Is karate all about whether you can fight or not? And if you can’t put up a decent fight after years of training, does that mean you’ve yet to reach karate’s full depth? Or does the true essence of karate lie in kata? Is it about character building instead? Or perhaps, is it a way of life? In this post, I’ll share my personal perspective on the essence of karate and explore whether it’s really all about fighting ability or something more.
A while back, I wrote an article discussing the many benefits of karate training, including self-defense skills, character building, improved mental toughness, better physical fitness and cognitive function, reduced stress, and the opportunity to build social connections.
At the time, I believed that the essence of karate could vary from person to person. One individual might take up karate as a hobby to improve fitness, while another might pursue it to build confidence. For some, karate might serve as a form of moving meditation, while for others, it could be viewed purely as a sport. Some people might see karate as a self-defense art, while others may embrace it as a way of life. Essentially, I thought that each person could choose their own purpose or essence of karate, and there was no “right” or “wrong” way to approach it.
However, after encountering the following quote from Mas Oyama ((1923 –1994), founder of Kyokushin Karate), I thought about it for a while and my perspective shifted. I now believe that the essence of karate is fighting and, ultimately, karate is all about whether you can fight or not.
“The heart of our karate is real fighting. There can be no proof without real fighting. Without proof there is no trust. Without trust there is no respect. This is a principle in the world of martial arts.”
Mas Oyama
Mas Oyama sought to test the effectiveness and power of his karate training through physical challenges such as two-finger push-ups, bending coins, breaking glass bottles, fighting live bulls with his bare hands, smashing bricks and rocks, participating in challenge fights, and completing the grueling 100-man kumite. Oyama believed that the true essence of martial arts lies in the ability to fight effectively, and that this can only be proven by testing one’s techniques in real-world challenges and combat situations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Oyama’s powerful statement made me realize that many years ago, karate was created out of the necessity for self-defense, and to this day, at its core, karate is still defined by the ability to engage in real combat. While there are certainly many benefits to karate training beyond fighting, the true essence of the art lies in the mastery of fighting itself.
One might say they want to learn karate to build confidence, but where does that confidence ultimately come from? I believe true confidence derived from karate training comes from building a stronger body and developing the ability to use that body to effectively defend oneself. You can’t build real confidence from shallow or watered-down versions of karate because, deep down, you know that your techniques are weak and lack kime, your footwork is sloppy, your distancing is off, your mind is full of thoughts and distractions and you really can’t put up a decent fight.
Another person might say that karate is a moving meditation or a way to experience Zen. But, similar to confidence, the ability to use karate as a moving meditation or a way to experience Zen only comes through a lot of hard work. It requires dedicating yourself to the essence of karate – training your body to become an efficient fighting machine. By putting in thousands of hours of practice, mastering the fundamentals, understanding body mechanics, and developing physical strength, effective fighting skills eventually become second nature. That’s when powerful techniques flow instinctively, and you’re able to train, perform a kata, or fight from a place of calm and clarity. That’s when body and mind unify. Fear and distractions fade, and you achieve the kind of meditative state that many associate with Zen.
Some might say that it doesn’t matter if what they practice isn’t useful in real combat because, for them, karate is a way of life. Well, they may not care whether they can fight or not, but I believe truth and wisdom can only be gained through years of hard work and committed training to pursue the essence of karate: effective self-defense. You cannot approach karate with a half-hearted mindset, simply turning up, going through the motions without caring about what you’re trying to achieve and where you are going, and expect a transformative experience that extends beyond the dojo into all areas of your life.
In karate, as in everything else in life, you get what you pay for.
If you only want to pay for a bowl of instant noodles, what you get is ultra-processed noodles with industrial seed oils, artificial flavors, artificial colors and preservatives – foods that cause inflammation and contribute to health problems. You can’t expect the rich flavors and nourishing benefits of a homemade bowl of noodles that take many hours just to prepare the broth alone.
Similarly, karate can offer many transformative experiences, but you only get out of it what you put into it. Genuine transformation comes from years of hard work focused on mastering karate as a genuine fighting art. As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding.” If you train karate for twenty years and still resort to throwing wild punches and kicks in sparring, like an untrained brawler, I think you probably have wasted so much of your time and it may be time to reassess your training focus. To achieve meaningful results, we all need a clear goal and laser-like focus in our training.
In the old days, we trained karate as a martial art, but now they train karate as a gymnastic sport. I think we must avoid treating karate as a sport – it must be a martial art at all times!
You have to think that if you kick, you try to kick the enemy dead. If you punch, you must thrust to kill. If you strike, then you strike to kill the enemy. This is the spirit you need in order to progress in your training.
Chibana Choshin (1885 – 1969), founder of Shorin Ryu
I know many karate masters say that karate is not just about fighting but rather it’s Budo – a way of life. And that’s all true, but they only realize this after years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedicating their entire lives to reaching mastery. At that stage, they understand that karate is not just about fighting; it’s a way of life, it’s a path to inner peace, and it’s Budo.
So, unless one has injuries or physical limitations that severely affect their ability to practice sparring, test techniques, and apply what is learned in the dojo to real fighting, I don’t think there can be any excuses. Of the three Ks of karate – kihon, kata, and kumite – I consider kumite to be my weakest area, and this is where I plan to focus my efforts in the near future.
If you do want to seek the essence of karate and learn it as a genuine fighting art but feel your current training isn’t offering that, don’t hesitate to look for complementary training or environments that can provide what’s missing. Seek out dojos and instructors that focus on close-contact sparring, train in other styles that complement your weaknesses, or actively participate in competitions to get more opportunities to spar under pressure.
I understand that karate is a never ending journey and one can never claim that they have completely “mastered” the art, however, the ability to fight effectively through training and uncovering what our bodies are capable of is what we should all aim for in our journey. Perhaps, karate is not all about whether you can fight or not but I believe effective fighting is the very essence of karate. It is through this pursuit that we uncover deeper layers of skills and understanding in both martial practice and in life.
The above is just my perspective and I recognize that some may find meaning in the art’s meditative or philosophical aspects alone. Ultimately, karate training is a personal journey for everyone and whether you view it as a fighting art, a way of life, or a path to inner peace, the key is to commit fully and seek the essence of the art in your own unique way.
I’ll close with a quote from Mikio Yahara, 10th Dan, multiple time JKA All-Japan Championships champion and founder of Karatenomichi World Federation:
“Karate has no philosophy. Some people think that the tradition of Karate came from Buddhism and Karate has a connection with the absolute space and universe, but I don’t believe in that. My philosophy is to knock my opponent out, due to the use of only one technique. One finishing blow!”
Mikio Yahara
Other Posts You Might Be Interested In:
Should You Strike First in a Street Confrontation?
Best Fighting Stance: Going Beyond Physical Form
What Is the Philosophy of Karate?
Karate Vs Boxing: Which One Should You Learn?
What Is Mushin and How to Achieve It?
How to Progress Faster By Training with Purpose
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