Over the years i have seen kumite fighters who did not knw pinan nidan and stayed at 8th kyu so they could win comps. I have seen world level kata pratitioners who ould perform the prettiest kata whichprobably bore no resemblance to the original. i have seen club practitioners forget what maegeri-gykazui is, so how do decide who or what is a karateka. are they
technically gifted, maybe
morally upstanding
fit and healthy
or is it something that cannot be defined?

Ai-uchi,

We have talked on this forum about kata, about Okinawan karate compared to Japanese karate. We have discussed techniques. We have talked about the insistant commercialization of the MAs and the predatory practices and the ubiquitousness of the McDojos.

However you define karate, personally or from the outside, you have to determine this yourself.

If it walks like a duck....and it quacks like a duck...well, now you have to tell me what a "duck" is...and what it isn't.


Regards,

-B

Read the "Defining Karate" thread by Victor Smith below. When you've read it all, let us know what a karate-ka is.