What has happened to "traditional" karate over the last few years? Let be back up a little so you all can see where I'm coming from. I started karate in 1982 at a traditional shotokan dojo. My instructor was very good at trying to instill a sense of real fighting applications, kata bunkai and all that good stuff. We would participate in "closed" tournaments with other traditional style schools but were strongly reminded that all tournaments were just demonstrations that some people would get medals at.The main goal of tournaments were to meet and see different styles of karateka. Cool, Well around 1992, I stopped going to class on a regular basis. I continued training on my own and from any source I could, when I could. Last year I've been able to fully get back involved. I've visited my old sensei and all the sensei's from my younger years. Everyone and I mean EVERY ONE of them are all about AAU Karate tournaments and waiting for karate to become an olympics sport. My old sensei for example, used to be all about NOT changing a kata solely for competitions. Now his students perform kata's for the dojo and when getting ready for a tournament allows them to change low kicks to head kicks because the judges like it better.The other sensei's when I visited them would introduce me to their students and without fail they always seem to add that so and so was stae champion last year in kumite. I'm talking about these instructors were hard core teachers who were not big on the tournament thing. Now they are possessed with it. WHAT DID I MISS?????????

The end to anything real being taught of Karate, from 99.9% of the Karate Dojo out there. Welcome to the real, we want your money so we will do whatever it takes, world of Martial Arts.

That's just sad. The last 15 plus years I've been researching, learning more history and forming my own idea's as to what I believe karate was about prior to 1903. Trying out my bunkai idea's to see if they really work or not. The same with the goshindo to get to a more practical, working personal karate for me. I wrongly believed that the sensei's of my youth would be also doing this.Then I find out that they have all regressed to AAU tournament's to justify the karate they teach. Dishearting to say the least...

I am not sure where you are located at in GA but there is one really good school I know of up there, if you would be interested I will pass on the Sensei's name.

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My old sensei for example, used to be all about NOT changing a kata solely for competitions. Now his students perform kata's for the dojo and when getting ready for a tournament allows them to change low kicks to head kicks because the judges like it better.

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I have always forund that an interesting dichotomy. People (earnestly) wish something to be more popular. But in doing so, they allow all kinds of fundamental changes to the very thing that thet were trying to popularize (preserve?).

Makes you wonder if it's worth "popularizing" at all.

Mr. Hart I'm located in northwest ga. I would be glad to hear your recommendation of sensei's. I may know them already.

I truly understand where you are coming from.....I loved martial arts.. I had reached 4th gup in the fall of 1986, and then my teacher had personal problems and went away...needless to say over the next 20 years(and no training) I formed a opinion on what I believed martial arts to be, what a shock I was in for when I started to search for a good place to train with my daughters. Like you I had found that all I had known and loved had changed to things that my wildest dreams could not fathom.

The best advice I can offer is to look into all the training options in your area and chose the best that you can and be very selective in whom you associate yourself with..
and to be truthful you might have to look inside yourself to consider just how much your willing to bend to the changed times...
I was lucky in my chioce, the more I find out about my instructors the more I like the art. I found a instructor that is a 6th Dan and personally trained with General Choi in ITF and that is what he based his blended art on , and even Named his art after a dream that the General had and that was a Unified Korea. Tong il Lo (Path to Unity)

Mr. Matt Sommers, he is located in South Georgia, but to be honest, I do not remember exactly where. If you can find him, you will be happy with what you get. I will check with my sources to find someone near you if possible.

It is a sad thing, but "traditional" just doesn't have marketing appeal. Adapt, or close your dojo.
I remember years ago, "ninjamania" was the fad, and many schools quickly clamored to the bujinkan to get some sort of accreditation.
Then came the cinema hits of "Karate Kid"... and there were special kids classes formed.
Now the UFC and PRIDE have exploded on the scene, and everyone wants to learn the so called "mixed martial arts".

For traditionalists to endure, it seems that the attitude is that there has to be some sort of recognition on a huge scale. AAU, Olympics... gold medals and trophies... perhaps this will engender some sort of reality TV show like "Karate Idol"?

I encourage you to endure. Good luck.

I'm not sure when, but it seems that the training climate has gone from Budo to Buisness in many cases. If you look closer though, it may not be as bad as it seems. Could the traditional Karate be returning to it's own obscure roots? It looks like it, or at least I think so. Many schools seem to be adopting the give them what they want philosophy.While others just close and return to teaching out of garages and back yards. No advertising, the potential students finding them by reference or luck. This is how it was in the begining I think. So maybe It's not a matter of Traditional Karate disappearing, but coming full circle. Just a thought.

Good Luck!
Mike.