ike most martial arts, karate originated as a
system that was designed for hand-to-hand
combat. However, things gradually changed
over the ensuing decades. As the style began
to spread around the world, more and more
emphasis was placed on the sport aspect.
Meanwhile, its combative side was downplayed.
In 2020 karate will debut at the Tokyo Olympics, which
many practitioners worry will amplify its sport orienta-
tion. Karate’s usefulness on the street, it’s feared, will be
minimized even further.
Shotokan, perhaps the world’s most popular style of
karate, has not escaped this transition toward competi-
tion. That’s precisely what motivated me to create “com-
bat shotokan.” This back-to-basics system reverses that
troubling trend away from self-defense. As one might
expect from its name, it emphasizes effectiveness in
personal combat rather than effectiveness in sparring —
which puts it in line with the reason most people take up
martial arts in the first place.
Outlined here are the facets of karate that were most in
need of an update. In some cases, the update was merely
a return to karate’s roots.
Less Sparring
When I began studying karate in the early 1960s, sho-
tokan emphasized strong, hard basics. We repeated the
moves over and over and did very little kumite (sparring).
That continued until we reached at least the level of brown
belt. Today, however, the emphasis in most dojo seems to
be on sparring, which leaves less time for students to build
solid basics, and as we all know, a mastery of the basics is
necessary if you wish to be effective on the street.
Examples: A lightning-fast back-knuckle strike might
score in the ring, but the technique could get you killed
in a real fight because it lacks stopping power. In con-
trast, a focused elbow strike won’t have much chance in
the ring, where your opponent is ready and waiting for
your attack, but it can be devastating on the street, where
the element of surprise is on your side.
Yes, sparring is important. It plays a critical role in
learning how to react under pressure and overcome fear.
A problem arises, however, when you devote so much
time to sparring that you no longer want to spend time
on kihon (basics). You must remember that when you
face an opponent in the dojo, you’re not engaging in
combat. You’re engaging in one form of training. Photo Courtesy of Emil Farkas68 BLACKBELTMAG.COM § AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019