Karate in the Olympics

twendkata71

Black Belt
Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
699
Reaction score
16
Location
Newark,Oh
I watched some video's of karate competition in the Olympics. The kumite was not that impressive. a lot of dancing around, not so much actual fighting. The kata competition on the other hand was fantastic. Let me know your thoughts.
 

Flying Crane

Sr. Grandmaster
Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
15,230
Reaction score
4,920
Location
San Francisco
I did watch some of the karate competition. I was unimpressed by it and found it uninteresting. It obviously has a specific ruleset and these athletes have trained to compete within that ruleset. Are they the best, within that ruleset? I have no idea. But I was not convinced that they were cream-of-the-crop karateka in any way.
 

Steve

Mostly Harmless
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
21,920
Reaction score
7,475
Location
Covington, WA
I watched some video's of karate competition in the Olympics. The kumite was not that impressive. a lot of dancing around, not so much actual fighting. The kata competition on the other hand was fantastic. Let me know your thoughts.
I thought the same thing. The kata was fun to watch, and the kumite was actually less inspiring than the TKD competition.
 

Dirty Dog

MT Senior Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
23,363
Reaction score
9,102
Location
Pueblo West, CO
I was not particularly impressed for most of it. I was less impressed when someone dove into a kick and got a medal out of it.
It's ridiculous that you're disqualified from a combat sport match for knocking out your opponent.
 

Steve

Mostly Harmless
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
21,920
Reaction score
7,475
Location
Covington, WA
It's ridiculous that you're disqualified from a combat sport match for knocking out your opponent.
I mean, that would be ridiculous in an MMA match. But if control is a part of the ruleset, then it makes perfect sense. Don't get me wrong. I didn't find the karate kumite fun to watch. But if I remember right, he was DQ'd because he clearly broke a rule that he should have known.
 

Tony Dismukes

MT Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
7,577
Reaction score
7,611
Location
Lexington, KY
I mean, that would be ridiculous in an MMA match. But if control is a part of the ruleset, then it makes perfect sense. Don't get me wrong. I didn't find the karate kumite fun to watch. But if I remember right, he was DQ'd because he clearly broke a rule that he should have known.
I think the problem was that the fault wasn’t really in the kicker having poor control. His opponent ducked into the kick. Even in a sparring rule set which requires light contact, you shouldn’t be able to win by running yourself onto your opponent’s strikes to increase the impact.
 

Steve

Mostly Harmless
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
21,920
Reaction score
7,475
Location
Covington, WA
I think the problem was that the fault wasn’t really in the kicker having poor control. His opponent ducked into the kick. Even in a sparring rule set which requires light contact, you shouldn’t be able to win by running yourself onto your opponent’s strikes to increase the impact.
Sure, I get it. My point is that it's part of the sport. You have a ruleset, and this is part of it. I don't do karate, but I know from the folks around here that "control" (however that is defined) is considered to be a big part of it. So, the rule doesn't surprise me. Whether it's point sparring or this competitive ruleset. So, whether we like it or not, whether we think it's a good ruleset or not, from what I read at the time it seemed like the rules were applied correctly.

To sum up, you're talking about what "should" or "shouldn't" happen. That's valid opinion. I'm commenting on what did happen, regardless of our opinions, wondering why folks seem shocked and surprised that the rules were correctly applied.
 

Tony Dismukes

MT Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
7,577
Reaction score
7,611
Location
Lexington, KY
Sure, I get it. My point is that it's part of the sport. You have a ruleset, and this is part of it. I don't do karate, but I know from the folks around here that "control" (however that is defined) is considered to be a big part of it. So, the rule doesn't surprise me. Whether it's point sparring or this competitive ruleset. So, whether we like it or not, whether we think it's a good ruleset or not, from what I read at the time it seemed like the rules were applied correctly.

To sum up, you're talking about what "should" or "shouldn't" happen. That's valid opinion. I'm commenting on what did happen, regardless of our opinions, wondering why folks seem shocked and surprised that the rules were correctly applied.
If we have any experts in the Olympic karate rules present, then I’ll defer to them. I’m just not sure that the rules were correctly applied. I’ve done a fair amount of light contact sparring in various contexts over the years. Generally the expectation for control is that you do a reasonable job of keeping the power down at the expected point of impact, not that you have to yank your hand or foot away from your opponent’s head if he throws it at your punch or kick.

In sport BJJ terms, it would like someone going to an IBJJF tournament, getting caught in a (legal) ashi garami position, then dragging their opponents foot across their own hip line in order to get them disqualified for knee reaping.
 

Latest Discussions

Top