Forget Cobra Kai, The Karate Kid, Modern Dojos, MMA, and the rest regarding what you think you know about Real Karate!
A little-known secret about Japanese History and how Karate changed in 1867 from Kobudo (Old Way of War) to Gendai budō (Moden Way of War).
Kobudo, including Karate (Empty Hand), developed over several thousand years into the most sophisticated fighting system the world has ever known. However, in 1867, there was a battle between old and new. The Emperor won and outlawed the old.
Since no American trained in Japan until after World War II, few realized they were learning a watered-down version of Karate designed to be taught in Japanese PE classes to five and six-year-olds. They brought what they learned back to the United States, opened dojos, and taught ineffective katas and movements that have quickly been exposed as ineffective by modern MMA standards.
No videos show the techniques, power, speed, and control attained by the warriors of feudal Japan. However, a few videos, such as this one from the 1940s, will show how Karate was practiced, not for sport, but for battle in all scenarios.
Note these practitioners’ speed, control, power, focus, and accuracy. This was true Modern Karate! NOW imagine how it was practiced before 1867… using a Blade! Would you have wanted to challenge one of them?