Teaching Karate? Then Get It Right. When the Internet Gets It Wrong.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on NOV 08, 2024

Teaching Karate? Then Get It Right. When the Internet Gets It Wrong.

(Approx 2 minute 20 second read)

After decades of practicing and teaching karate, and several years of writing about it, I’m still surprised by how many misconceptions and misinformation continue to swirl around this art. Whether in the dojo or online, I regularly encounter the same misunderstandings repeated.

Karate is not as complicated as some try to make it, but it does require effort and study.

How many people use titles and call themselves “master”, “grandmaster”, or even “sensei”? Often, these terms are used as social media names, introductions in messages and comments, or even casually in the dojo. These titles carry weight and should never be self-assigned – “sensei”, for example, is not a title but an honorific.

A title is earned through years of dedication and often bestowed by your instructor or peers. Calling yourself a “master” doesn’t make you one – it diminishes the significance of the title for those who have truly earned it. If you want respect, guess what? It starts with humility.

Another glaring issue is the misuse of Japanese terminology. After years of learning, you would think instructors would take the time to get the terms right. For instance, as I recently pointed out, “geri” means something very different when used in the wrong context.

Small mistakes like this may seem harmless, but they reflect a lack of care, professionalism, and understanding. Language matters, especially in martial arts, where it is so deeply rooted in tradition, a topic I have written about extensively. If we’re going to use Japanese terms, we owe it to the art, our students, and our teachers to get them right.

Social media has amplified these problems. Every day, I see posts and videos filled with false or misleading information. Some of it comes from well-meaning practitioners who simply don’t know better. Others, however, seem more interested in self-promotion than truth.

How much of what you view on YouTube makes you shudder with disbelief at the poorly executed techniques, nonsensical bunkai, or questionable instructional videos passed off as legitimate karate?

As instructors, we have a responsibility to our students and to karate itself to be accurate in what we teach. This requires humility – acknowledging when we don’t know something and making the effort to learn.

No one expects perfection; we all make mistakes. But there should be honesty and effort. As instructors, we are the bridge between karate’s rich history and its future. Getting it right isn’t just about accuracy; it’s about respect – respect for the art, its traditions, and the students who trust us to guide them.

Some people genuinely don’t realize they’re wrong. They might have learned incorrectly from their own instructors and simply perpetuate those mistakes. Without deeper research or guidance, they assume what they know is accurate.

Others prioritize appearing knowledgeable or authoritative over being accurate. They present themselves as “masters” or experts online to attract attention, even if their information is flawed. When corrected, many double down instead of admitting they were wrong, spreading even more misinformation as they try to validate their position.

Ultimately, combating this misinformation requires dedicated instructors and practitioners who care about preserving the art’s integrity. By promoting accurate information and respectfully correcting mistakes.

And, of course, everything on the internet is always true… except when it’s not. Don’t be part of the problem – be part of the solution.

Written by Adam Carter – Shuri Dojo.