Chris Parker
Grandmaster
Steve, I gotta tell you, Tez is right. We really do see all American's as "American's", not particularly Northern, Southern, East Coast, West Coast, Mid West, Pacific Northwest, or anything similar. To us, if you're from New York, or LA, or Texas, the distinction isn't really particularly noted - you're American first and foremost. Internally, of course, the differences are noticable, particularly for those who are within the culture, but to those external, you do get lumped into one homogenized whole. Is it accurate? Sometimes, other times not. But it's the reality. I mean, if I was to ask you if you define Australians as Victorians, Tasmanians, West Australians, New South Welshmen, or anything else, could you honestly say you make such a definition? After all, we're as big (geographically speaking) as the US.
To put it another way, for non-martial artists, is there a perceived difference between karate systems? Or is it all just "karate"?
To put it another way, for non-martial artists, is there a perceived difference between karate systems? Or is it all just "karate"?