the future of karate

[Aefibird]

How do you see the future of karate as a martial art?

Do you think that the trend for purely sports-karate dojo will continue?

Do you think that it will shift back the other way and that people will start to search out more of the traditions and 'realistic' karate, rather than be happy just with the sports side of it?

Or do you think it will basically carry on as it is - a mix of sport and traditional dojos?

Or will the sports side of karate evolve so much that it is no longer karate but something else entirely?

What about this current bandwagon for sueing people at the drop of a hat?
Will it ultimately affect the very nature of karate and martial arts?

Already, sports karateka are being forced to wear ever increasing amounts of padding compared to even just a few years ago.
Will that trend affect the rest of karate too, as clubs and instructors become ever-more highly insured and afraid of lawsuits?

Would just like a few thoughts on the matter...

[Mr. Precision]

aefibird said:

Or will the sports side of karate evolve so much that it is no longer karate but something else entirely?

I think it already has. Sports karate is basically kickboxing. I think people choose to do karate primarily for self defence. If the word gets out that learning karate as a sport is the opposite of learning it as self defence people will switch to more traditional methods of training like Shotokai.

[Sionnagh]

When many people think of "karate" they think of Shotokan karate. Shotokan was and is generally PE karate, although there are any number of modern practitioners who teach effective self defence within the framework of their system. That is not saying that PE karate is a bad thing; most modern schools teach PE karate. There are a very few schools who teach original karate. Some say that Kinjo Hiroshi is the last teacher of original karate.

What I think will happen is that the larger organisations who are better able to advertise and market themselves will continue to grow and expand. These organisations are generally sports oriented and flourish because they impress spectators and prospective students with displays of athleticism, and the sporting aspect is something that business can identify with in public events and therefore offer sponsorships and other funding.

The small traditional dojo will continue to survive with their handfuls of students where the instructors teach for love and not for money.

I think a similar trend will flow through with injury and insurance aspects - the big groups will ask for increasingly complex waivers and disclaimers on membership forms, increasing amounts of padding for players and insurance and legal coverage which will be reflected in the fees they charge. Small clubs will manage insurance as many do now, with collaborative insurance deals through associations, and be happy with fewer numbers of people they trust not to sue over bruises and sprains and who largely treat the occasional injury as an inherent risk in training.


Mick