Insights

Gary Swift 7th DanNatural Selection

Part of Karate has always been the necessity of ‘overcoming obstacles’. How can we possibly, in modern karate, ever expect to overcome obstacles if these obstacles are continually being compromised by modern thinking of the ‘no losers, no winners’
mindsets that are forced upon us in this diabolically tedious ‘politically correct’ world?
The process of ‘natural selection’ has always been a principle of Karate life.
Challenges too hard? Then leave! Failed gradings? Take them again
until you pass! Can’t do it? Try until you do!
With all this in mind I very much doubt if the ‘Budo’ elements in our karate will ever survive the future. How many clubs in the country still actively promote Makiwara and Tameshiwari in their Dojo? Very few, I would imagine.
Remember, all Budo Karate evolves from fundamental training principles of conditioning and training. If we are not ready to take on challenges then we ourselves, our society, even our way of life will be removed and extinct from the process of ‘natural selection’.

Gary E Swift Kyoshi.