I'm not sure I can answer the question in the framework you provide.
You seem to be making some assumptions that are, at the very least, questionable. Just b/c that is the state of things in your life/where you personally practice there is no reason to presume that is the case everywhere for everyone.
I was taught that "karate" was form of "last ditch" self defense practice for use when you didn't have a weapon, couldn't get to something that could be used as a weapon and couldn't run/get away. To be used only in situations that required seriously injuring people b/c you had no other choice.
As an example, I recall a story of the one of the old experts (Tomari-te if memory serves) a woodworker by trade he was attacked in his shop and snatched up a hammer and hit the attacker in the head, when asked about why he used a hammer instead of his karate, the expert looked at the questioner like he was crazy, from his perspective he DID use karate, very good karate. So perhaps the approach taken by the old school karate folks is/was a bit different than the modern one.....maybe.
To answer your direct questions.
"Olympic sport?" Yes, my chagrin and IMO to its detriment, it might be used in an Olympic sport
"Martial Art?" Yes.
"Pointless?" Like any other art, depends on the teacher, how its taught, the ability of the student and how one defines "pointless."
"Life skill" Maybe, I would hope that one gets more from their art than the ability to bust people up. Everybody gets old and I would hate to think that I spent decades learning something that has a limited shelf life, so to speak, and only a single application (actually that is paraphrase of a buddy of mine)
Last edited by cxt; 24th January 2017 at 15:12.
Chris Thomas
"While people are entitled to their illusions, they are not entitled to a limitless enjoyment of them and they are not entitled to impose them upon others."
"Team Cynicism" MVP 2005-2006
Currently on "Injured/Reserve" list due to a scathing Sarcasm pile-up.