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THESE ARE THE PERSONAL VIEWS OF HANSHI ALAN GIBSON. QUOTES FROM OTHER SOURCES (THIRD PARTIES) HAVE ALSO BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND USED IN GOOD FAITH FOR THERE ACCURACY. VIEWS EXPRESSED MAY NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF OTHERS WITHIN THE SAMA ORGANISATION, OR REPRESENT THE POLICY OR CRITERIA OF THE SAMA ORGANISATION. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY HANSHI GIBSON ARE THE RESULT OF HIS 48 YEARS OF INVOLVMENT WITHIN THE MARTIAL ARTS AND ARE ONLY INTENDED TO GIVE FOOD FOR THOUGHT. GO BACK TO HOME PAGE: CLICK HERE
Views on this page No one can claim to be teaching something purely unique Is true Karate becoming a thing of the past? Is traditional Karate loosing it's identity to sport karate? Thought's to ponder over!
(1) Although many styles or groups may be unique in some of their teaching methods, no one person can honestly claim to be teaching a unique style of unharmed combat. If they say they do then they must of invented the punch, kick, strike, grab, lock, choke, throw, pull, stab, tear and rip. For these methods are the basic fundamental principles of all unarmed combat styles that has developed and evolved since the cave man days. All systems of karate, be it Wado-Ryu, Shotokan or Gojo-Ryu etc; are certainly not pure in the sense that every technique was developed solely by one person, for all styles and methods have been created and handed down from the foundations of the past. The only contribute that a style or method may hold I believe is the difference of how you hold your hands, the stance which may be high or low, how one moves, the attitude, the philosophy of the club and teacher etc. So it's true to say that all styles have simply incorporated techniques from past martial art systems. The founder of Wado-Ryu karate, the late grand Japanese master Ohtsuka was a student of atemi Jujitsu well before the art of karate was introduced into Japan. Master Ohtsuka only started training in karate when it was later introduced into Japan by the Okinawan karate master, Gichin Funakoshi. Ohtsuka trained under Funakoshi for many years, but like so many others who have their own idea's and ambitions Ohtsuka parted company from Funakoshi and went on and developed his own personal idea of karate. Therefore it's true to say that like all other styles the basic foundations of Wado-Ryu karate are simply based on what master Ohtsuka had only learned himself from his past experiences and teachers. This can also be said of Funakoshi's Shotokan karate which was developed from the foundation's of what he himself had learned from his past teachers. It's plain for everyone to see when watching a karate class that in the end its a simple equation, a kick is a kick, a punch is a punch, and a block is a block, the only difference that you may see is in the way it is taught, the club badge, uniform, the philosophy and concept. However it is not the style but the experience, attitude and standing of the instructor and the way he teaches that is important.
(2) Is true karate becoming a thing of the past?
How can others teach something they know nothing about? There is no one style of karate better than another. Anyone who says, his or her style is the best is very foolish and unwise, for the style does not make the difference. The individual and their training makes the difference.
For me this is true traditional karate. Hanshi Gibson 7th Dan
(3) Is traditional karate loosing its identity to sport karate? Master Otake Head of the Warrior School of Japan Japans top traditional fighting school speaking about sport karate fighting and real fighting, he quotes! "If you loose the sport fight you can try again next time. If you loose here, that is the end"
What is sport karate? Honestly I do not know what "sport karate" is suppose to relate to. I wish the powers that be would change the name to something much more appropriate as they did for kickboxing which was known at the beginning of it's life for some idiotic reason as "full contact karate". Call it tag fighting or touch fighting, anything else other than "sport karate". Please don't get me wrong, I am not against competition participation altogether. I believe that it may have a place in today's sport orientated culture, but the only good benefit in realistic terms I believe is for children. Competition or play fighting as I would prefer to call it can be good healthy fun for children. Strictly and safely controlled it should give them a strong sense of achievement, motivation, concentration and I hope that much needed self-confidence that many children need. Therefore I feel that competition is a good thing for children to participate in. The only problem with children's competition's I have experienced is the lack of understanding that some parents have of it. For example I have been asked why their child is not using their karate blocks to defend themselves. I tell them that they must understand that it is not true karate or a true form of self-defence, they should understand that its only a watered down fighting game. There are many rules in competition to safe-guard children from injury, although I have noticed that some groups sadly fail to implement these rules, however to call it "karate" is wrong, for eventually we will loose sight of what the word "karate" means, its intention and what it encompasses.
"Sport karate" is way down the line as a practical fighting sport. By promoting to adults such a traditional powerful fighting art as a sport, throwing aside it's philosophy, it's powerful blocks, it's strong skilful self-defence techniques and all it's traditions is surely sweeping away the true image of karate as being a deadly and powerful fighting martial art. Karate-do (the way of the empty hand) was never intended to be a sport or a game Many adults who compete in karate competitions, especially the winners seem to suffer from a delusional form of self worship. These superstars imagine they have become indestructible because of winning a trophy or medal. I have no problem about real athletic sporting competitions and the winning of trophies or getting a name for oneself, but to say that "sport karate" competitors are well tuned top physical athletes is very amusing to me. If you ever have the chance to go to an adult competition you'll see many overweight and very unfit people. Many referee's look like they have just come from a pork pie eating competition. Most referee's are senior instructors within their own clubs although one would not think so to look at them. Someone who is not very fit or good physically at karate usually goes into refereeing. Looking official and important in their blazers, gray flannel trousers, association tie and badge I usually find that these people are has-been's or have never-been's who are trying to hang on to power and authority. Many clearly do this to give them recognition within their own club, to impress students especially the younger ones in saying, look at me, although I may be useless at karate am I not an important person. That's why they have to pursue this sort of position, it's their little niche, rubbing shoulders with top people so they can boast to others about who they know. A great karate master once said "One should be proud and always aspire to be in the mould of your instructor". Well looking at these porkers makes me wonder why their students want to aspire to anyone who is either fat, useless at karate and unfit.
The whole fiasco of adult competitions with it's refereeing errors, it's rules, it's system of scoring, it's lack of technique, contact, and realism is not doing us any favors at all. For the public t o see black belts loosing fights to lower grades shatters the belief of the black belt image. It is sending the wrong message out and the wrong impression about the skills and strengths of what a true karate black belt should stand for. Before the promotion of competitions, achieving a black belt meant something, something that took many years of blood sweat and tears to achieve and something to be proud of. In showing such poor standards in the name of such a powerful traditional fighting art these competitions surely tarnish the art. and the problem is that many who enter competitions seem totally oblivious to this fact. The word "Karate" should not be disrespected or abused by governing organisations and associations. Why do so many traditional governing karate groups get involved in competitions, are they blind to the implications and damage they are doing. Unlike many true challenging sports, "sport karate" is totally false in its awards. If you take into account the overall structure of "sport karate" its lack of contact, its lack of techniques and lack of realism it must be way down the line as a practical fighting sport. Thai boxing, boxing, kickboxing or ultimate fighting, cage or (K1) are much more practical in terms of learning about contact, fitness, strength, hardness, aggression and as fighting sports go many are much more realistic in there approach, methods of training and much more exciting to watch.
If it was a real fight, many of these so called winners would be dead in seconds.
They seem to never take on board the reality that it's only a game and its not real fighting. If it was a real fight many of these so called winners and champions would be dead meat in seconds.
Sport karate has rewritten the rule book showing a complete disrespect to such a deadly fighting art.
Fighting is usually fought on a safe matted area and always in a large open space. It's a one to one fight, usually fighters now fight in the same weight category, both opponents know they have to play by the rules or loose points. If a fight gets a bit rough or if they fall on the floor they understand that they are completely safe as the referee will quickly stop the fight giving them a chance to get up and restart the fight. Unlike the old days of competition there is hardly any or no contact involved. Winning is done usually with a single punch or sometimes a kick, most real fighting techniques have been fully stripped away completely, i.e.; no hook punching, uppercuts, spinning fists, open hand strikes, low kicks, ground fighting, butting, chokes, grabbing, pushing, holding, or throwing etc. Taking these techniques away is taking away karate itself.
Please make it more realistic.
A Japanese master once told me, "knowledge (skill, technique) is power, but please understand it is only power if one has the mental and physical ability to use it". Many "sport karate" competitors would not be interested in this sort of training as it would certainly be to hard for them, also they might get hurt or beat up which would certainly affect their image and would burst their little bubble. Like watching paint dry. Competitions for many of today's karate groups have become the only main purpose and reason of their training. Many clubs only concentrate towards the winning of competitions. I know of certain groups who award students their grades in line with their success in competitions. However I have to state that there are a very small minority of hard core traditional karate people that have entered many competitions who are well respected, but hopefully this still should not distract one from the truth. Some competitors may be athletic which is very commendable and important to ones ability it certainly does not automatically give them that true martial spirit or ability for real combat. Unlike boxing, kickboxing or any other exciting sport where constant contact action is involved, where opponents are trying hard to knock one another out, "Sport karate's" main scoring technique is usually a single controlled punch called "gyakuzuki" where competitors dance around for ages before eventually deciding to use it. This is for me and I would think for most people in the street is like watching paint dry. Perhaps that is why there are no big sponsors in the sport, and maybe that's why usually adult competitions are mostly spectacled by it's own competitors, or families of the competitors. What is a British karate champion? It's most unfortunate that clubs who participate mostly in competition contrive to indoctrinate many of their students especially the younger ones into a false sense of security, self image, glamour and fame. For those who believe in it are truly sucked into its vacuum. These clubs are always trying to boost their image by proclaiming how many karate champions they have, "look at us they smugly say, "we have a British karate champion" , then surely we must be the best. Would someone please explain to me what a British karate champion is? Is it someone who can beat the living daylights out of every karate person in Britain? Are they a deadly fighting machine? Are they someone that should be worshiped by lesser mortals within the karate World? Surely this gives the wrong impression that being a competition karate champion does not make you a super person. Ticky Donovan the British team coach once quoted in a karate magazine that "most British champions could not punch their way out of a wet paper bag". what does that tell you! "Sport karate" could be inhibiting! I believe that "Sport karate" could implant a dangerous way of thinking. I remember a long time ago reading about the death of a British karate champion. The papers said he was foolish enough to think just because he was the British karate champion he was able to take on a knife wielding thug, unfortunately it led to him being stabbed to death. Being obsessed with competitions and lacking any realistic self-defence training made it hard for him to separate competition fighting from reality. A very dangerous way of thinking which I believe was the mistake that finally cost his life. For being accustomed to fighting within a totally safe environment with safety rules, regulations and having the St John's ambulance people on the side ready to rush in if anyone got a knock I am sure can over a period of time create a false illusion. I really believe that many who are infatuated with "sport karate" have lost the plot, in that they believe that by winning a trophy or having a championship name makes them invincible. Habits formed and reinforced over time through "sport karate" can be extremely inhibiting you. Being taught to pull punches and kicks is one of the fundamental problems of "sport karate". Have many karate groups forgotten the true purpose of karate and the words of it's founder masters. Is it not sad that many karate groups have forgotten the purpose of karate, for students of karate should continually strive to train for real life combat, especially for dangerous situations and not be distracted or restricted in anyway from focusing on this.
Words spoken by the late great karate legend, Enoeda sensei, and something that should be taken on board by all participants of sport fighting "the real discipline of karate will be destroyed and it will become just another sport"
It can have its detractions. With sport karate, formerly the emphasis was on keeping a strong controlled technique, but now it is more on match-winning techniques, lessening the importance attached to the need for good solid blocking. This is a pity. I believe that we must still employ powerful techniques because if we do not and think only in terms of competition, the result will be that the real discipline of karate will be destroyed and it will become just another sport. Therefore, for someone committed to competition within the larger context of practicing karate, it is vital to work hard at basics in order to develop later a strong and correct competition fighting technique. There must be hard training and commitment".
Sport karate in the Olympics. Will we eventually loose sight of karate's true identity? In the light of all of this"sport karate" I think will enter the Olympics one day. The rush to sell the farm and gamble everything on the Olympics is not a good thing as many believe it to be not really a good spectator sport. I also believe it will last no longer in the public gaze as Judo did after it was introduced as an Olympic sport during the 1964 games in Tokyo. What will come from it, will the general public end up establishing a completely false impression of what true karate is all about. Will we eventually loose sight of it's identity. One thing is clear, the image of "sport karate" in the Olympics is not going to be what most of the general public will expect it to be, for I suspect they will expect a Claude Van Dam or Jet Li fighting scene, well their in for a big surprise. What of the future? who knows. With the debate that "sport karate" may enter the Olympics, what of the future of traditional karate? who knows. So I say to all governing bodies, please change the name and change the belt system, is it worth destroying an ancient art for the sake of a game.
(3) Thought's to ponder over! Hatch a dream and then believe it. Time is never wasted when you're wasted all the time. Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul: where there is compassion even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless. A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. The quality of the moment is more important than the number of our days. If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. No elected body is the country, we are the country. You and me. Us. It can only stay that way as long as we care to keep it so. Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. Who so loves believes the impossible. Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. Love takes up where knowledge leaves off. Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. You can widen your life by yourself, but to deepen it you need a friend. Of cheerfulness, or a good temper - the more it is spent, the more of it remains. The best proof of love is trust. The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well. No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with friends today enjoy it and bless God for it. I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself away like a tree that sows seed every spring and never counts the loss, because it is not loss, it is adding to future life, strongly rooted perhaps, but spilling out its treasure on the wind. If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy. When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable. Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us. Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value. All love shifts and changes. I don't know if you can be wholeheartedly in love all the time. Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are. A book may lie dormant for fifty years or for two thousand years in a forgotten corner of a library, only to reveal, upon being opened, the marvels or the abysses that it contains, or the line that seems to have been written for me alone. In this respect the writer is not different from any other human being: whatever we say or do can have far-reaching consequences. Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. The great thing about a computer notebook is that no matter how much you stuff into it, it doesn't get bigger or heavier. Of cheerfulness, or a good temper - the more it is spent, the more of it remains. What the world really needs is more love and less paper work. A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decency to thank her. Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines. Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being. Love is the immortal flow of energy that nourishes, extends and preserves. Its eternal goal is life. You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Books are the shoes with which we tread the footsteps of great minds. Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. The Eskimo has fifty-two names for snow because it is important to them. Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up. Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves. Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us. No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
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By taking away many deadly techniques from traditional karate, "sport karate"
has rewritten the rule book. Lets look closely at an adult competition:
The founder masters of karate such
as Gichen Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi and Kenwa Mabuni viewed "sport
karate" (referring to adults in their day when sparring was
with no rules, very brutal and very realistic) "as fairly insignificant,
a thing to get over with as soon as possible so the student's real
career in karate could begin". If they were depressed of the
state of karate then, then what would they think of the present
state of karate. They would be surely horrified.