Why the Practical Karate Movement isn't Improving Karate

My friend Daniel Marino made a critical observation about the karate community:

“It’s about looking good, not learning how to fight.”

Now, if you’re a part of the so-called “practical karate” or “practical bunkai” movement, you might think that you are exempt from this statement…but you’re not.

Dan wasn’t just talking about the most traditional of the traditionalists. He was talking about the practical karate people, too.

I haven’t addressed it specifically yet, but I have touched on the practical karate and taekwondo crowd from time to time…

This is an audio essay version of an article I wrote last year:

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