The Past Informs Us, But It Doesn’t Define Us – What Matters Is What You Can Do with It.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on MAY 13, 2025

The Past Informs Us, But It Doesn’t Define Us – What Matters Is What You Can Do with It.

(Approx 1 minute 55 second read)

I’ve always been fascinated by history. When I lived in a rural area of the UK, reminders of the past were everywhere – Bronze Age burial sites, a Roman town and amphitheater, a 10th-century church. You could almost feel the weight of time beneath your feet. That sense of connection to those who came before still speaks to me.

So how important is lineage, history, and tradition in the martial arts?

I regularly hear people describe their karate as “authentic” or “genuine”, pointing to a direct link to the founder of their style. And truthfully, I enjoy that sense of connection too. I’ve trained with instructors who were students of founders, and I’ve had founders as teachers. It’s interesting, and I do take some satisfaction in knowing that I’m part of something that existed before me and will continue after me.

But I also think we have to be realistic.

Most people don’t get to choose their lineage. They train at the local dojo, often chosen because it fits the family schedule or because it’s near by.

Parents don’t ask about the founder’s name on a certificate – they want their kids to build confidence, get active, and have fun. And honestly, that doesn’t require a special sensei or a sacred bloodline.

In the beginning, what matters is the quality of instruction and whether the teacher is a good fit. Later, as students mature and develop a deeper relationship with the method they practice, exploring history and lineage can add richness. But it’s not the foundation – it’s a layer.

I’ve trained with instructors with impeccable lineages, and with excellent teachers who could barely name their instructor’s instructor. Some were brilliant; some were not. A certificate or title doesn’t guarantee deep understanding or effective teaching.

And that brings me to something I see often – this idea that lineage alone makes your karate “authentic”. I’ve heard one very high-ranking practitioner say, “Indeed we travel back in time to connect to our profound lineage”. At first glance, it sounds poetic.

But when it becomes the core of your message – when it becomes the product – then it’s worth questioning. You don’t always sell quality by claiming age.

The pioneers of karate weren’t trying to “travel back in time”. They were innovators, not purists. They carried the past forward, but they didn’t let it anchor them. They evolved.

Today, what I do is distinctly my own. It’s shaped by what I was taught, tested through decades of training, and through application. I have proved my understanding and ability in the eyes of my teachers, as they did with their teachers. They’ve trusted me to continue the line – not by imitation, but by understanding.

To me, that’s lineage too.

Someone once said to me, “You have a good teacher”. That’s enough for me.

And it still is.

Written by Adam Carter