Hi all,
i'm seeking advice. If you've read any of my other posts you'd know I study (among other styles) Shotokan. I'm merely a Kyu grade and very early on my learning curve, I began training as a child but when we moved I stopped and trained in other styles off and on over the years as I moved about with life and work.
I came back to Shotokan a little over a year ago and have recently earned my purple belt. With having some experience in other styles I find I do enjoy Kumite, don't get me wrong here I thoroughly enjoy getting something technically correct and there's nothing quite like the crack your Gi gives as a reward for correct execution but I love the opportunity to put these techniques into action and try them out under pressure.
This leads me to my question regarding "sport karate". Locally there are many tournaments, competitions and other ways to show off. I attended one myself, leaving feeling generally miffed at the allowed techniques and seemingly finding that kumite has become little more than a game of tag.
Once i'd gotten home I thought I'd look into Kumite a little more and the majority of what I found was little more than bouncy tag. Now i've looked at JKA kumite and this differs greatly from this apparent norm, there's contact - controlled - but still contact and seemingly an emphasis on technique
So what happened to the rest of us? I fully respect my Sensei and he has a vast amount to teach and I a vast amount to learn but if one cannot use the techniques in reality then surely there is a broken link in the chain. I'm now at a point of not really knowing what to do. at 31 I have no aspirations to become a world champion in Kumite, but I want to have confidence in my art and confidence in my ability.
Now, I am very aware that i've not been practising long but other than my sensei (and sempei who is leaving in a few months - he whom I have had private lessons with since white belt) I don't see anyone else in the class that I can honestly say "wow there's a goal to seek" and looking outside the club into the wider karate world all I see is bouncing around shouting as loud as possible after making a little bit of contact.
With my Judo training, the goal is simple, beat your opponent seeking ideally an ippon. The more I train the more ways I learn to do this, and I gain more confidence in my abilities - to the point I actually find myself imagining scenarios in life whereby I mentally use those techniques as a self defence response. This sure should be the goal for my shotokan training too - my response should not be bounch bounce shout shout...
So. Is there an association of Shotokan that does instill this matra? am I thinking about it the wrong way?
just to confirm, I love Kata, love the Kihon, it's really just the Kumite that I'm not really enjoying, it's the kumite that I find myself wanting more. I have trained with people who generally state beforehand that they do not wish to be hit, this is fine with me, I pull my punches and aim to hit short but I'd still like them to attack me, give me the opportunity to block or move.
I guess my main question is am I searching for more than Karate has to offer? or do I just need to give it time and it will start to make sense to my inexperienced mind?