Starting my own Karate style...I need help!

Wado Heretic · Green Belt

I would argue age is a moot point in most regards. We should remember that Kanō Jigorō founded Judo at the age of 22. Similarly, many of the pioneers of Karate that founded their own systems were in their thirties. Today, one can be a Godan, fifth-degree, by the age of Thirty-Five. For most systems that is the end of their technical syllabus. We just think of founders as aged men because of memetics, and the fact that after the explosion of styles through the 30s to the 50s, the big camps were established. Then factionalism began, and so starting up as a young, independent, became difficult in the face of the well-established styles. Becoming a founder became associated with the concept of McDojo.

Thus, I would argue against stressing extant rank and age in making this decision. Rather, you need to have a hard look at the experience and knowledge you have, and whether those resources give you a way to create something novel.

Bushido_Man and Nevinyrral have already asked some solid questions you should be considering. I would also agree with Wastelander than you should be wary of taking anything from fiction wholeheartedly. After all:

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness."

It will cast a shadow over all your future efforts unless you transform expectations, and take ownership of the word and idea. Taking ownership means doing so with ideas that have gravitas and speak to others. If you cannot do that then you should appeal to the power of originality: name it something of your own creation or after a principle you believe in.

With regards to the question of competition, that all depends on your end goal. The short answer is that competition is a great form of advertisement if, and it is a big If, you have a good showing. A poor showing, especially one which shows up your ignorance or flaws, will kill your idea before it starts.

Now, discerning customers are not going to take your art seriously as a form of self-defence if it does not perform in full-contact. However, you do not necessarily need competition to provide proof your contact training is meaningful, nor do you need competition success for that either. Become educated, look at what others in the world of Full-contact and Self-defence are doing, and copy it. How well your teaching serves your student is going to be the proof of its validity.

With that said, few people coming into martial arts are discerning. They do not really know what they want when they join up beside vague ideas about what Martial Arts can do for them. Physical fitness, confidence, and self-defence being the general trio. If they like you and your instruction, and you give them a broad range of opportunities: they will find their own way to want they want. Your responsibility is to decide what you want your teachings to provide: competition success or self-defence being the broad questions.

Personally, I would advise competing just to test your own validity. Can you make function the teachings you intend to pass on? Really, what is the testing ground you are using to determine your systematic approach to training? If your option is competition, then use competition.

Finally:

1. That is a principle found in most striking arts. Single-Knuckle Strikes, Ridge-Hand strikes, and the use of the Elbow and ball of the foot all fall into that. Focusing on that idea is a dead-end unless you contextualise the idea with realistic tactics which allow that strategy to suceed.

2. Even in Wudang and Shaolin, not all students study the entire catalogue of the cultivation arts. They focus on what is relevant to their fighting arts. It sounds as though you have what you intend to focus on realised, however, the traditional conditioning arts are time-consuming, exhaustive, and often boring.

From your basic premise, I have to argue you are not offering anything that striking arts with an empahsis on traditional conditioning do not offer. Uechi-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Muay Boran, or Wai Jia Quen'Fa. Systems which can be found around the world. That is going to be your main barrier.

What are you going to do that is not already in existence and possesses an pedigree?
_________________
R. Keith Williams

Himokiri Karate · Member of the Month

RW · Green Belt

RW · Green Belt

I'd suggest you avoid this pitfall:

Many modern kempo schools here in the US (american kempo, shaolin kempo, kenpo (with N), etc seem to be very laissez-fare. They change their own katas several times a year (yes, your kata XYZ may be revisited and changed after a couple months) and they even change advice - in the 90s they'd have told you to kick with the instep, now they tell you to kick with the shin like in muay thai, now they're trying to teach people to check kicks like they do in MMA but they don't really know how to, etc.

Make sure your curriculum looks well thought out and not like you're just making stuff up, like so many kempo schools out there. I know kempo is not karate, or it sort of is, but this pitfall applies to any modern style that doesn't quite adhere to very traditional methods (e.g. "Mas Oyama taught this kata like this, so it will stay like this")

Himokiri Karate · Member of the Month

bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

Himokiri Karate · Member of the Month

Nevinyrral · Blue Belt

[quote="Himokiri Karate"][quote="bushido_man96"]

sensei8 · KF Sensei

[quote="Nevinyrral"][quote="Himokiri Karate"]

	KarateForums.com Forum Index -> General Martial Arts Discussion	All times are GMT - 6 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2
Page 2 of 2