| Shotokan Karate-do |
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| Sport karate |
| Sport karate involves the application of karate-do techniques in competition. Tournaments are organized by most organizations in which participants compete in areas of kata, synchronized kata, and sparring. Often rank tests are also held. Some karatekas only practice karate in order to compete in tournaments. Some organizations are formed only for that purpose. This is referred to as sport karate. Most of Master Funakoshi's philosophy has been taken out and its now just a matter of brute strength and technique. |
| Links |
| Karate-do |
| One school of thought in karate-do is that true karatekas seeking after everything that Master Funakoshi developed will not participate in something so base as competition. The do of karate-do represents a way of life rather than just some type of sport. People who follow the way of karate-do make a point of reading Master Funakoshi's master text, his 20 Precepts and practised repetition of the Dojo Kun. |
| Both? |
| A better option is the middle of the road. I believe a karateka can practice the humility and emotional and physical stamina that the do offers, while taking part in competition. Truly the ablitiy to maintain the precepts of the do while competing and possibly winning is a true test of one's character. |