Disparities in Karate Training

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Hmm, thinking about the article title, got to think about using disparities - ops, off topic, apologies. Now, in my Sensei’s dojo circa 1979 he had rules. His rule was no karate-ka would spar until Go-kyu. He wanted to create and condition the students with a solid foundation of basics and kata from which to draw so when they do spar, they can at least make connections when faced by Tori in a fight.

He also had a rule about pacing things and using a process of control that would build up to full force, within safety reason, to learn and apply karate methodologies, principles and forces in achieving the goal of fighting effectively and efficiently. Fighting because we were all Marines and we took the direction of how we trained as Marines for combat.

So, what I say disparities I mean the ones that exist between what is taught and how in karate self-defense vs. what is reality in both the social and asocial self-defense world. 

The first one is insisting that new students jump right into the deep end of the pool by participating, against senior experienced karate-ka, in kumite or paired-drills where absolutely no understanding of the true nature of the tori-uke relationship exist for the express purpose of teaching,not to simply beat the crap out of the new guy because you can. Here, these are some quotes, redacted, about a newbie’s first days and week in the dojo.

He said, “He was getting his ass kicked by a young woman, green belt 10 years younger than me, receiving strikes to his body which strung, how her foot would end up in his mouth repeatedly.” He thought of it as, “Literally as ass kicking.” … He thought, “she was an extremely talented green belt of that time, she and the other green belts were fighting terrors.” He described his dojo training and practice, “In class they (the green belts) worked me over repeatedly. And they worked a very wide range of techniques, including grounding movements.”

Now, how could one possible learn adequately and effectively especially without learning bad habits. I have observed this particular persons articles and such and find a lot of glitches as to teachings and perspectives regarding karate, kumite and self-defense. But, then again I have encountered this type of thing countless times in the last decade or so.  

Then you add in inappropriate and ineffective self-defense techniques you have a real mix of reasons why many karate and martial arts have lost the very thing they need most in teaching others not just karate and martial arts but self-defense. The only redeeming factor is in the last few years I have also observed and detected a huge change of the paradigm of martial arts, karate and self-defense. It is a good thing coming and still there are many more that run it like I describe here. 

To teach and learn and condition oneself especially in regard to self-defense the relationship and use of the tori-uke must consist of a more gradual and increasingly challenging training program that will allow you to do it right, correctly and without glitches that will come back to haunt you if you have to stop an attacker. 

If you don’t have a base of fundamentals and a foundation from which to draw from you will find you have to create something just to survive. Surviving without the appropriate tools to get-r-done. Yes, you can create survival instincts in the dojo against your dojo mates but why and what does that really accomplish other that self-soothing self-stroking egoistic needs of folks with not so great self-esteem and - shame on the instructor and shame on the dojo. 

Once a person has created that foundation and has been guided along toward certain levels of accomplishments then adding the heat to the training accomplishes other more serious and higher levels of experience, knowledge and ability. It is no wonder, in the early days, the attrition rate of students was deplorable and I have to consider the types of folks that made up the dojo who toughed it out experiencing this type of instruction. 

When you dump a person in the deep end of the pool, those who drown - drown. It seems better to start in the kiddy pool, learn how to stroke, paddle and float in the water then experience the shallow end of the pool and once you practice, condition and apply those swimming skills you can safely move to the deep end so later you can swim in the ocean without fear and plenty of confidence you won’t drown.

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