Karate Myths
During some 'research' earlier today, I stumbled upon a website, or rather a web page, which talked about karate from a very 'true to life' perspective. I was instantly intrigued just by reading the title... The page itself lists ten myths about karate which are generally believed, as the page itself states, either by karate practitioners, or indeed those who only know about karate from films.I can only say that the article brought a smile to my face; it's strangely (and sometimes sadly) true throughout many clubs all over Britain, or at least mostly true... Please follow the link and have a read. I have my own similar opinions:
1) Karate is an ancient art.
This is actually not true as the article states. There are many ideas and oriental teachings, possibly meditation techniques that are indeed thousands of years old, and some of these do relate to the martial arts of today. However Gichin Funakoshi is regarded as the founding father of modern karate; he lived from 1868 to 1957...
2) Karate is good for fitness training
The article denies this, but please believe me when I say karate really is very good for your fitness. I can understand the author's point of view, fitness is a strange phenomenon. It can be subjective, ie. some people can exercise for years and never really improve their fitness. Combine this with the fact that no matter what sports coaches say, fitness is relative to your chosen discipline, in that somebody who plays football will become 'fit for football', but not necessarily karate. There are many different ways to be fit.
Remember, I am speaking from the perspective of a young karateka in his early twenties. I have trained since I was seven. If you begin karate in your forties, when your day job involves ridiculous hours in front of a computer screen, then yes, you will likely struggle, as you would in any sport.
Training regimes do vary from club to club, but all I can say to those few who have trained for many years and don't see any improvement in fitness, is come train at my club!
3) Bowing and formality is an essential part of karate training
Once again, this is denied to an extent. I am a little indifferent on this matter. Although I agree that you must always respect your practice partner and that traditions should be upheld, I do think sometimes clubs take it so far to the extent that it becomes a form of vanity. There really is nothing wrong however, with a little 'oriental spirit' within your dojo and training sessions...
4) He's a green belt; that means he's advanced/intermediate/beginner
I personally despise the belt system. The varying levels of skill between different practitioners of the same grade is very apparent. There should also, in my opinion, be a strong differentiation between juniors and seniors. Many of the concepts within martial arts are beyond the comprehension of children or younger teenagers. Although this is similar in many sports to an extent, it plays a far greater role for martial arts.
5) Black Belt is a universal standard
'if one organization can get students from beginner to black belt in two years, and another takes ten years, the standards of proficiency of newly-qualified black belts from the two organizations cannot possibly be the same.'
Fantastic. I'm glad somebody has finally just come out and said it. I feel it's something that many people are fooled by. Deep down, I think many know it's true but few actually want to believe it. Usually those who got a black belt in under a year!
6) Karate training will eventually come to hurt less
As he correctly states, it won't. Why should it? It's a demanding physical activity.
7) Move number X in kata Y should be a block, not a strike.
Karate is very open to interpretation. That is why there are so many different 'styles' with one actual named style (ie. Shotokai). There is also a school of though that says there is no such thing as a block, everything is offense. It doesn't really matter, whatever works for you...
8) To master karate, one must achieve inner peace and tranquility
The idea of practicing karate to make oneself a better person is true. Sorry to disagree with the piece again. You finish a hard days work and want nothing more than to put your feet up with a beer and watch Deal or No Deal... Well maybe... But you go to training and feel 120% better after... Or you should...
9) No comment
10) There are secret karate techniques known only to the most advanced practitioners
Of course there isn't. But grand masters who have been training for 60+ years do demonstrate the idea of 'soft' karate. They use no muscular strength and believe me, if you randomly decided to pick a fight, you could not get anywhere near them.
The problem is, this idea has been misinterpreted. Many clubs have ridiculous old men who train; they have maybe trained for 5-6 years. They maybe have a bad knee or hip. They of course cannot perform athletic feats. To make up for this, they see themselves as 'Mr Miyagi' , as a supposed grand master, who practices soft karate as if there is some divine intervention involved. I have trained with several of these types of individual in the past. I love they way they talk about their training - 'I've reached first dan and now see that it's only the beginning... etc' It's CHRONIC... They are kidding themselves.
Nobody believes in soft karate more than me, and there are many martial artists who have devoted their entire lives to karate, and yes, they are now old men who are genius karateka. But that whisky drinking, cigarette smoking, old bloke in your local club with that massive ego likely isn't one of them...
posted by qmchaz64 @ 10:11 pm
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