Define Traditional Karate

[AngelaG]

If you were to say "I do Traditional Karate", what exactly would you mean? What makes our art traditional, and what makes it modern? What are the differences between sports karate, traditional karate and classical karate?

[random]

thesaurus.reference.com/search?q=tradition


thesaurus.reference.com/search?q=traditional

thesaurus.reference.com/search?q=custom


This could be a good place to start, by defining what we mean by Traditional we might be better served by saying we do Karate that has a Tradition. I come across this kind of thing often, people refer to their tradition when what they mean is custom, I have yet to find two Traditional clubs that are the same, even within an association there is always a certain spin put onto things. Now the observant among us will realise that all these words have an overlap when it comes down to their basic etymology yet when we use them they create certain ideas and responses in others.

So what makes an art Traditional…for me it is keeping some of the ancient usages and customs, and not relying on fancy new ways of putting a glossy finish on things.

[death]

Randon is right about the tradition and custom thing.My teacher will just get all over you if you use traditional and karate in the same sentence.He says to call it Orthodox or original karate.

[Aefibird]

I suppose when it comes down to it when I say that I do "traditional" karate I just mean "not kickboxing".

[AngelaG]

I used to go to a kickboxing club that seemed more hung up on tradition than my karate club. It was all very muh bowing, OSSing and sensei'ing all over the place. And it was a hard club, mainly populated by the Navy and Royal Marines on leave. Me and my friends were the only females.

[whitewarlock]

Umm, ossing and senseing is not traditional. That's actually an American/European thing. A means to give the impression of tradition.

[AngelaG]

whitewarlock said:

Umm, ossing and senseing is not traditional. That's actually an American/European thing. A means to give the impression of tradition.

That's what I meant

[random]

That’s the problem I was touching on, every club has its traditions and some clubs, rather surprisingly, use the traditional (cough) name for a teacher. Yet by their description we know they are not a traditional (pass the cough mixture) club. I suppose even the plebe in the street may even make that distinction but may not understand why.

[dojo]

I think about a plain white gi with a "normal" belt. I think about having to study for 7-10 years to get a shodan. I am thinking about kihon and katas taught till you drop

This is what would make me think about the traditional side of Karate

[thfsnc]

To me "traditional" means hardcore training methods and a dedication to a combat mentality.

I think unless you're sporting shinai/bo staff bruises and thick callouses on your hands and feet it's not truely traditional karate.

but that's my opinion.

[AceRimmer]

I like the back of Iain Abernethys T shirts

'Reality is our tradition'