymnastic, Sportive, Competitive, Combative. The problem is when people don't realize what level is and for what level exists exactly and problem is when people and especially teachers for sure, to drive in students in mess of various actions in training without explanation what for is that or this concrete techniques and exercises. And as result a students really think they studying "traditional", "sportive", "combative" some other? Martial Art. People are free and willing to study and practice that they want but JUST call the things as they are for real. So, the sportive version for Karate is not bad thing as not bad thing is Olympic Karate at all (based on Classical Japanese adaptations of Okinawan styles but with dominant form by the most Classical Japan Adaptation - SHOTOKAN) but if this will NOT ruins the KARATE as it is with all its aspects and parts and levels. That's the most fear of many Karate passionate practitioners! Because we have the examples when only SPORTIVE versions do represent some Martial Art as it happen to Judo and Taekwondo, not counting modern (not Ancient style) Boxing and Wrestling which were directed to Sport way originally. As a Taekwondo passionate practitioner originally I am like many others - really sad by fact what did the South Korea to Taekwondo at all and what did to own WTF exactly. They just did drop Taekwondo to a crazy idea and movement to make Taekwondo global market Sport and neglect all other aspects of this Martial Art such as spiritual, philosophical, combative and even realistic sportive. So! I will repeat my main position - I am NOT against any Martial Art and NOT against any level and aspect of it. I am AGAINST false ideas, misleading teaching strategy, mess in understanding the levels and aspects of Martial Arts and what for these levels and aspects are exist and why they historically appeared in general. So, - let to be Olympic Karate but DO NOT let disappear traditional formats of all Karate styles and schools and those people who will be involved in sportive or Olympic Karate, - they must UNDERSTAND what exactly they do and practice and that it is NOT WHOLE Karate Conception and Phenomena. It's like about modern sportive Fencing - everybody knows and clearly understand that this kind of Fencing is just Sport and has nothing to do with real fencing, historical combative, very dangerous and extremely deadly Art - where just ONE mistake will cost a life. So that is still problem exists that not all people (as not practitioners and practitioners especially) understand whole conception of Martial Arts with all complicated and sophisticated levels and aspects, especially in Eastern Asian Martial Arts with theirs traditionally dainty, spirituel, cultivated, refined and sophisticated WAY of Life and CULTURE.
I think olimpic Karate is not true Karate, it's only a sport competition. In my opinion the most people who see the Karate on Olimpic to discourage this martial art's... (sorry if I take a mistake, my english is not perfect. But this is only my opinion ;) Oss!
i respectfully disagree. as jesse said, most regular people dont know about traditional karate, they almost know nothing about karate. so when they see sports karate on tv, they will think, oh that looks cool i want to try that. then they maby start actually karate, and get to know traditional karate.
Thanks Mr. Jesse! Back then, I wrote an e-mail from my Google mail to you about which karate style or which dojo is appropriate as I myself was skeptical and doubtful towards sports karate. This video helped me to see karate as a whole and cleared my doubts. What I can believe now is karate is needed to be exposed one way or another, traditional or not, so that people can look into karate and hopefully enjoy it or learn other interesting facts about it as well.
I agree with you, sensei! I think we're FREE to practice any 'kind' of karate we want. There's 3 kind of people in karate, in my opinion. The karatecas: Who practices, lives and studies the karate techniques and filosofy; The practitioners: Who just wants to do some exercices and get in shape, or learn self-defense; The athletes: Who wants to train and compete in high level. I also think that is possible to do all of them. And more: someone that starts to practice karate with some inicial goal, may change mind after knowing the other kinds of karate, and then decides to follow this or that way. It's up to us, the sensei, show them ALL the possible ways and don't make any judgment about which way is the best. No one can say what is best for me or for you, only ourselves. We must have freedom. And the true freedom is the one that has limits. We must respect the others' limits. Thank you for bringing up this question!! Osu!!
Prove to the world that karate can beat other Martial art and then you Will get the respect and the popularity you deserve....like bjj and muay thai did....
Jesse! You have a sense of humor! Demonstrated by, "If you think that Olympic karate will ruin your karate; your karate probably sucks." :D Outstanding burn by the way. I sensed you were a joyful individual but 'dissing the posers like that is a whole new facet. I really appreciate your "glass half full" approach to life Jesse. It 'ain't over 'til it's over. :) Peace
as long as its kyokushin and tameshiwari. if not don't even bother. not to bash on anyones style I love all styles but kyokushin will always be my pride and joy. Like the son I've always wanted.....
even though i agree with you, and i think it's gonna be really fun to watch the sport on tv, i think people don't get to see what karate reallu is by just seeing it as a sport on television (the same way they don't see it by watching it on hollywood movies).
In the last decade, since the real push to get Karate into the Olympics has been on, there has been a huge push to make it more "spectator friendly". So, we get more bad behavior allowed (shows of naked emotion), we get ineffective lead hand techniques, we get all flash and no budo fade away hook kicks. Actually getting in the Olympics will probably do nothing get get us more of that. Competition karate was brought about as a way to test your skills and mettle against live opponents. The rules were brought in for safety, and to ensure a certain level of technical effectiveness. The technique was to have had the potential to injure or maim. That is going fast. The Olympic success will bring more of that. If people are drawn to the dojo by karate on TV, and they come to a proper dojo, they will see little of what they were attracted to in the first place. I do not see how this will bring light to the traditional karate world. Ask Judo...
I was glad to learn that kata would actually be an Olympic competition. Now with the growing emphasis on bunkai, I'm finding pretty relevant explanations on many portions of the kata I learned a few decades back.
Iaido guy here and a historian. Seitei iai (the standardized 12 kata that are used for competitions and dan exams) kind of influenced the traditional schools in terms of standing, foot work etc. But then those style have been changing probably for centuries, I don't really beleive that traditional schools practice their arts like 5 centuries ago, for one, no one wears yoroi armor. SO change is not that bad. Adn you are correct about receiving more students. I came accross this video while looking for the reason why KArate was dropped from the olympics, and it's a pity.
As a trainer who’s seen the decline in interest for karate first hand, i couldn’t agree more with your idea on olympic karate. A lot of practitioners like to keep themselves blind for anything that doesn’t agree with what sensei tells them. I think, for karate to survive steps need to be taken to make it “cool” again. MMA, BJJ, UFC, Kick boxing,... when you like these things, you’re cool. From a marketing stand point (and i don’t mean money or mcdojo’s), karate needs to be cool again. For this to happen it has to be fun, almost like a game. 100 million karatekas, how many of them will never practice longer than a year? I guess i’m trying to say that even though olympic karate, karate the sport, might not be O.G karate, but does it have to be? Why can’t it enrichen the karate experience? Get the kids hooked on sports karate and when they love it, introduce them to the rest of the treasure that is karate! Thanks Jesse!
Then why did old masters and founders like Funakoshi despise all sorts of "sports karate"? Was it just because it was a different age and things were just seen differently back then? Or maybe because they understood karate in a way we can not comprehend nowadays? I have been struggling with this topic for a looooong looong time. Who's right according to karate? Thanks Jesse ssensei. Oss!
Great question! You are correct. Karate was definitely not created to be a sport. It was meant to be a highly functional martial art, made for self-defense. That's why "Sport Karate" is so limited, if compared to the complete art. On a related note, maybe this article can help: www.karatebyjesse.com/sport-karate-problem/
Karate is a constantly evolving art and always has been. Japanese culture is mired in ritual, hierarchy and tradition. That doesn't make it good, that's just the culture. In theory, deriving from Buddhist/Shinto traditions, budo culture incorporates the pursuit of perfection of the spirit, but the intermingling of spirituality with art is not required, and so long as you have a good work ethic, you can be perfectly good at karate. There is no right or wrong because there is no arbiter whose opinion you should bow to. Do what's right for you. Do what keeps you fired up and training. Don't listen to traditionalists who insist that THEIRS is the only true -religion- martial art.
There are always going to be pros and cons of karate being in the Olympics but if it gets the world wide recognition then I'm all up for it being a British referee I love competition karate and love the traditional aspects in training so as for the bid I say it's a good thing
I agree that the exposure of karate on such a international stage will serve to improve the quality of karateka world wide. Personally I would prefer this type of competition to inspire devoted individuals to start practicing karate than mixed martial art. It resembles more closely what is practiced in dojo around the world.
Ossu! Our dojo has been having a lot of problems with our host facility. For months I have been telling management that playing nicely with us will pay off because in 2020 there could be a whole slew of people suddenly interested. I dropped yet another reminder on the day IOC made its announcement - good timing because the host facility was about to drop yet another bomb on our program ;-)
And I agree with you, Enkamp Sensei. I also saw some comments here that it will be bad for Karate because everybody will see it just as a "punch and kick sport". Well, don't they all already think it about karate? It will not do any harm in that way, BUT the Olympics can surely attract a lot more people to train and actually know what karate is all about. And, regarding the "it will give senseis a chance to 'commercialize' the martial art", well, it is already being done everywhere. But, if the student is willing to know proper karate, it is so easy to come to TH-cam or Google, type KARATE and get to know a lot beforehand. A Sensei that is not concerned about teaching the DO in Karate-do, working on the mind and spirit of his/her students, together with the body, can very well throw his black belt away. I just started Karate. I'm a white belt, but from my first lesson I was in love and make sure I learn more and more. Thankfuly I have a great sensei here in Brazil. I don't think the Olympics will do any more harm to karate, it will only bring more people to know the martial art. About the "it's a martial art, not a sport" stuff, I understand the concern, but even if it is treated as a sport in the Olympics, good dojos and good sensei will teach the martial art, and not just the sport. Sorry for the long comment.
Hello Jessie. I recently discovered your youtube channel and I have to say you are doing a good job. I agree with you about KARATE into the Olympic games. In addition to the global visibility that Karate will eventually acquire, especially two reasons I think are important. The first is that this visibility will create a healthy competition that will push every KARATEKA to do more and better, because at the Olympic games only the best KARATEKAs can there be, and they will be an example for Karatekas of the whole world. The second is that his introduction at the Olimpics opens the way for a karate that is unique, even if in the peculiarity of his different styles. In this way, perhaps, it will finally overcome the distinction between traditional karate and sport karate which is dividing for too long all karate practitioners. A distinction which has limited the possibilities of comparison between all karateka and stiffened their minds on meaningless preconceptions. The mind has to be open on everything, just so it can progress. Maybe the Olympics will finally make clear, to the whole world, what karate is and the wisdom expressed in the dojo kun of any style. :D
Totally agree with you ! Olympic Karate can reach & influence people more than anything ! People will love it & will be eager to learn it ! One more thing to confess I began my Karate Training inspired by Jean Claude Van Damme !
im a taekwondo-ka and taekwondo is still olympic. i study traditional taekwondo and we train (like the karate guys) for a healthy life, strength, speed and for the rising the chance to protecting our selfs and our surrounding world. but back to the olympic. u will have a piece of paper where u can read something like this: "if u can throw a kick on the head u will get 2 points, the body 1 point..." so u know how to get points and your trainingsplan will follow this. as a result, you dont "need" the deeper knowledge of your techniques. you just want the points. i mean... these dudes make awesome moves and i think they can handle some real-life-situations. i know a lot of good taekwondo-kas who can kick as fast as they can punch and have some rly good agility and of course they have a very good leg-control. its mindblowing and stunning to watch them doing hyongs (the korean word for kata). just awesome. yeah... it leads a few dudes who watched taekwondo in the tv into the dojang but less than 1 percent stay and become black belts. i startet 9 years ago and no one of the people i have started was long enough on the floor. i talked to them cause i care about them and everyone i talked says nearly the same. they feels like they can not archieve this what they saw on a screen. im total honestly... im not fast in kicking to the head... but im fast in kicking to the ribs, my punches are very fast and i have a strong stance. i have defend myself and a few guys on the street. and this is cause of my training and i didnt want miss that... i will improve it. so i think this will be the same for karate. they will know how many points for what and keep practicing that and not the kata or the other stuff. so it will become more a "sport" than a "art" i like it to say: "im a martial artist and not a sportsman!" cause an artist is free. he can use all his knowledge he gain and can do with it whatever he wanted to do. a sportsman can do the same but if he want a trophy for his shiny dojo he must focus on other stuff. many people didnt know about traditional taekwondo which is basicly korean karate. if you would come to our dojang you will see the same things like in a karate dojo. i know that cause i have also study a few years shotokan karate. yes have a little bit more focus on kicking but not as much as the olympic style seems to be. its ballanced. we train the whole body and have a focus on our hyongs. same focus that have a karate dude for his kata. but the tv shows... wow this guy can kicking over the head and it looks simple or wow he can crush 3 5cm thick wooden plates with a high kick. but this stuff you can not archive in 2 days a week for one hour of training. you know what i mean... everyone know what i mean :) i just want give u my angle of view. it will be good for dojos but not good for the art itself. i know a guy who is training 4 years taekwondo and he gets his black belt just the purpose of "i can go to a competition" and this dude can do amazing kicks and is very flexible. 180 degrees up kick with a very high speed is no problem. same for a jumped kick. but when he is doing a hyong its... worst... i have showed him a hyong he asked for and he says: "why looks this and that so more powerfull than mine!" its because i train it everyday multiple times and think about it. he just learned it basicly to can go higher in the belt system. and its in his eyes useless cause this guy just want trophys. not in hyongs in "combat" he will ko's sooo and this where it will be. sorry for writing so much in damn ugly english. best regards from germany :) as usual
Hi! I think differently. Olympic karate is not even at all like Karete. This has the potential to distort the art and bring the wrong people to the dojo. Karate is a fighting art, it is not a game. Spirit of competition would be abominable in the eyes of the ancient masters and the reason is very obvious.Those who seek karate know well what it is and what they hope to learn. I do not think karate needs this to be prolifered by the world. Karate only has to lose from it. [I'm learning english. I love this channel].
Guys guys, please, consider this: Martial arts are not only about being able to punch someone in the face. There are the social aspects of it, the health aspects of it, the discipline and the culture. It gives kids and practicioners in general a goal, keep them healthy, away of trouble, teach them discipline, helps people with anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes... This will fill dojos with kids ( and I even see people complaining about this in the comments! Come on!), which is far more important than expressing your particular vision of what karate is or getting someone ready to battle in the Feudal Japan! Other than that, there is space for everyone, you won't be forbidden to practice your true traditional karate by the shogun, and it is not that you have to choose between one thing and the other really!
Well, I definitely agree with your analysis but my biggest fear is that we are going to see an increasing number of "McDojo" in the future created for those who are looking only for competitions, losing the culture and the philosophical / historical roots of our art (that will be the death of budo). I hope to be wrong! Let me know what do you think about, Ciao from Italy. Osu
More McDojo's just mean you stand out even more from the rubbish. People looking for a fighting sport were never going to look inside a traditional Karate school for their training anyway, so you won't lose any potential students. But you may gain students when people come looking for Olympic Karate and find something much better.
+SA Karate that's right, we will just have to see if this new students will be able to recognize that what they find is much better than they were looking for :)
It's not possible to be a McDojo and compete at high level in the WKF. Their rules of entry are very stringent. The instructor and students all need a strict pedigree. Frankly, I think that's nonsense. If you're good enough, you're good enough, and any instructor who can raise his students to that level is by definition, not running a McDojo.
+Mat Broomfield what I mean for "McDojo's" (maybe not according with Jesse's definition) is that place where the instructor teach you only how to punch and kick (sometimes even better than in other "classical dojo", if you let me call them like that) but he knows nothing about budo and all the cultural aspects of karate. Maybe I should have use the word gym instead of McDojo's, my bad
+Mat Broomfield and let me say, in a dojo you can see people of all the ages, maybe they will not have a perfect technique but if their sensei deserves to be called like that they will learn day by day something new. And I am pretty sure you should not see that in a gym where people will train until their body will allow them to compete. What do you think about?
You would be right IF there was a chance of seeing what we know as karate. Unfortunately the IOC will dilute and degrade full contact honest karate to some form of impotent point scoring mutant. Tae Kwon Do used to be an honourable and powerful form of martial art. Now the main form of the art is "Olympic Tae kwon Do" which is a laughable, almost dance form of martial art which is choreographed and practitioners bounce around like fools for point scoring. This will be an embarrassment to all who practice karate, just like Tae Kwon Do is a joke now. I wish I was as naive and young as you, unfortunately I am old enough to know the world and how it works. If you need a 'once in 4 year' marketing opportunity, well then maybe you need to get better at your style, get a better reputation as an instructor and promote your dojo. The Olympics will NOT increase your dojo volume and 'profit', (which it sounds is your main priority). It will turn karate into a joke. I am glad Kyokushin has no part in this "sports dance" festival.
I really hope that this doesn't happen to us. My reassurance is that the linchpin of change in the Tae kwon do world was the Korean government mandating that all Tae kwon do be done a particular way- and that way was the Olympic way. I can't imagine the entire karate world in all its diversity, with its lack of supreme leadership to dictate how things will be done by everyone, changing to do Olympic karate across the board. I think that the dojo that focus heavily on tournament and competition will follow Olympic guidelines, but the rest of us will keep on in our respective arts.
I am happy that karate is coming into the Olympics but we don't want to lose the art of karate. We shouldn't change anything. Most dojos teach for competition not for the art. The art of karate by itself can help in life and sport because of the kata,bunkai,kumite, having a set skill set it's all in one. The thing about karate in the Olympics as I said earlier they may cut a lot of moves out in karate to make it more do-able.
I personaly practice karate as a martial art for self defense, but back in the days I was competing to in shotokan karate. And for sure there is a big diference between those two aproaches... but your point is very CORECT!! The most people started to learn karate because of movies and I agree that Olympics will help to bring karate back to popular martial arts! But that will not do any bad to people that practice karate as a pure martial art and not as a sport. I understand that there are negative opinions from karatekas that are from styles other then shotokan because that will be the most popular style for the Olympics and most new kids that want to start practice karate will go to shotokan instead of shtoryu gojuryu... but that's not a big problem if you keep the essence of the meaning of your style, there will be always enough people to practice any style! Sometimes when you lose the quantity you gain quality. Oss!
You have a point, a very important one indeed. However, the danger remains that some restrictive "Olympic" rules brings a decline in the richness of karate techniques, due to a lack of practice of these techniques. E.g. empi disappearing because it is "too dangereous".
The toughest part is retention after Greenbelt🤔 in my experience anyhow. Because that is the point where Rudimentary Proficiency is evident and also where the workouts become more Demanding. That’s where the student is continually moving with an elevated heart rate for over an hour, when sparring begins, when the muscles ache more😬 This is also where those who don’t want it bad enough, or they come because their parents made them quit. 🤔 I must admit, I’m all for pep talks and praising accomplishments🤨 But I rather have 6 dedicated students than 10, 4 Of which rather be playing video games at home. The vibe becomes a contagion 😷. I’ve seen this Phenomenon time and again. How do you deal with this? I believe it would be a good topic for you to cover. As always, Thank you SENSI
As a traditional karate practioner, I dont see any complain about karate get in the olympics. As a traditional practicioner you have to have the humility and capacity to move in both areas (traditional and olympic). To say " my karate is so traditional I can't compete on other kind of rules, my karate is more realistic, etc" are phrases that show a lack of traditional values, b/c the respect have to be practice in the same intesive way as you practice kata or kumite. Best
Hello, I just discovered your channel. I really like most of the things you show, I fully concur about the need to train kobudo together with Karate whilst I generally dislike your "american" style. BUT I do think you do have a very valid point about the olympics. This might be very good for all dojos. Now, obviously, if you a dojo is doing a very traditional sort of karate, people would come and then probably leave (as it is very different from what they will see on the TV), but then...some may stay anyway. So...thanks for the voice, I was turning that same question in my head for quite some time.
I agree it woould serve as a good adverisment. Everyone is entitled to their own reason why they practice Karate as long as it's still according to the Dojo kun.
Thanks amigo! It's important to see the macro view. Personally, I teach traditional Karate in my dojo - and I can't wait to use "Olympic Karate" as a launch pad to share my teachings with the world.
Jesse-san, i hope you're right. I come from Italy, were karate is still big, despite the huge growth of combat sport, the birth of MMA, and the popularity of self-defense systems like krav maga. Still, my instructors were happy when K got in the Olympics because it meant growth for the entire art, like with TaeKwonDo, who really holds the position he is now thanks to that. I personally am happy that there are both kumite and kata, with competitions modified to allow many styles to enter, this means there's some credibility in it, and they didn't gave up to show needs. There is a risk we'll end up being McDojos like many TaeKwonDo dojos of today, but i hope not. There's too much sport focus anyway, even now, so that won't change anything. But the fact kata will be in it makes me optimistic. It's something different, traditional, and fresh for viewers, and "more than just sport".
great video! very nice approach to the whole thing, i agree with you, and actually very eager to see how will olympic Karate will looks and how it'll affect our beautiful Karate world 👍👍👌👏
Hi, I just learnt a few days ago that Karate is not an olympic sport and I was shocked. I don't get how is it possible for a popular, beautiful sport like that. I find karate much more entertaining that judo. Even fricking breakdance is qualified this year. Well, I hope your sport will come back to the Olympcs one day
I get what hes saying i agree and disagree for example look at taekwondo it was once a really effective martial art used in the Korean military but then it went to the Olympics and became really watered down thats great for sport but for a life or death situation its very bad now if you can find a way to say this is Olympic karate and this is karate for self defense and exercise and actually separate the 2 so the techniques that make it effective for self defense dont go completely lost because people are so focused or competition and rules then that would be great and what hes saying is good to bring more people to the dojo so they can learn everything is good not only for sport but also preserving the art so that it doesnt get all watered down.
Big compliments on your excellent videos and comments about karate. Am also so impressed by the comments and the depth of commentator's knowledge, I started at 13 and now am 69 and still train. 40 years goju and and the rest kyokushinkai (contact). When in my early 20's I watched full contact and thought it was just a street brawl. I don't know how they could call it karate. But subsequently the style changed and became more refined. Olympic Karate ( I have only seen Taekwondo at Olympics) I found boring and many techniques ineffective. Scoring system must be difficult too. To me "sport karate", should remain a smaller percentage of the total karate concept. Maybe it should be called "Olympic Sport Karate". But on saying the above I agree with Jesse. Lets get new people to the dojos. Some will do sport karate but all will learn traditional karate
bad Log in sports karate into the Olympics mean the end of traditional combat karate Oknawa Sport will become only and is not self-defense fighting real reason the coach and athlete In Exercise wants to spend all the time on how to collect the points and how they mastered the kata will be sporting more of a real fight This is not a goal that was for him Karate Oknaw will be forced to make the coach all the time in training on collecting points
The 1st JKA All Japan Karate Championship was held at Tokyo in 1957 after Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away. He always was against the sport version of karate and spoke always against this evolution. “As a mirror’s polished surface reflects whatever stands before it and a quiet valley carries even small sounds, so must the student of Karate-Do render of their mind empty of selfishness and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately toward anything they might encounter. This is the meaning of kara or “empty” of Karate-Do.” by Gichin Funakoshi Oss
In my opinion there was already a sort of split in the karate dojos I have trained in. The ones that are about competitive sports karate and the ones that were more budo orientated. If anything, the Olympics will just heighten the sport karate side even more, but if you look at tournaments already it's mostly (mostly!) what you see anyway. Olympic karate won't hurt karate or the styles that are more geared towards budo because those dojos were there before karate became an Olympic event and they will still be there after. If the student is passionate about karate then they will eventually do their own research and reading and will learn of all the possible disciplines that are there and find the path that is right for them.
If you came up to someone and said Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu, or any one of the hundreds of karate styles practice worldwide... Most would not know what you're even talking about. With karate being in the Olympics Millions of people all around the world will hear and learn about karate and the opportunity for people to join will increased.
What you say is pretty much on par with on what society reflects. It’s about advertising and promotion. It will draw people into martial arts as a whole.
Jesse-San, you say my karate sucks?!? Lol..... good point and fully agreed. If you can't see the value in the Olympics then your dojo deserves to be shut.
I'm excited, i just had the rule set. i call it the "We're only calling head kicks and unanswered reverse punches" rules. i understand why they do it, and prefer it over the "any little thing that touches a scoring area counts" rules. But some times those judges are ridicules, and i feel that may hurt the sport/art from an "exposer" stand point.
Consider the trilogy of Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, which is Karate. Right? Than consider that Karate is a label given to many things (we know the list). Sport is one of these things. The question dropped here, put in other wordts is: is it a good or bad thing to give a focus and promote karate as a sport (for a while or definitively)? Is it good to practise Kihon? Is it good to practise Kata? Is it a good idea to practise Kumite? YES. I wonder which kind of karate sport we have in the next Olympic. I suppose full contact and non contact side by side, also kata's? Who knows the detail? And which karate schools are participating or at least initiate the competition?
you were right! but practitioner who joined on inspiration of Olympic karate will always imagine karate moves in sports manner! in the next generation each and every karateka will focus on competitions and trains in sports way. one day there are chances for decay of traditional way. it's already some dojos started practicing sports karate, so many things in karate ll gets change like many katas lost its originality due to modern karate. it's upto us to save traditional karate from ruining!
Olympic Karate will be a very small portion of what Karate really is. First of all how is the scoring going to be determined, is it going to be full contact (like TKD) or is it going to be point sparring as usual. If it's going to be point sparring then practitioners will try their best to focus on speed rather than technique and power. This will earn them gold medals but they will need a tonne of luck in street fight or even to get in the ring with a Thai boxer.
I agree with Jesse, but i just hate the WKF rules set, all the judge's subjective scoring, and over selling of point by the competitors. But like Jesse said, "If it get them into the dojo" well after that i can try to change their mind.
Being able to dedicate myself enough to get my black belt in karate is definitely my goal. Imagine being in the Olympics, though! What style of karate do you practice? I do Goju Kai, which is similar to Goju Ryu. :)
I agree and would happily watch and try to participate. although I am not a karate practitioner. Hopefully some day... it would be good for Karate. both in the combat aspect and the Zen aspect.
I have a question: Is it possible that you Upload more Bunkai and Self Defense tutorials like the one you explain how to usw the juji Uke? Youre one of the greatest Martial Artist on TH-cam! Very good Video!
Thanks Paul-san! :-) Actually, I upload new technical Karate videos every week in my online private video club, "Karate Nerd Insider". You can read more here: gumroad.com/l/insider
I only started subscribing to this channel recently and I found the content helpful, but I do notice there's always an ongoing debate about how the karate I'm practicing which is karate-do, the sports part is questioned to not be authentic and is disregarded. I am not trying to say these opinions are wrong or anything as I'm also still learning, but I want to bring about what I know. I am aware there is traditional karate which goes by knock outs as opposed to the point system that we have, but that's only one part. We still practice Kihon or basics and that requires all the strength that we have, power, speed. Although this is not as well-known like kumite since it's competed, I think it's beautifully demonstrated through kata. My Sensei really puts close attention on how we execute our basics, we won't even pass if we lack in power/ speed. What I like to think is, sports karate and traditional karate goes hand-in-hand, although the two might seem contradictory.
Okay, so Karate is in the Olympics. I know for sure that this is regarding Kumite. But what about Kata? Kumite may seem boring to many people, because it's one hit, then stop, then back to fighting... Kata is a whole other thing, it's more exciting. Will we have Katas in the Olympics?
u have just told the thing which i understood in past 17 yrs of Karate....I love traditional Karate and I practice it too...but somewhere Masters are afraid or not ready to understand the point of bringing more people into karate life....and both points are totally against the spirit of any Martial arts...
Im with you - I got my black belt a couple of years ago, I started cos a guy knocked on my door and said "Would you be interested in karate" .. until then my answer would have been probably not.. I had been a gymnast and moved, and the new area just didnt have adult classes... (now it has a ton of adult gymnastics now Im too old and broken to contemplate it) but, I was fat, unfit, and needing to do something.. so I gave it ago.. The group I train with is often laughed at for being non contact, and seen as a joke, however, if it gets people in the doors, giving it a try, and they decide they like it, ok, sure they may move on and try another style, but, if it got them to try it, it did good. Even if people view it as a watered down version because of lack of contact, the principals are still there.. I do think it would be interesting to see how they grade kata in the olympics, Im guessing to a point they almost cant.. because not everyones version of the same kata is the same! Im certainly going to be looking to watch karate at the olympics, however, due to age and injuries.. long as no one expects me to be trying to get in....
WKF competition forces you to choose from a set number of kata which MUST be performed in the same basic way. You get to choose from the 4 basic ryu which kata to perform.
I look at what happened to judo since it's been in there Olympics. Lost a lot of it's groundwork and effective throws due to the new rules, where they just want flashy techniques. My fear is that Karate will also lose a lot of it's good techniques, since all people will start to focus on is the ones encouraged by the Olympic rules.
As a kung fu practitioner, I'm glad wushu didn't make it into the Olympics. I'm not sure making it was good for tae kwon do. Hopefully Karate can keep its spirit.
I am not against the Olympic karate, but I think I lost the essence of the exercise, to be clear, the conversion of karate in sport lead to superficiality as the ultimate in performance and in spirit ...
I have to disagree man. What people will see is two guy jumping screaming without reason, thats not karate. Karate ,as you said , is strength and speed as well as timing and thousands of more things, and none of them are seen in a kumite olimpic fight.
Exposure is good but I still got beef with sport kumite. I'd like to see a knockdown division added (w/ or w/o shinken shobu ruleset) as well as kickboxing ascend from the world games (as of 2022) to the olympics. We need knockdown just b/c us Americans want to see knockouts.
It is nice that the Olympics will allow karate but it will be hard to teach people karate who don't want to know the spiritual, mental, and history of karate. They are only interested in competition and winning metals and trophies.
![ฮักเทื่อสุดท้าย - บอย ศิริชัย [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1PoPoQ-B-k/mqdefault.jpg)
My only fear is people (Sensei) becoming too obsessed with earning medals and the Olympics and then forget teaching us(or won't think it's relevant) the things that won't be part of the Olympics. :/
If you think your Sensei will stop teaching you shouldn't you find other Sensei, which you would trust more?
I am sure they will teach us stuff, my "fear" is related to them focusing on sport karate and forgetting about traditional. Let us hope that that won't happen. Can't change to another dojo, there's only one shitoryu school in town :3
Torchic Jess I believe you have a good reason to be concerned. That is precisely what happened to judo, and though the traditional techniques are still taught, the overall focus of the training has changed in order to favour competition. When you "sportify" a martial art you get rid of the potentially more dangerous (more combat oriented) techniques. And not only that, but you also have to make it quicker and more dinamic in order to keep the crowds atention. Judo has suffered all those things, and I'm pretty sure that will happen to karate too. It's a pity.
This is what happened with Taekwondo, became a sport, stopped being a martial art
i think it's would good for everyone to get all that stress out say when you have jobs, colleges, family issues and whatever past problems you have
I don't know, man. I come home from Kyokushin training, barely being able to drive my car from all the low kicks I take. My chest is blue\green\brown from bare knuckle punches, my biceps and upper arms have tiny little green dots all over, (again, from bare knuckle hits) barely can breathe from getting repeatedly kneed in the chest and stomach. On the meantime, I am thinking about my shodan test where, I'll be fighting 10 rounds non-stop, with a new, fresh opponent after each 2min time, all wanting to kill me. Bare knuckle, no gloves not even shin pads; getting blasted in the chest, taking low kicks in the inner and outer thighs followed by ushiro mawashi geri to the head.... Then I come home and watch a YT feed about Olympic "Karate"........ NO disrespect but, this isn't karate. Osu!
exactly.
Much respect from a kyokushin student (tomorrow I have my 7th kyu exam)! :)
Osu!
Well, imagine if fencing had the same mentality... "if it isnt sharp, it isnt fencing"
Not to be an asshole, but i doubt a style like kyokushin would be affected by this... And most styles of karate already avoid the "fullcontact" aproach... So making it more "sportlike" to make more people interested isnt going to make all karate styles watered down... Just like itf taekwondo still has punches to the face(wich kyokushin do not have, and it doesnt make kyokushin any less of a martial art)
Im a fan of kyokushin btw, i would love to practice it someday...
Spot on!
Yas true
Five years ago but I still found my way back here :) although it was by no means perfectly executed regarding the ruleset, I liked the way they included this wonderful art into the Olympics!
I feel like people in the karate world try to forcefully split karate up abit too much, one style is better than the other, one type is better than another. Karate is karate, we should strive to learn from each other, sports karate learning from the conditioning and defense and overall toughness for traditional karate, and the latter learning speed and agility and precision from sport karate. Styles wise, who says we can't cross train? I feel like if all karateka just learnt from each other instead of fighting over who does it best, who's more practical blah blah blah, we could have such a beautiful art and sport to talk about, and show people how great karate really is in its whole form, kobudo included.
And by the way, just to debunk some stuff, when training for sport kumite we don't (or at least my dojo doesn't) train the "touch only" principle, unlike what most people think. We throw actual hard punches and do conditioning, and make the competitors kick as hard as they can so they actually know how to kick irl. We just emphasize control when it comes to tournaments, which is frankly harder than actually kicking in when you're doing it at high speeds. Have a great day everyone!
Karate in the Olympics will be a watered down sport, it will not be anything remotely resembling a true martial art.
I disagree that this is a good thing. Here are some ideas:
Your first comment about how people see qualities like strength, determination, etc when they see olympic karateka doesn't mean much because the same qualities can be seen in any other olympic sport as well. Olympic karate will not stand out because of this. Also think about whether olympic karate actually represents real, original karate (which it doesn't). If the average person sees this sport in the olympics, they will believe that a strange non-contact sport is all karate is about. You said yourself that most people don't know that there are different types of karate. This will put many people off and encourage them to trash talk karate when they compare it to MMA or boxing. And if an average person sees karate on TV and likes the look of it, they will likely end up training in a sport-orientated dojo (more of which might begin to open as the market increases). I expect this could lead to a drift away from real karate, and more focus tends towards this thing we call "sport karate." Overall, introducing karate to the olympics might help some people get fit or try out a new sport, but it sure as hell will not do good things for the traditional martial art.
also, not all will tell you the truth. Take me for example. When i was 8 yo, I decided to join my school karate lesson coz I was so impressed w/ action movies n thought ill be able to fight n defend myself after learning. I was so naive. I keep on being positive n thought that maybe these katas and air Punching r gonna help me. After joining n still currently practising for 7 years now, got my black belt and all, no one literally no one has tell me that there r different karate style, n the one im currently practising isnt much applicable. I found out all bcoz of the existence of YT, mma matches, ufc n all of that thing. I don't want other to waste their time like i did.
I personally find Olympic style karate pretty cringe worthy to watch with all the goofy hopping, ridiculous and obnoxious kiai, unrealistic ippon kumite, etc. As a practitioner of old school Toudi jutsu, I do not much appreciate seeing karate turned into a sport. (Kyokushinkai exempt, because those guys are hardasses) Frankly, it's a little embarrassing and gives a bad image of karate to the public. But that's just my opinion.
I agree with you Jesse. I was never a fan of competition since I started karate 10 years ago. However, I think that from a dojo/bussiness perspective, competition is essential to bring kids and teenagers through the door. And now that it is an Olympic sport we are able to have the eyes of the world discovering karate. And we definitely need it!!!!.
I disagree. What Olympics, or any other competition -or "sportization"- do of a Martial Art is exemplified by the deterioration suffered by Taekwon Do. Commercialization very convenient for the Dojo owners, for the sporting goods industry etc.
J Azofeifa I agree. Look at how watered-down both Judo and TKD became. I had a Japanese student (Shito-Ryu) practice at my dojo in Canada while he was on student exchange. He came from a WKF dojo in Japan, and he told me that the WKF wants to take foot sweeps out for the Olympics, because it's too close to Judo. This guy was a black belt, and until the moment I had foot swept him to the floor, he had never seen or experienced one before. There's that sport karate for ya!
Karate in the Olympics is good for a couple of months of interest then it's gone again. The light contact and kiaing will only expose it to more ridicule compared to MMA or Krav Maga amongst people who are interested in learning a combat sport, whilst those who might value its etiquette and rituals (mostly on behalf of their kids) are not likely to be paying much attention.
Karate is one small part of a puzzle of combat and self defence, but it thinks it is complete. It is mistaken and has been seen to be so. ANY publicity is good to a small degree, but just as the country is dotted with unuused velodromes and diving pools, Olympic karate will likely have fleeting benefits.
To say that OUR karate is no good if it is harmed by the Olympics is victim blaming. Top level competition karateka are not generally well rounded karateka, and if their event misrepresents the rest of us, how is that because WE are at fault?
it has devolved in my opinion after learning Jeet kun do, taekwondo, and boxing along with shotokan karate. If it was more like kyokushin or WTF Taekwondo then it wouldn't be looked so down upon. The lack of contact doesn't help either
I agree. Boxing teaches you how poorly most karate teaches you the construction of combinations and movement at the most probable combat distance.
+Mat Broomfield
I'm sorry I'm new to the martial arts scene. I was just curious what is wrong with Karate?
I totally agree I practice Kyokushin and the only people who wear pads when fighting are children, not full grown highly trained adults.
From what I hear, Olympic Karate Kumite will be full contact eg. Kyokushin and Olympic Kata will be more in the Shotokan style. Which is cool, cause it will bring mulitple styles, probably will bring the karate world together. I know with full contact kumite people will not get bored
In theory, you are absolutely correct. But it's a simplistic view in my experience. My own experience is having watched David Carradine in the 1970's 'Kung-fu Fu' series, I wanted to do Kung Fu, joined the local martial arts class (1974), which I then thought was Karate but turned out to be Taekwondo!Yes, all these years later I am still practicing Taekwondo.But the downside for anyone who is a member of the National Federation, is that they set the requirements for and test all black belt grades. Yes, I dictate how the students train, perform and when they test (to my satisfaction), but the overall national standard has fallen because of the demand for more clubs, to generate more members, to justify the public funds coming into the Federation. So how long before the national standard is reduced to McDojo level, regardless as to how the traditionalists* train? How long before those* individuals are reduced to an absolute minority because all new clubs have become solely 'front leg fencers' (see how Olympic Taekwondo has altered). Yes, there will be those who excel, but it won't even be the 10% of competitors you talk of. The majority will bear only a passing resemblance to what it should. And it's the desires of the IOC and TV that will drive it, not the masters of the art. Look at Taekwondo Poomsae and how that too has changed with the use of sensationally high, but practically useless kicks. I'm not against the sporting side for either aspect, I competed at various levels from 1976 to 2010 in both kyrugi and Poomsae. It's just now moving away from the realism, even with the sporting limitations. If the TV coverage was as important as you imagine, not only would every Taekwondo club currently be flooded with new students each week, but so too would Karate and other martial arts classes, because, like when I started, most people don't know the difference anyway. In much the same way, I've never been asked my grade by a new starter, so the instructors grade is irrelevant. If you know more than that new starter, they see you as a Master/Grandmaster, even if you are a McDojo black belt. So the descent into the substandard perpetuates. You may find it relevant to see comments on the Facebook group for 'Rise of the Kwans' in respect to this subject. I like your enthusiasm for all things martial, but it's a shame that bad politics, TV ratings and sponsorship money doesn't adhere to the same principles.
I like the right point you wrote down here.
It's absolutely is as it is and you wrote it exactly.
I love Karate of all styles and all levels, as I love all Martial Arts of all levels at all - Spiritual, Philosophical, Traditional, Cultural, Artistic, Gymnastic, Sportive, Competitive, Combative.
The problem is when people don't realize what level is and for what level exists exactly and problem is when people and especially teachers for sure, to drive in students in mess of various actions in training without explanation what for is that or this concrete techniques and exercises.
And as result a students really think they studying "traditional", "sportive", "combative" some other? Martial Art.
People are free and willing to study and practice that they want but JUST call the things as they are for real.
So, the sportive version for Karate is not bad thing as not bad thing is Olympic Karate at all (based on Classical Japanese adaptations of Okinawan styles but with dominant form by the most Classical Japan Adaptation - SHOTOKAN) but if this will NOT ruins the KARATE as it is with all its aspects and parts and levels.
That's the most fear of many Karate passionate practitioners! Because we have the examples when only SPORTIVE versions do represent some Martial Art as it happen to Judo and Taekwondo, not counting modern (not Ancient style) Boxing and Wrestling which were directed to Sport way originally.
As a Taekwondo passionate practitioner originally I am like many others - really sad by fact what did the South Korea to Taekwondo at all and what did to own WTF exactly. They just did drop Taekwondo to a crazy idea and movement to make Taekwondo global market Sport and neglect all other aspects of this Martial Art such as spiritual, philosophical, combative and even realistic sportive.
So! I will repeat my main position - I am NOT against any Martial Art and NOT against any level and aspect of it.
I am AGAINST false ideas, misleading teaching strategy, mess in understanding the levels and aspects of Martial Arts and what for these levels and aspects are exist and why they historically appeared in general.
So, - let to be Olympic Karate but DO NOT let disappear traditional formats of all Karate styles and schools and those people who will be involved in sportive or Olympic Karate, - they must UNDERSTAND what exactly they do and practice and that it is NOT WHOLE Karate Conception and Phenomena.
It's like about modern sportive Fencing - everybody knows and clearly understand that this kind of Fencing is just Sport and has nothing to do with real fencing, historical combative, very dangerous and extremely deadly Art - where just ONE mistake will cost a life.
So that is still problem exists that not all people (as not practitioners and practitioners especially) understand whole conception of Martial Arts with all complicated and sophisticated levels and aspects, especially in Eastern Asian Martial Arts with theirs traditionally dainty, spirituel, cultivated, refined and sophisticated WAY of Life and CULTURE.
Con Halpin o
I think olimpic Karate is not true Karate, it's only a sport competition. In my opinion the most people who see the Karate on Olimpic to discourage this martial art's... (sorry if I take a mistake, my english is not perfect.
But this is only my opinion ;)
Oss!
Oss
NinjaGamesPL i agree...karate is MARTIAL ART..no sport or pussy ballet like u can see in most competition.
i respectfully disagree. as jesse said, most regular people dont know about traditional karate, they almost know nothing about karate. so when they see sports karate on tv, they will think, oh that looks cool i want to try that. then they maby start actually karate, and get to know traditional karate.
NinjaGamesPL I agree because karate is mostly aimed for self defense and the streets
Olimpic Karate No True Karate? Probably you should have a good look at what exactly you do. Everything got to evolve or you extinct.
I think it’s great. I don’t compete, but it promotes the art.
Thanks Mr. Jesse! Back then, I wrote an e-mail from my Google mail to you about which karate style or which dojo is appropriate as I myself was skeptical and doubtful towards sports karate. This video helped me to see karate as a whole and cleared my doubts.
What I can believe now is karate is needed to be exposed one way or another, traditional or not, so that people can look into karate and hopefully enjoy it or learn other interesting facts about it as well.
Thank you very much Faisal-san, your support is deeply appreciated!
I agree with you, sensei!
I think we're FREE to practice any 'kind' of karate we want. There's 3 kind of people in karate, in my opinion.
The karatecas: Who practices, lives and studies the karate techniques and filosofy;
The practitioners: Who just wants to do some exercices and get in shape, or learn self-defense;
The athletes: Who wants to train and compete in high level.
I also think that is possible to do all of them.
And more: someone that starts to practice karate with some inicial goal, may change mind after knowing the other kinds of karate, and then decides to follow this or that way. It's up to us, the sensei, show them ALL the possible ways and don't make any judgment about which way is the best. No one can say what is best for me or for you, only ourselves.
We must have freedom. And the true freedom is the one that has limits. We must respect the others' limits.
Thank you for bringing up this question!!
Osu!!
The conclusion in particular is so "Jesse" :D I agree though!
Grazie mille bro! You know me... ;-)
Prove to the world that karate can beat other Martial art and then you Will get the respect and the popularity you deserve....like bjj and muay thai did....
Jesse! You have a sense of humor! Demonstrated by, "If you think that Olympic karate will ruin your karate; your karate probably sucks." :D Outstanding burn by the way. I sensed you were a joyful individual but 'dissing the posers like that is a whole new facet. I really appreciate your "glass half full" approach to life Jesse. It 'ain't over 'til it's over. :) Peace
as long as its kyokushin and tameshiwari. if not don't even bother. not to bash on anyones style I love all styles but kyokushin will always be my pride and joy. Like the son I've always wanted.....
even though i agree with you, and i think it's gonna be really fun to watch the sport on tv, i think people don't get to see what karate reallu is by just seeing it as a sport on television (the same way they don't see it by watching it on hollywood movies).
Jesse San I agree with you 100%. Nice and clean way of explaining PROPAGATION Of Karate along with benefits to all.
In the last decade, since the real push to get Karate into the Olympics has been on, there has been a huge push to make it more "spectator friendly". So, we get more bad behavior allowed (shows of naked emotion), we get ineffective lead hand techniques, we get all flash and no budo fade away hook kicks.
Actually getting in the Olympics will probably do nothing get get us more of that. Competition karate was brought about as a way to test your skills and mettle against live opponents. The rules were brought in for safety, and to ensure a certain level of technical effectiveness. The technique was to have had the potential to injure or maim. That is going fast. The Olympic success will bring more of that.
If people are drawn to the dojo by karate on TV, and they come to a proper dojo, they will see little of what they were attracted to in the first place. I do not see how this will bring light to the traditional karate world.
Ask Judo...
I was glad to learn that kata would actually be an Olympic competition. Now with the growing emphasis on bunkai, I'm finding pretty relevant explanations on many portions of the kata I learned a few decades back.
Iaido guy here and a historian. Seitei iai (the standardized 12 kata that are used for competitions and dan exams) kind of influenced the traditional schools in terms of standing, foot work etc. But then those style have been changing probably for centuries, I don't really beleive that traditional schools practice their arts like 5 centuries ago, for one, no one wears yoroi armor. SO change is not that bad. Adn you are correct about receiving more students. I came accross this video while looking for the reason why KArate was dropped from the olympics, and it's a pity.
As a trainer who’s seen the decline in interest for karate first hand, i couldn’t agree more with your idea on olympic karate. A lot of practitioners like to keep themselves blind for anything that doesn’t agree with what sensei tells them. I think, for karate to survive steps need to be taken to make it “cool” again. MMA, BJJ, UFC, Kick boxing,... when you like these things, you’re cool. From a marketing stand point (and i don’t mean money or mcdojo’s), karate needs to be cool again. For this to happen it has to be fun, almost like a game. 100 million karatekas, how many of them will never practice longer than a year? I guess i’m trying to say that even though olympic karate, karate the sport, might not be O.G karate, but does it have to be? Why can’t it enrichen the karate experience? Get the kids hooked on sports karate and when they love it, introduce them to the rest of the treasure that is karate! Thanks Jesse!
wow! you are right! that is a fantastic point of view. Thank you!
Then why did old masters and founders like Funakoshi despise all sorts of "sports karate"? Was it just because it was a different age and things were just seen differently back then? Or maybe because they understood karate in a way we can not comprehend nowadays? I have been struggling with this topic for a looooong looong time. Who's right according to karate?
Thanks Jesse ssensei.
Oss!
Great question! You are correct. Karate was definitely not created to be a sport. It was meant to be a highly functional martial art, made for self-defense. That's why "Sport Karate" is so limited, if compared to the complete art. On a related note, maybe this article can help: www.karatebyjesse.com/sport-karate-problem/
Karate is a constantly evolving art and always has been. Japanese culture is mired in ritual, hierarchy and tradition. That doesn't make it good, that's just the culture.
In theory, deriving from Buddhist/Shinto traditions, budo culture incorporates the pursuit of perfection of the spirit, but the intermingling of spirituality with art is not required, and so long as you have a good work ethic, you can be perfectly good at karate.
There is no right or wrong because there is no arbiter whose opinion you should bow to. Do what's right for you. Do what keeps you fired up and training. Don't listen to traditionalists who insist that THEIRS is the only true -religion- martial art.
+Mat Broomfield Thank you so much for your perspective. It does help a lot.
Oss!
There are always going to be pros and cons of karate being in the Olympics but if it gets the world wide recognition then I'm all up for it being a British referee I love competition karate and love the traditional aspects in training so as for the bid I say it's a good thing
Even fighter judo athlete wants Ipon just let alone a dancer Shotokan or wkf is basically a disgrace to real fighting
I agree that the exposure of karate on such a international stage will serve to improve the quality of karateka world wide. Personally I would prefer this type of competition to inspire devoted individuals to start practicing karate than mixed martial art. It resembles more closely what is practiced in dojo around the world.
Ossu! Our dojo has been having a lot of problems with our host facility. For months I have been telling management that playing nicely with us will pay off because in 2020 there could be a whole slew of people suddenly interested. I dropped yet another reminder on the day IOC made its announcement - good timing because the host facility was about to drop yet another bomb on our program ;-)
And I agree with you, Enkamp Sensei. I also saw some comments here that it will be bad for Karate because everybody will see it just as a "punch and kick sport". Well, don't they all already think it about karate? It will not do any harm in that way, BUT the Olympics can surely attract a lot more people to train and actually know what karate is all about.
And, regarding the "it will give senseis a chance to 'commercialize' the martial art", well, it is already being done everywhere. But, if the student is willing to know proper karate, it is so easy to come to TH-cam or Google, type KARATE and get to know a lot beforehand. A Sensei that is not concerned about teaching the DO in Karate-do, working on the mind and spirit of his/her students, together with the body, can very well throw his black belt away.
I just started Karate. I'm a white belt, but from my first lesson I was in love and make sure I learn more and more. Thankfuly I have a great sensei here in Brazil. I don't think the Olympics will do any more harm to karate, it will only bring more people to know the martial art. About the "it's a martial art, not a sport" stuff, I understand the concern, but even if it is treated as a sport in the Olympics, good dojos and good sensei will teach the martial art, and not just the sport.
Sorry for the long comment.
That was an impressive-ass freehand circle.
I agree with what you say 100%. I look forward to seeing Karate at the Olympics. I see kata competition and kumite in that event.
I get it. The more exposure the better. With kata being a category, the art, hopefully, will stay pure in its essence.
You made me change my mind , I actually now agree with you .
Hello Jessie. I recently discovered your youtube channel and I have to say you are doing a good job.
I agree with you about KARATE into the Olympic games. In addition to the global visibility that Karate will eventually acquire, especially two reasons I think are important.
The first is that this visibility will create a healthy competition that will push every KARATEKA to do more and better, because at the Olympic games only the best KARATEKAs can there be, and they will be an example for Karatekas of the whole world.
The second is that his introduction at the Olimpics opens the way for a karate that is unique, even if in the peculiarity of his different styles. In this way, perhaps, it will finally overcome the distinction between traditional karate and sport karate which is dividing for too long all karate practitioners. A distinction which has limited the possibilities of comparison between all karateka and stiffened their minds on meaningless preconceptions. The mind has to be open on everything, just so it can progress. Maybe the Olympics will finally make clear, to the whole world, what karate is and the wisdom expressed in the dojo kun of any style. :D
Totally agree with you ! Olympic Karate can reach & influence people more than anything ! People will love it & will be eager to learn it !
One more thing to confess I began my Karate Training inspired by Jean Claude Van Damme !
im a taekwondo-ka and taekwondo is still olympic. i study traditional taekwondo and we train (like the karate guys) for a healthy life, strength, speed and for the rising the chance to protecting our selfs and our surrounding world. but back to the olympic. u will have a piece of paper where u can read something like this: "if u can throw a kick on the head u will get 2 points, the body 1 point..." so u know how to get points and your trainingsplan will follow this. as a result, you dont "need" the deeper knowledge of your techniques. you just want the points. i mean... these dudes make awesome moves and i think they can handle some real-life-situations. i know a lot of good taekwondo-kas who can kick as fast as they can punch and have some rly good agility and of course they have a very good leg-control. its mindblowing and stunning to watch them doing hyongs (the korean word for kata). just awesome. yeah... it leads a few dudes who watched taekwondo in the tv into the dojang but less than 1 percent stay and become black belts. i startet 9 years ago and no one of the people i have started was long enough on the floor. i talked to them cause i care about them and everyone i talked says nearly the same. they feels like they can not archieve this what they saw on a screen. im total honestly... im not fast in kicking to the head... but im fast in kicking to the ribs, my punches are very fast and i have a strong stance. i have defend myself and a few guys on the street. and this is cause of my training and i didnt want miss that... i will improve it. so i think this will be the same for karate. they will know how many points for what and keep practicing that and not the kata or the other stuff. so it will become more a "sport" than a "art" i like it to say: "im a martial artist and not a sportsman!" cause an artist is free. he can use all his knowledge he gain and can do with it whatever he wanted to do. a sportsman can do the same but if he want a trophy for his shiny dojo he must focus on other stuff. many people didnt know about traditional taekwondo which is basicly korean karate. if you would come to our dojang you will see the same things like in a karate dojo. i know that cause i have also study a few years shotokan karate. yes have a little bit more focus on kicking but not as much as the olympic style seems to be. its ballanced. we train the whole body and have a focus on our hyongs. same focus that have a karate dude for his kata. but the tv shows... wow this guy can kicking over the head and it looks simple or wow he can crush 3 5cm thick wooden plates with a high kick. but this stuff you can not archive in 2 days a week for one hour of training. you know what i mean... everyone know what i mean :) i just want give u my angle of view. it will be good for dojos but not good for the art itself. i know a guy who is training 4 years taekwondo and he gets his black belt just the purpose of "i can go to a competition" and this dude can do amazing kicks and is very flexible. 180 degrees up kick with a very high speed is no problem. same for a jumped kick. but when he is doing a hyong its... worst... i have showed him a hyong he asked for and he says: "why looks this and that so more powerfull than mine!" its because i train it everyday multiple times and think about it. he just learned it basicly to can go higher in the belt system. and its in his eyes useless cause this guy just want trophys. not in hyongs in "combat" he will ko's sooo and this where it will be. sorry for writing so much in damn ugly english. best regards from germany :) as usual
Hi! I think differently. Olympic karate is not even at all like Karete. This has the potential to distort the art and bring the wrong people to the dojo. Karate is a fighting art, it is not a game. Spirit of competition would be abominable in the eyes of the ancient masters and the reason is very obvious.Those who seek karate know well what it is and what they hope to learn. I do not think karate needs this to be prolifered by the world. Karate only has to lose from it. [I'm learning english. I love this channel].
you couldn't be more right Jesse-san. excellent video !
I think exactly like you. Very clever. A very good example of KaraTeKa
Guys guys, please, consider this: Martial arts are not only about being able to punch someone in the face. There are the social aspects of it, the health aspects of it, the discipline and the culture. It gives kids and practicioners in general a goal, keep them healthy, away of trouble, teach them discipline, helps people with anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes...
This will fill dojos with kids ( and I even see people complaining about this in the comments! Come on!), which is far more important than expressing your particular vision of what karate is or getting someone ready to battle in the Feudal Japan!
Other than that, there is space for everyone, you won't be forbidden to practice your true traditional karate by the shogun, and it is not that you have to choose between one thing and the other really!
Well, I definitely agree with your analysis but my biggest fear is that we are going to see an increasing number of "McDojo" in the future created for those who are looking only for competitions, losing the culture and the philosophical / historical roots of our art (that will be the death of budo). I hope to be wrong! Let me know what do you think about, Ciao from Italy. Osu
More McDojo's just mean you stand out even more from the rubbish. People looking for a fighting sport were never going to look inside a traditional Karate school for their training anyway, so you won't lose any potential students. But you may gain students when people come looking for Olympic Karate and find something much better.
+SA Karate that's right, we will just have to see if this new students will be able to recognize that what they find is much better than they were looking for :)
It's not possible to be a McDojo and compete at high level in the WKF. Their rules of entry are very stringent. The instructor and students all need a strict pedigree. Frankly, I think that's nonsense. If you're good enough, you're good enough, and any instructor who can raise his students to that level is by definition, not running a McDojo.
+Mat Broomfield what I mean for "McDojo's" (maybe not according with Jesse's definition) is that place where the instructor teach you only how to punch and kick (sometimes even better than in other "classical dojo", if you let me call them like that) but he knows nothing about budo and all the cultural aspects of karate. Maybe I should have use the word gym instead of McDojo's, my bad
+Mat Broomfield and let me say, in a dojo you can see people of all the ages, maybe they will not have a perfect technique but if their sensei deserves to be called like that they will learn day by day something new. And I am pretty sure you should not see that in a gym where people will train until their body will allow them to compete. What do you think about?
That is a good point, however Judo is in the Olympics since 60' s and every day have less judokas.
You would be right IF there was a chance of seeing what we know as karate. Unfortunately the IOC will dilute and degrade full contact honest karate to some form of impotent point scoring mutant. Tae Kwon Do used to be an honourable and powerful form of martial art. Now the main form of the art is "Olympic Tae kwon Do" which is a laughable, almost dance form of martial art which is choreographed and practitioners bounce around like fools for point scoring. This will be an embarrassment to all who practice karate, just like Tae Kwon Do is a joke now. I wish I was as naive and young as you, unfortunately I am old enough to know the world and how it works. If you need a 'once in 4 year' marketing opportunity, well then maybe you need to get better at your style, get a better reputation as an instructor and promote your dojo. The Olympics will NOT increase your dojo volume and 'profit', (which it sounds is your main priority). It will turn karate into a joke. I am glad Kyokushin has no part in this "sports dance" festival.
I really hope that this doesn't happen to us.
My reassurance is that the linchpin of change in the Tae kwon do world was the Korean government mandating that all Tae kwon do be done a particular way- and that way was the Olympic way. I can't imagine the entire karate world in all its diversity, with its lack of supreme leadership to dictate how things will be done by everyone, changing to do Olympic karate across the board. I think that the dojo that focus heavily on tournament and competition will follow Olympic guidelines, but the rest of us will keep on in our respective arts.
We here In Malaysia Borneo are supporting Karate to be in the Olympic 2020. Thnk you Sensei.
I am happy that karate is coming into the Olympics but we don't want to lose the art of karate. We shouldn't change anything. Most dojos teach for competition not for the art. The art of karate by itself can help in life and sport because of the kata,bunkai,kumite, having a set skill set it's all in one. The thing about karate in the Olympics as I said earlier they may cut a lot of moves out in karate to make it more do-able.
I personaly practice karate as a martial art for self defense, but back in the days I was competing to in shotokan karate. And for sure there is a big diference between those two aproaches... but your point is very CORECT!! The most people started to learn karate because of movies and I agree that Olympics will help to bring karate back to popular martial arts! But that will not do any bad to people that practice karate as a pure martial art and not as a sport.
I understand that there are negative opinions from karatekas that are from styles other then shotokan because that will be the most popular style for the Olympics and most new kids that want to start practice karate will go to shotokan instead of shtoryu gojuryu... but that's not a big problem if you keep the essence of the meaning of your style, there will be always enough people to practice any style! Sometimes when you lose the quantity you gain quality. Oss!
You have a point, a very important one indeed. However, the danger remains that some restrictive "Olympic" rules brings a decline in the richness of karate techniques, due to a lack of practice of these techniques. E.g. empi disappearing because it is "too dangereous".
The toughest part is retention after Greenbelt🤔 in my experience anyhow. Because that is the point where Rudimentary Proficiency is evident and also where the workouts become more Demanding. That’s where the student is continually moving with an elevated heart rate for over an hour, when sparring begins, when the muscles ache more😬 This is also where those who don’t want it bad enough, or they come because their parents made them quit. 🤔 I must admit, I’m all for pep talks and praising accomplishments🤨 But I rather have 6 dedicated students than 10, 4 Of which rather be playing video games at home. The vibe becomes a contagion 😷. I’ve seen this Phenomenon time and again. How do you deal with this?
I believe it would be a good topic for you to cover.
As always, Thank you SENSI
As a traditional karate practioner, I dont see any complain about karate get in the olympics. As a traditional practicioner you have to have the humility and capacity to move in both areas (traditional and olympic). To say " my karate is so traditional I can't compete on other kind of rules, my karate is more realistic, etc" are phrases that show a lack of traditional values, b/c the respect have to be practice in the same intesive way as you practice kata or kumite. Best
I'm agree with you. You have reason. Karate will have a new impulse with this.
Hello, I just discovered your channel. I really like most of the things you show, I fully concur about the need to train kobudo together with Karate whilst I generally dislike your "american" style. BUT I do think you do have a very valid point about the olympics. This might be very good for all dojos. Now, obviously, if you a dojo is doing a very traditional sort of karate, people would come and then probably leave (as it is very different from what they will see on the TV), but then...some may stay anyway. So...thanks for the voice, I was turning that same question in my head for quite some time.
I agree it woould serve as a good adverisment. Everyone is entitled to their own reason why they practice Karate as long as it's still according to the Dojo kun.
Before watching this I was actually really against Olympic Karate, but you make a fantastic point Jesse!
Thanks amigo! It's important to see the macro view. Personally, I teach traditional Karate in my dojo - and I can't wait to use "Olympic Karate" as a launch pad to share my teachings with the world.
Jesse-san, i hope you're right. I come from Italy, were karate is still big, despite the huge growth of combat sport, the birth of MMA, and the popularity of self-defense systems like krav maga. Still, my instructors were happy when K got in the Olympics because it meant growth for the entire art, like with TaeKwonDo, who really holds the position he is now thanks to that. I personally am happy that there are both kumite and kata, with competitions modified to allow many styles to enter, this means there's some credibility in it, and they didn't gave up to show needs. There is a risk we'll end up being McDojos like many TaeKwonDo dojos of today, but i hope not. There's too much sport focus anyway, even now, so that won't change anything. But the fact kata will be in it makes me optimistic. It's something different, traditional, and fresh for viewers, and "more than just sport".
great video! very nice approach to the whole thing, i agree with you, and actually very eager to see how will olympic Karate will looks and how it'll affect our beautiful Karate world 👍👍👌👏
About time,Long long overdue.
Hi, I just learnt a few days ago that Karate is not an olympic sport and I was shocked. I don't get how is it possible for a popular, beautiful sport like that. I find karate much more entertaining that judo. Even fricking breakdance is qualified this year. Well, I hope your sport will come back to the Olympcs one day
I would love to do karate, more of a karate style for MMA.
I get what hes saying i agree and disagree for example look at taekwondo it was once a really effective martial art used in the Korean military but then it went to the Olympics and became really watered down thats great for sport but for a life or death situation its very bad now if you can find a way to say this is Olympic karate and this is karate for self defense and exercise and actually separate the 2 so the techniques that make it effective for self defense dont go completely lost because people are so focused or competition and rules then that would be great and what hes saying is good to bring more people to the dojo so they can learn everything is good not only for sport but also preserving the art so that it doesnt get all watered down.
Big compliments on your excellent videos and comments about karate. Am also so impressed by the comments and the depth of commentator's knowledge, I started at 13 and now am 69 and still train. 40 years goju and and the rest kyokushinkai (contact). When in my early 20's I watched full contact and thought it was just a street brawl. I don't know how they could call it karate. But subsequently the style changed and became more refined. Olympic Karate ( I have only seen Taekwondo at Olympics) I found boring and many techniques ineffective. Scoring system must be difficult too. To me "sport karate", should remain a smaller percentage of the total karate concept. Maybe it should be called "Olympic Sport Karate".
But on saying the above I agree with Jesse. Lets get new people to the dojos. Some will do sport karate but all will learn traditional karate
bad
Log in sports karate into the Olympics mean the end of traditional combat karate Oknawa
Sport will become only and is not self-defense fighting real reason the coach and athlete
In Exercise wants to spend all the time on how to collect the points and how they mastered the kata
will be sporting more of a real fight
This is not a goal that was for him Karate Oknaw
will be forced to make the coach all the time in training on collecting points
Awesome! I begin when I was a Child because a Karate kid movie, I felt in love for Miagy's teaching! haha
The 1st JKA All Japan Karate Championship was held at Tokyo in 1957 after Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away.
He always was against the sport version of karate and spoke always against this evolution.
“As a mirror’s polished surface reflects whatever stands before it and a quiet valley carries even small sounds, so must the student of Karate-Do render of their mind empty of selfishness and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately toward anything they might encounter. This is the meaning of kara or “empty” of Karate-Do.”
by Gichin Funakoshi
Oss
In my opinion there was already a sort of split in the karate dojos I have trained in. The ones that are about competitive sports karate and the ones that were more budo orientated. If anything, the Olympics will just heighten the sport karate side even more, but if you look at tournaments already it's mostly (mostly!) what you see anyway. Olympic karate won't hurt karate or the styles that are more geared towards budo because those dojos were there before karate became an Olympic event and they will still be there after. If the student is passionate about karate then they will eventually do their own research and reading and will learn of all the possible disciplines that are there and find the path that is right for them.
I agree 100 percent as it will bring the recognition up loads
I like your gi😍. What brand is it??😬
It's The Seishin Gi! Google it :-)
+Jesse Enkamp (KARATEbyJesse) are you from Holland.
@@sumandas9487 he is from Sweden
😂 api ni avaru soldratha kekala
If you came up to someone and said Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu, or any one of the hundreds of karate styles practice worldwide... Most would not know what you're even talking about. With karate being in the Olympics Millions of people all around the world will hear and learn about karate and the opportunity for people to join will increased.
What you say is pretty much on par with on what society reflects. It’s about advertising and promotion. It will draw people into martial arts as a whole.
Jesse-San, you say my karate sucks?!? Lol..... good point and fully agreed. If you can't see the value in the Olympics then your dojo deserves to be shut.
I'm excited, i just had the rule set. i call it the "We're only calling head kicks and unanswered reverse punches" rules. i understand why they do it, and prefer it over the "any little thing that touches a scoring area counts" rules. But some times those judges are ridicules, and i feel that may hurt the sport/art from an "exposer" stand point.
Agree with your view, with so many doing karate, hopefully will have alot watching which will encourage others to take up Karate
Consider the trilogy of Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, which is Karate. Right?
Than consider that Karate is a label given to many things (we know the list). Sport is one of these things. The question dropped here, put in other wordts is: is it a good or bad thing to give a focus and promote karate as a sport (for a while or definitively)?
Is it good to practise Kihon? Is it good to practise Kata? Is it a good idea to practise Kumite? YES.
I wonder which kind of karate sport we have in the next Olympic. I suppose full contact and non contact side by side, also kata's? Who knows the detail? And which karate schools are participating or at least initiate the competition?
Definitely agree :-)
I think it's a great idea. The Olympics have been good for tae kwon do, and there are people who have trying to getting karate included for years now.
you were right! but practitioner who joined on inspiration of Olympic karate will always imagine karate moves in sports manner! in the next generation each and every karateka will focus on competitions and trains in sports way. one day there are chances for decay of traditional way. it's already some dojos started practicing sports karate, so many things in karate ll gets change like many katas lost its originality due to modern karate. it's upto us to save traditional karate from ruining!
Olympic Karate will be a very small portion of what Karate really is.
First of all how is the scoring going to be determined, is it going to be full contact (like TKD) or is it going to be point sparring as usual. If it's going to be point sparring then practitioners will try their best to focus on speed rather than technique and power. This will earn them gold medals but they will need a tonne of luck in street fight or even to get in the ring with a Thai boxer.
I agree with Jesse, but i just hate the WKF rules set, all the judge's subjective scoring, and over selling of point by the competitors. But like Jesse said, "If it get them into the dojo" well after that i can try to change their mind.
Being able to dedicate myself enough to get my black belt in karate is definitely my goal. Imagine being in the Olympics, though!
What style of karate do you practice? I do Goju Kai, which is similar to Goju Ryu. :)
Sensei you are right I am waiting to watch first match of karate in Olympic
Thankyou for giving your opinion
I agree and would happily watch and try to participate. although I am not a karate practitioner. Hopefully some day...
it would be good for Karate. both in the combat aspect and the Zen aspect.
I agree that Olympic games can benefit Karate!
Some people may start practicing it just because the sport but then they will learn much more.
I completely agree, Jesse.
I have a question:
Is it possible that you Upload more Bunkai and Self Defense tutorials like the one you explain how to usw the juji Uke?
Youre one of the greatest Martial Artist on TH-cam! Very good Video!
Thanks Paul-san! :-) Actually, I upload new technical Karate videos every week in my online private video club, "Karate Nerd Insider". You can read more here: gumroad.com/l/insider
I only started subscribing to this channel recently and I found the content helpful, but I do notice there's always an ongoing debate about how the karate I'm practicing which is karate-do, the sports part is questioned to not be authentic and is disregarded.
I am not trying to say these opinions are wrong or anything as I'm also still learning, but I want to bring about what I know.
I am aware there is traditional karate which goes by knock outs as opposed to the point system that we have, but that's only one part. We still practice Kihon or basics and that requires all the strength that we have, power, speed. Although this is not as well-known like kumite since it's competed, I think it's beautifully demonstrated through kata. My Sensei really puts close attention on how we execute our basics, we won't even pass if we lack in power/ speed. What I like to think is, sports karate and traditional karate goes hand-in-hand, although the two might seem contradictory.
As long as they don't become lost in the pursuit of medals. What are the Olympic rules
U talked about power.....where is power in wkf.....i only see nothing but touch & run
Okay, so Karate is in the Olympics. I know for sure that this is regarding Kumite. But what about Kata? Kumite may seem boring to many people, because it's one hit, then stop, then back to fighting... Kata is a whole other thing, it's more exciting. Will we have Katas in the Olympics?
u have just told the thing which i understood in past 17 yrs of Karate....I love traditional Karate and I practice it too...but somewhere Masters are afraid or not ready to understand the point of bringing more people into karate life....and both points are totally against the spirit of any Martial arts...
agree 100%
What people see when they watch karate in the olympics: nothing because they will already be falling asleep. It's a snooze fest ... unfortunately.
Im with you - I got my black belt a couple of years ago, I started cos a guy knocked on my door and said "Would you be interested in karate" .. until then my answer would have been probably not.. I had been a gymnast and moved, and the new area just didnt have adult classes... (now it has a ton of adult gymnastics now Im too old and broken to contemplate it) but, I was fat, unfit, and needing to do something.. so I gave it ago..
The group I train with is often laughed at for being non contact, and seen as a joke, however, if it gets people in the doors, giving it a try, and they decide they like it, ok, sure they may move on and try another style, but, if it got them to try it, it did good. Even if people view it as a watered down version because of lack of contact, the principals are still there..
I do think it would be interesting to see how they grade kata in the olympics, Im guessing to a point they almost cant.. because not everyones version of the same kata is the same! Im certainly going to be looking to watch karate at the olympics, however, due to age and injuries.. long as no one expects me to be trying to get in....
WKF competition forces you to choose from a set number of kata which MUST be performed in the same basic way. You get to choose from the 4 basic ryu which kata to perform.
Fair enough.. Always good to know
I look at what happened to judo since it's been in there Olympics. Lost a lot of it's groundwork and effective throws due to the new rules, where they just want flashy techniques. My fear is that Karate will also lose a lot of it's good techniques, since all people will start to focus on is the ones encouraged by the Olympic rules.
As a kung fu practitioner, I'm glad wushu didn't make it into the Olympics. I'm not sure making it was good for tae kwon do. Hopefully Karate can keep its spirit.
so I'm confused about karate in the Olympics.. would they only have kumite? or would there also be kobudo and kata?
Check my latest video for the answer 😊
I am not against the Olympic karate, but I think I lost the essence of the exercise, to be clear, the conversion of karate in sport lead to superficiality as the ultimate in performance and in spirit ...
I have to disagree man. What people will see is two guy jumping screaming without reason, thats not karate. Karate ,as you said , is strength and speed as well as timing and thousands of more things, and none of them are seen in a kumite olimpic fight.
Exposure is good but I still got beef with sport kumite. I'd like to see a knockdown division added (w/ or w/o shinken shobu ruleset) as well as kickboxing ascend from the world games (as of 2022) to the olympics. We need knockdown just b/c us Americans want to see knockouts.
It is nice that the Olympics will allow karate but it will be hard to teach people karate who don't want to know the spiritual, mental, and history of karate. They are only interested in competition and winning metals and trophies.