Commercialized Karate (non-budo forms)

Recently I read a quote by Zenshu Toyama Sensei that seemed, to me, to epitomize most commercial martial arts schools. This is not a post regarding all non-budo and/or sport oriented martial systems but it does speak to a majority in my perceptions. This could be a classification of many of the sport oriented efforts with martial arts as well. This is just my opinion and from what I have witnessed around me in this regard I tend to think it is true. The quote, "They are not interested in the depth of karate, just its physical appearances. To study traditional karate means, to go deeper into its mysteries and not just deal with superficial aspects." 

Then I started to think about all the times I have written on the subject of true martial systems like karate I read another quote by the same sensei that kind of gives a pretty solid reasoning as to why one would, could and should pursue a more traditional and classical form of martial system. The quote, "A true karate-ka strives for years to perfect his ability and character by long and hard trainings; someone to respect and admire; a person who is of value to the society in which he lives." 

Then finally the same sensei puts forth his personal view of the sport karate, the quote, "When a fighting art becomes a sport there are always moral and cultural consequences." 

All tho not all encompassing as to addressing all the pertinent issues regarding non-budo type martial systems it does speak well to a systemic problem with martial arts in general. This problem has flourished due to simple supply and demand. There is nothing wrong with all the forms of martial arts but the distinction is important to my views. 

Like self-defense through martial arts. It is important to distinguish between things that are real self-defense from those things that do more to promote a product and increase revenue because when the need for self-defense hits you in the face you really want what your doing to work for you. It isn't like playing football where life and death are not in play and not like the legal, civil and psychological ramifications are in real self-defense. Making sure practitioners are aware then begins to make sense.