Wednesday, September 5, 2012 by C. Michial Jones
Recently, I attended the 23rd PKC International Karate Tournament. It is an event I have attended since its inception, and as always, Glenn Keeney Sensei ran a first-rate operation.
While watching the competitors, I was struck by a familiar irony. Several young practitioners asked me for advice on their kata, while others asked why I wasn’t out there competing. My answer was the same as always: “I still need more practice.” They didn’t believe me, but it remains the absolute truth.
The Evolution of the Arena
Since I first competed in 1978, the world of karate competition has transformed into something almost unrecognizable. The commercialization of the art has led to a “different world” where speed and flash often override substance.
I do not make competition a part of my training. At the Yushikan, we only focus on tournament preparation if a student specifically requests it for their own reasons. My time—and theirs—is better spent on traditional methods. The downfall of modern karate is not the tournament itself, but the lack of time spent on the basics (Kihon).
The Trap of Mediocrity
As I reflected on this, I came across an article by Wayne Muromoto that perfectly captured my sentiment:
“Simply practicing a kata over and over again doesn’t necessarily make you better, if what you are doing is flawed to begin with. You are simply repeating bad technique and making it harder to improve past the level of mediocrity… the attitude one should take is to never be satisfied.” — Wayne Muromoto
In today’s world of instant gratification, many students are unwilling to put in the “boring” work required to fix those flaws. This is precisely why I closed my commercial dojo and moved to a private setting. I refuse to dilute the art to keep the lights on.
More Than Tournament Champions
We are facing a decline of traditional Karate in America, and a parallel moral decay in society. I believe a Sensei has a dual responsibility that goes far beyond teaching someone how to kick:
- Instill Good Basics: Technical integrity must be preserved.
- Instill Moral Ethics: Proper etiquette, behavior, and character are the true marks of a martial artist.
If those of us who have walked the traditional path choose not to teach or pass on these standards, where will the next generation be? We shouldn’t be focused on building tournament champions; we should be focused on building better people.
Perfection vs. Progress
The pursuit of “perfection” often discourages students. It feels like an unattainable mountain. I suggest a different approach: Seek progress.
Forget about being perfect today. Have the patience to seek just a little bit of improvement in every session. Try to leave the dojo with one technique “polished” slightly brighter than when you walked in.
In time, you will look back and realize you have achieved what you once thought was perfection—only to realize that there is still more polishing to be done. This is the beauty of the lifelong path. It is not about the trophy on the shelf; it is about the person you become while you are trying to earn it.
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