Is Karate A Violent Sport?

Why do I think so?

Firstly, we have to decipher the actual meaning of brutality or violence to further amplify the answer to the question. The World Health Organization (WHO) makes it very clear by defining violence as “The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation...includes physical, sexual and psychological abuse (such as the significant abuse of power arising from a dependent relationship, threats, intimidation and neglect).”

When one witness a martial art competition, an element of doubt harps over one’s mind. As two individuals encounter one another in a hurly-burly match, most people will come to a conclusion that it is an act of brutality.

Actually, Karate match can become brutal if there are significant wounds or broken limbs occur at the end of the hurly-burly match to the participants. However, this is not the case and the parties of the match are ready to undergo in themselves manageable aches and pain before the start of the physical acts involved in the match.

The person in the match understands his limits, at the same time he should pass on his tolerance limit to the other participant. When, one of the Karateka exceeds his limit, and only then I can certainly say here brutality crops up in the psyche.

What is the aim of the match? Is it to harm the opponent or to draw a line to dwell upon the individual’s talents and skills?

When in the hurly-burly, if the opponent is in a dizzy or in a concussed state, do you go ahead and knock him out or do you stop your advancing kicks and punches?

Since this is a game where adrenaline gets pumped and in a fit of anger and rage, your thoughts may shift to wanting to harm your opponent. Here, the role of bringing in a show manager comes into the picture.

In such competitive situation, the center referee confronts the intense situation to give a judgment. He or she as referee will mark an end to the clash. If one of the opponents is in a dire state and unable to protect himself, the referee will jump in to his rescue. The dominant Karateka will immediately cease his attacks. The tension is defused and both the contestant will then collect their thoughts.

The referee of the match must be a keen watcher to notice the participant’s state and make a judgment to stop or proceed with the match. Understand this, in the absence of such rules, the sport is not under the ambit of a sport or discipline, it is just another street fight or bar brawl.

Karate is practiced to protect oneself and his family. In this sport, the learners are taught esteem, brotherhood and civility. Karatekas adjust their powers depending on the opponent’s ability. This is done to exchange reverence to each other and this act is a main tenet of the dojo.

Brutality crops up as one start attacking another wantonly and the other person is not in a position to defend himselves or contended without his permission. When one’s adrenaline pumps, he may not have enough forethought and his objective shifts.

In this juncture, a real Karateka out plays others and exhibit self-restraint in his actions. Participants get hurt in all sports, but past records show lesser harms are caused in martial arts as compared to other sports.

What I am sharing is not to demean other sports but to make my point on the gentleness of full contact sports. Grievous hurts like brain hemorrhage and damages are by mistakes due to acts like face-to-face hits, being thrashed by a ball or falling off a jumping horse.

I cannot guarantee all the martial arts, but the way Karate is taught is different. From the start, you have to be cautioned on the mistakes done. We virtually tutor ourselves in this contact type sport and develop methods to train our minds to preempt strikes and manage the power in our attacks.

The crux is that Karate instructor tutors you to be cautious and do everything in a proper way, so that you enjoy the sport and eschew brutality.


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