[tmd]

I think there is a dilution in our society that inevitably has as effect on our art - you can not be made to do anything anymore but only asked, is this a good thing? of course but does it make you stronger willed? If you are given a choice the average brain will take the pain free route.

I do not feel this means we have less able Shihans, Sensei's or fighters today than ever before because if you can stay the course you probably have the same mental attitude as those you follow but does the average karateka have the same level of commitment or spirit as was once required just to get beyond say a blue belt then I have to say I think not.

One example from me: our last black and brown grading, my 1st Kyu grading - I'd had scores of injuries and problems leading up to it - nearly pulled out after the pre grading but there I am 6 hours in and we get to the kumite, first couple, big guys all goes well no problems, next few get bashed up by my Sensei grading for his 3rd Dan and our top fighter, still all ok, then next couple of fights I'm going tame as they're clearly not at my level, combat wise but still I'm told 'hey take it easy it's just a grading' so I'm hardly touching and still I get these crappy looks like I'm some kinda thug. So for the rest of my fights I pick out bigger guys and higher grades so I can feel like I've achieved/ honoured my grade - I do my 25 fights have a couple of fight rest then get back up to fight again against those goings for higher Dan grades. The guys who asked me to back off when I was hardly touching them in a Kyokushin grading will be BB's as soon as me, though after significantly less years of training - is this right? Yes it's right, they paid their dues for what they see as their journey but to my mind without knowing them, I would say what they call a hobby I call a way of life which is why I have to feel the pain to feel the achievement, because this is my Kyokushin.

I'm not putting myself up as an example of the 'Spirit of Kyokushin' as this would be wrong, very wrong, I'm just an average Kyokushin karateka, I'm using my example to ask Lonewolf is this the Spirit you say is lost? No, not everyone who trains in Kyokushin or any other style of combat or MA has it, they never did, those you have heard about had it because they were the top of the tree you can not judge the roots of todays tree by the fruit of yesterday I think people just used to drop out sooner.