Why Karate? In 2018, why would anyone want to do Karate? Starting at UFC 1, we found out that Karate is not as deadly as we were told. Why do Karate when we can do MMA and learn how to be a “real” fighter?
I train athletes that compete in the UFC. That is my main job. I am a coach of combat sports athletes. I have trained champions in Knockdown Karate, Kickboxing, and MMA. I am known as a guy that can make pretty much anyone competitively successful in combat sports. Why am I talking about Karate?
I love competition. I no longer want to compete. I want to train others to compete successfully. I fought my battles in rings and cages. I want to train myself with a purpose beyond winning and losing. I could roll Ju Jitsu but I prefer to hit and be hit. I could do lots of physical things but nothing feels as good to me as putting on my Gi, tying my belt, stepping onto the tatami, and saying OSU!
Karate is very structured and specific while allowing for a certain level of creativity. Etiquette allows for us all to understand how to train which frees us to explore why more deeply. The structured practice keeps us focused and sharp. We have specific points to measure our current state because the style is defined. We have sparring to creatively solve the riddle of challenging another person. We have repetition and sparring to physically challenge ourselves.
Karate all adds up to a deep practice that challenges many places within that our daily lives ignore.
Karate provides a real community of people to be a part of in the real world. This is another aspect of life that we are getting less and less of but have a real human need for.
Karate is a martial art, a way… it is not sport, it is a way of being. It is not something you win at or play, it is something you do.
All of the above and more is why I can say Karate has a place and purpose in 2018 and beyond. Competition has its place, Karate has a purpose. We can find ourselves thru rigorously doing just about anything. My anything is the Martial Way with an emphasis on Karate.
OSU!
Brian Wright