There is nothing quite like seeing an older master who has kept up his training and still moves the same way and perhaps even better than he did many years ago. Kase Sensei comes to mind. Minimum effort with maximum effect. The reason for this is he still loves the art of karatedo and has pride in what he's achieved in the past. He truely is committed to his chosen art. When one is considered an icon in their art, they should have the motivation, disipline and pride to be able to at least look somewhat as sharp as they looked in the past.
But as of late, I see more and more older "masters" who have gone to total seed. I'm not talking really old age or about people who are ill, or have been in an accident, but people who just are too lazy and content with their position to bother with anything as mudane as having to train. As old age creeps in, the training becomes harder and harder. But this is what traditional karate is all about, isn't it? Perfection of self in all ways without regard to age and no matter how difficult. A lifetime committment. These masters are not supposed to be high school sports champs who quit the minute they're out of school.  Some of the "masters" I'm talking about are the heads of their orgs and their technique was the criteria for our art when the JKA was started. What's going on?
They have forgotten most of their kata, and they often have to look in kata books to study the moves of a kata at the seminar they are teaching. Think of it! Someone is paying these people considerable money to teach and they have to look in a book to remember a kata. Anyone who attends a seminar and sees this kind of activity should never ever waste their money again. Many of them have gone to fat, as the only activity they may do is golf. They go around basking in the glory of their old tournament wins still being written about in naive books from people who know nothing about "real" karatedo. I'm not talking about masters who have reached really old age, but masters who are still young men relatively speaking. Some are making films in which they look pathetic. Would they let a younger pupil who looks better do the kata film? Of course not. They are so puffed up with themselves based on their careers of 30 years ago, they can't see what they have now become, or don't even care. All legends! If they no longer look decent enough to get out on the floor because of their lack of committement, motivation and sincerity, let them totally retire from the field and not be seen again. If, on the other hand, they can look like Kase Sensei did the last time I saw him at around 70 years of age, we should give them all the respect and admiration we can. These few who have maintained themselves are truely what Funakoshi Sensei had in mind with his precept of training in karate being a lifetime committment.

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