No One Size Fits All: Are You Training for the Wrong Fight? Finding Your Path in Martial Arts.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on MAR 07, 2025

No One Size Fits All: Are You Training for the Wrong Fight? Finding Your Path in Martial Arts.

(Approx 2 minute 50 second read)

Whenever I write an article about real-world self-defense, the comments seem to explode into “my style is the best”.

I don’t think a lot of these people actually train themselves – maybe keyboard warriors, maybe just inexperienced – but these comments usually revolve around one style in particular: Kyokushin.

Now, before anyone accuses me of bashing the style, let me make one thing abundantly clear: I’ve trained in Kyokushin. Back in the 1980s, when I was competing, I spent time in a Kyokushin dojo, training and learning with a world champion fighter. The training was outstanding for my competitive goals at the time.

When I came to the US, I was invited to train and teach at a Kyokushin dojo. So, I’m not knocking the style in any way. It’s simply an observational fact that a lot of the “my style is the best” comments tend to come from Kyokushin practitioners.

If you’ve read my articles, you know I prefer my karate to be practical and pragmatic. Yet, I constantly hear people claiming that Kyokushin is the best for self-defense.

But here’s the thing – no single martial art holds the distinction of being “the best”. And that’s something a lot of people seem to miss.

Unless you specifically train for self-defense, no single style will be the “ultimate” for that context. And that’s the real issue – context is everything.

There’s no point learning football if you want to play rugby. Yes, they both have a ball, but that’s where the similarity ends. Obvious, isn’t it? So why isn’t it so obvious in the martial arts?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: practitioners (and the keyboard warriors) must realize the differences.

Every martial art has its benefits, and every martial art has its limitations.

Take one of my friends back in the UK. He’s a world champion many times over. His dojo is one of the most successful ever, and his students continue to dominate today. In his prime, he took on everyone – no matter the style or method – and he reigned supreme for years. Was he a Kyokushin fighter, the “ultimate” martial artist? No. His core art was Kung-Fu.

The point is, it’s not the style that makes the fighter. It’s the person, the training, the preparation, and the application that count.

If your goal is to compete, then find a dojo that excels in that. There are plenty of great schools that will help you succeed – just like my friend’s.

But if your interest is self-protection, then you need to find a school that truly specializes in it.

Every martial art will give you something of value, but it’s crucial to understand the differences between sport, art, fun, fitness, and self-protection. Learning in the wrong context can get you into trouble when you need it most.

For those who are still unconvinced, think of it like this – in a self-defense scenario, people don’t square off. You’re not going to face off against a criminal the way you would an opponent in the dojo or in competition. Real-world scenarios often indicate this.

The levels of fitness and competition preparedness in Kyokushin are well-known and commendable. It builds toughness, endurance (in some), and fighting spirit. If your goal is to fight in competitions, Kyokushin will serve you well.

Is it the “toughest”, the “best”, the “ultimate”? I have a perspective on this. As I mentioned, I trained in Kyokushin in my early 20s (I’m now 65). I started karate at 14, and the training was incredibly challenging and intense.

But here’s an interesting side note. A Kyokushin 2nd dan in his 30s once said about me, “He hits really hard – doesn’t he know how to hit with less force?”

Even though Kyokushin is known for hard training, plenty of other styles are too. Perhaps they just don’t feel the need to shout about it.

Self-protection requires a different mindset, a different set of skills. No one style is the best. Instead of arguing, focus on improving. The right training for the right purpose, in the right context – that’s what truly matters.

Written by Adam Carter