Posing -n- Brawling

In the beginning when two competitors faced off they would assume a stance to begin. This was how they all started, strike a pose and wait for the go signal. Once the go was given then all semblance of karate went out the window. The only way you knew it was a karate match was the use of the kicks and the white karate uniforms. The two combatants would do one of two things. They would charge in like a set of bulls, picture the bull fights of Okinawa, and pound at each other until someone called a point or they would posture and pose and move around waiting for the opportunity to bull it in and get the point.

Sometimes you would get the bouncy-bouncy thing. Regardless, the pose was the way a person could say they do karate and fight with karate but karate techniques mostly went the way of the doo-doo bird once the action began. What gives? In my humble opinion it came down to "got to get to the good stuff fast or I get bored or feel impatient and wanna quit syndrome."

I was lucky. My Sensei felt it important to actually utilize karate techniques. You know, the ones in the basic waza and from the kata. He made sure you knew the fundamentals and a fundamental level then at least one good solid kata BEFORE letting anyone attempt any sparring at all. When you began sparring it was one step, three step, etc. using a variety of techniques as a pace that allowed you to see, feel and do the technique in some semblance of karate form. Throwing someone barely in karate in the mix of a sparring thing was counter productive in his mind if your intent was to learn karate and therefore karate techniques.

Remember, once you get into a real fight with all the adrenaline effects if you have not practiced karate you won't be using karate even in a sloppy adrenaline pumped state fight because your mind and body will be using what is instinctive and since you didn't do karate it will pick up on what it feels is best and in all likelihood that will be the "freeze."

Don't take my word for it, go and ask those with combat experience, those who actually work in a "profession" that takes them in harm's way and those who actually teach traditional karate.

It comes down to this, you wanna learn real karate then you have to take the time, effort and spirit necessary to go the distance. The distance that is boring, monotonous and repetitive in nature. Drills, drills, drills; practice, practice, practice and then do it over-n-over-n-over-n-over again.