I have received E mails from all over the world which have become more frequent as of late. All of these have a common thread aside from their dismay at the politics and obsession with money now seen in many JKA Karate orgs. They are all concerned, as I have been for a long time, with the move from traditional to a sports orientated karate, even though some of these orgs profess to being "the only truely traditional orgs left". This couldn't be further from the truth. All of their training is orientated to tournament style movements in order to "score" points. Some have gone so far as to endanger their students with techniques which could have disastrous consequences either in tournament sparring or in an actual self defense situation. The karate being taught for even the more advanced ranks in the dojos is not traditional in any sense, but is geared towards "winning" matches. With these new "proof of scoring a point" techniques, in order for referees and judges who have no real experience to check there is a point in "slow motion", students are being put in harm's way. For example, karateka are now being taught to "hold and lock" on their reverse punch rather than snap back as we were all taught in advanced stages of our training back in the "good old days". (If I had "held and locked" in my dojo in the 60's after reaching dan rank, my sensei would have really been on my case when we were training for ju-kumite. If I had done it in instructor's class, I may have been thrown out if I had been unable to break this "beginner's habit".) Our sensei back then was adamant that we "snap and pull back" instantly at higher levels in order to have a "guard up" and to be ready to use another technique. There are instances where the lock and hold punch is more or less correct, eg, if you are standing in place and someone moves at you and there is no time for a good shift movement. A strong short jab or reverse punch are very effective in this instance as your opponent is moving into you. But at advanced levels, even in this instance, I would not want to use the lock method. We should always shift if at all possible out of harm's way. Just think if the person coming at you has a weapon. Would you want to stand and lock against a knife? I would hope not unless you are suicidal.
There have already been serious injuries using these kind of techniques. At one tournament, for example, a karateka who had "scored" 2 times in sucession, had no points given because he used a "snap- back" type punch.( If you have ever sparred with Tanaka or Oishi Senseis, you know just how powerful snapback techniques can be). After this occurred, he used what the judges wanted in order to "win", a "hold and lock" type punch. After "yame", his opponent struck him, a typical move I've encountered many times in the past, and he had one of his neck bones broken, a serious injury. This could have been prevented along with many other injuries that have occurred using this kind of move. He was forced into the wrong mindset and an incorrect technique and he paid for it. His opponent was a cheat who hit him after the "yame", a technique used among some types of "rotters" in karate in order to intimidate especially in dojo kumite, the roughest kind with nobody there to stop whats going on till its too late. If he had used the self defense mindset even in ju-kumite, this wouldn't have happened. He played this org's foolish game of "sports karate" and paid for it. Why do they have this foolish rule? One reason is if JKA Shotokan karate had been let into the Olympics, this kind of move would have let the inexperienced judges see the point scored. (the Olympics have been lost to our style of karate in either case because of politics) so all of this foolishness was for nothing. In tournament kata, the same kind of thing is going on. Karateka are all performing the same katas because the inexperienced judges "know them" and everybody has of course, taken the same fancy katas like Unsu, Goju-shiho- Sho and Sochin. These 3 katas are about the only ones you see performed anymore. Sadly, even some of the highest ranked karateka's do not know more than a few favorite katas any longer. They just don't care enough. If asked for help with a new kata by a pupil, they'll tell them they are not ready for the new kata, but the real reason is they don't even know the kata themselves. They didn't care enough to keep training in all of our kata, just their favorites which they do not perform too well.
When karate went from a "jutsu" to a "do" art form, sensei's were concerned with having their pupils improve themselves in all ways, spritually, mentally and physically. This was a very commendable attitude as it made for a much "better" class of student who aspired to something more than just being able to "fight". But when they went to the "do" aspects, some orgs also went to the tournament style of training in order to attract the younger bloods in the schools who didn't want to train in the old ways, but wanted to spar (fight) all the time in order to "prove" themselves. All self defense aspects started disappearing in dojo training with the emphasis being on using the winning moves for tournaments. They trained over and over with those same moves which  really "showed" the scoring points in a match and which were not as dangerous to use as the other kinds of older techniques. For the most part they used reverse punch and front kick. Only the more daring and electic karateka used anything different. All of the authentic moves from kata were lost in everyday training. Now some dojos are trying to rediscover the real applications of these moves, sometimes going overboard in their attempts, and wasting a lot of valuable time doing so, when they should be training rather than talking. Training in kata full out is a more prolific way to self defense understanding than discussing applications ad infinitum. Self defense technique must grow out of the subconscious, it must be "mindless" without any thought. It can not be a choreographed sequence taken from applications that are really not understood. This is the kind of garbage seen in strip mall "schools", totally useless moves which pupils try to "memorize". Another obstacle in their learning from our present kata is that many of the kata themselves were changed from the original Okinawan form by modern masters who did not want the general public to see the reality of the brutality of the old techniques and because of fear of injury.  So unless the karateka are very experienced, they will not be able to really find the "hidden" movements. All of these factors have destroyed traditional karate as it was originally taught. There are dojos out there who are trying desparately to reach back into history and rediscover ancient truths about karate, but it is very difficult. For example, some have gone back to doing the old exercises that are somewhat like Heian Shodan with more repetition, thinking this will help somehow, but they will not. Other dojos have gone back to doing more 3 or 5 step basic sparring which will make you much stronger in your blocking, distancing and timing, but will not teach you real self defense. Don't ever try going straight back in a real situation. This kind of training is very important, but not for pure self defense at advanced levels. Shifting, throwing, pressure points, arm locks, all types of strikes, punches, sweeps, leg hooks and kicks are all in our old and new versions of kata. None of these are being used any longer except for those few dojos that have found their way back. True self defense is in the mindset of the karateka whether or not they are doing sports or traditional karate. There has to be a balance between modern karate and the older pure self defense waza. Karatedo is after all, a martial art first and foremost. It is not a sport no matter what most orgs say at the present time.

Self Training:
Many have asked me about self training which I have mentioned in my previous articles. Very few karateka seem to be able to self train either because they do not know what to do, are afraid of making bad mistakes and re-enforcing them which is very possible, and most of all, they just do not have the motivation and disipline it takes. Some have been "brainwashed" by their "sensei's" that they will need their guidance forever, never able to go out and train on their own without their sensei's "showing them the way". Most sensei's who give this kind of advice haven't themselves done any self training since leaving their dojos years before, if they had ever done so even then. The sincere true masters I've talked with have always told me that self training was the only way to true knowledge. They were absolutely right. You must discover within yourself the hidden "secrets" that are talked about in so many books. You will not find them in a book or at a seminar or summer camp. All you will find is that you have a "lighter wallet".
You will discover after enough training for many years, that the "secret "is to self train, for this is when discoveries are made which will never be found in front of a teacher. Training by yourself at a high level gives you a feedback unknown in a dojo with others around you and being told what to do. What you will unlock within yourself with the correct intense self training will astound you. New techniques will grow out of your own subconcious rather than from someone else's.
This kind of training is for those karateka who no longer are living in a location where they can train, or who do not want to become part of the politics in a dojo/org that is in their city. The advanced karateka who want to be true to themselves and to karate. This is only a basic philosophical guide, not a technical one as there are many excellent articles on the Internet which cover self training curriculum. There are so many excellent technical articles on the Internet, that I am not going to interject any more.
Do not self train in an intense way unless you are advanced enough to really understand what you are doing, perhaps sandan level up. If you don't have a thorough understanding of all aspects of your training, you will be doing more harm than good, forming such bad habits, that you will not be able to break them in the future. For this kind of karateka, just stay in great shape by doing other activities like running, etc, along with light karate training like going through your kata many times and practicing all basics. Just enough to stay in shape for when you next study with an authentic teacher. If you are not advanced, you do not want to form muscle memory using poor techniques. If you have reached a true JKA sandan level of knowledge, train as hard as you possibly can experimenting all the time to discover new things. A camcorder would be of immense help as you will be able to look at yourself in real time without any posing. You will not believe (or perhaps you will) how many mistakes you will pick up using a camera on a tripod no matter what "exalted" rank you may hold. There may come a time when you are fairly pleased with yourself. You will look at the film of yourself and not see anything wrong on the outside at least. Thats when you will try to reach yet a higher level and start all over again if you are a true budoka. You will continue this process for life always reaching a higher level where you will be on the "lowest step" of that new higher level. Thats what makes true martial arts so exciting and prolific. You never reach anywhere near perfection and always have to strive towards a higher level never ending your journey. I started on my path back in the dark ages of 1957. I have trained almost all of my life. I count my training with a sensei or by myself, in terms of hours spent training, not "years in" karate, a term I have heard too often that has no meaning. "Years in karate" means nothing, as I know many who have been in karate for years and years, but have not had the hours of training of someone else who has trained in karate for a quarter of their years. Years spent are meaninless, its the hours that counts. Less is more in the martial arts or in life.

The comments above relate to E mail I've received, and I've tried to answer using this form of reply so all who find my web pages can read my remarks. I responded to each and every E mail when I first received them. When I receive another batch of mail, I will write about them again if I find the subject matter interesting. Again, let me please remind people writing me that I only want to hear from karateka about JKA Karate, not the many other styles, as there are just to many and my experience is in JKA karate. I have had many other styles write and I appreciate their interest. I have respect and curiosity for all traditional martial arts, but there is only so much time available.
NEW:

I have received E mails that have asked my affiliation with an organization. I'm not connected with any one "org", and have not been for many years. I am loyal to the JKA concept of karate. I do support the training methods utilized by JKA karate orgs, but am not part of any group at this time, not able to abide the politics and "sports" minded philosophy of all the major orgs. They don't seem to be getting any better as of late from what I've seen on the Internet and from what I've heard from old friends who are still in the "mainstream". I have seen karateka who actually are getting worse every year as time goes by rather than getting better. I'm talking about young karateka. They are being taught so poorly and the "new" concepts they are taught are so incorrect, that they look worse every year, when they should be improving. Its impossible to improve when you are taught techniques that go against every single correct aspect of karatedo. How can so many karateka be so fooled by so few for so long amazes me. It is beyond my belief that they can continue on this course.  More politics and more greed seem to be the only thing that motivates these masters and their groups. It never seems to end. They all come up with more and more schemes to take your money. Like testing twice for each dan to show your "committment". Lets not forget some that are still supporting the concept of getting into the Oylmpics, who have, by recent news from Salt Lake City and other locations around the world, their own problems with corruption at all levels. We have all seen what the karate in the Olympics looks like. It was pathetic. Worse than anything possible. Yet these masters will "bow down" to the heads of this very political group, perhaps destroying karatedo in the process. More ways to make money and less decent traditional karate being taught in most of the bigger orgs now, at least in this country. Karate in general seems to be better in other countries with less emphasis on the greed and self promotion. Perhaps thats why most of the original instructors all "fought" over who was going to come to the good old US of A, where the streets were "lined with gold". I have had E mail from many karateka in countries other than the US who now seem to be getting fed up with their org's politics as well. Their training however, seems to be better with much less emphasis on tournaments. Some are trying to find their way back to the older training methods. Kase Sensei's group comes to mind. He has always been one of my favorite looking like a young man on the floor in his older age. Why? He doesn't care much about politics and only cares about the art of karatedo.
As far as any of the main orgs here saying they are "traditional", that is not correct. The main ones in this country are obsessed with sports karate and it seems to be the only thing they can write about on the Internet. Tournaments results, ad nauseum, all over their web pages. Nothing of real importance can ever be found on their pages. Their articles are exercises in hypocrisy. There are many other sources with excellent articles on different aspects of karatedo. Its all a matter of searching them out. I've been asked to list them as links on my pages, but I'm not going to do that. There are so many links on other excellent pages that I feel its redundant for me to bother.

I recently had an E mail from someone who asked about some of the high ranking instructors he has seen listed on the Internet. He has had his own dojo for many years. He asked about specific ones. I am not going to name them. I can only say that some of them have "legit" ranks, whatever that means these days with the breakup of the JKA, and others have ranked themselves. Some of the highest ranked "sensei's" around have had their ranks "given" to them by a committee of their own choosing. In other words, they have given themselves their higher ranks. Meaningless bunkum. Some have never gone beyond san or yondan, but when they started their own dojo's have taken much higher ranks. I know of one who never went beyond nidan as far as testing, but when he broke from the JKA, he slowly advanced to 8th dan. Yes, and he calls himself "shihan" now. In his films, he looks pathetic. Yet, there are those who follow him. In some ways, they are no different than many of the very high ranked mainstream "masters" who have done exactly the same thing in a somewhat different way. Whenever something changes in their orgs, or after "x" amount of years, all of them are "bumped" up the ladder by nobody but themselves. They havn't improved or gained any more knowledge to pass on. Most have been sitting on their butts for years doing nothing in the way of any training whatsoever. Still basking in the "glory"of their past years when most had a real skill to teach, now long gone from their lack of training and their pursuit of money and power. Many however, do have a great golf game. Is there a "dan" ranking in golf I wonder?
There is not some kind of omnipotent entity who gives out ranks in the karate world. There are no national boards given by the government that you have for a medical degree for example. These instructors just get together and award themselves their higher rank. Its ok for them, but not ever for "you". I know of one yondan who made his rank in the backyard of a "sensei". The head of this org and one of his minions simply gave it to him. I know of another two "masters" who decided it was time for them to become 7th dans, so, they did! All it took was an announcement in a newsletter. Both now can barely move on the floor.  You will have to pay the big bucks for every rank you ever take and all of them are based on different criteria even though they are all supposed to be the same if you are in some kind of JKA org. So don't be too impressed next time you're in front of somebody who is supposed to be, for example, 6th or 7th dan. Like they say in jazz, "it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing". Their rank may not be worth the paper its printed on, no matter who they are, and what country they came from. Only judge them by what they can do right in front of you and by their sincerity and knowledge. Do not judge them by their so called "rank". One other thing, don't let them act as though they are too "advanced" to ever have contact with you on the floor. If they are very old and in poor health, thats a mitigating circumstance. In most instances, the reason they will never have any contact with you, is that they are worried about how poor their performance would be. You may be at a far higher level than the high ranking sensei you just invited to give a very expensive seminar. Challenge them all the time. Force them to realize they have to train in order to survive, literally and to make a living. Their names and reputations should not be enough. Don't let them get away with the hype and the "psych out" because of who they are supposed to be. You may be surprised that your young nidan can show them up in all ways. Sad, but true. Again I'll mention Nakayama Sensei who never just talked at seminars, but always gave a demonstration with someone picked from the group whom he then asked to "attack" him full out. I did this on occasion. Even at his age, he always was able to block and counter with ease. He did this effortlessly. But then, he was a true master unlike most of the others around these days. I'll always remember him with fondness and respect.

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