To fight or not to fight...

Gosh.. I would believe that the answer has to come from inside you on this subject. For me, Karate isn't about competitions, tournaments, and fighting. Yes, this is an enjoyable part of Martial Arts, but I look towards the longevity of my training. I want to continue to be able to train in karate well into my senior years. I want to be that 98 year old karate ka still doing kata, and basics in the grass. I do not see that kind of training as doing a disservice to Karate. There is a time in life to challenge oneself physically by competing, and winning medals, and then there is a time in one's life to challenge one's inner heart/spirit, and focus on dedication, and wisdom. I believe that where you are in your path can only be answered by you.

I totally agree with the comment above. As a 47 year old karate-ka, former student of Shihan S. Oyama from the 70's, I came up through the school of hard knocks (quit literally). That was then. I was young and healed much faster. Now I have issues just healing after a hard training session. I indeed now find the challenge in training myself, continuing to improve my kata performance and fighting techniques. I think you can very well gauge your abilities in class. Do you full contact train in class? Do you have others who are competing? Help train them, or train with them. I think you have to weigh to benefits of winning a medal with the possible consequences of the impact of a more severe injury may have on you. What if you were to break a bone, can you still go to work?

My current teacher once told me that as we get older it becomes our responsibility to help "raise up" the younger ones." This does not mean we become weak and fat and can't perform. I train hard every opportunity I get so that I can lead the way as an older martial arts. ( yea I feel older, still younger then most of my friends who are 10 years younger then me )

Osu!

I feel ya Smooth.

I am in alot of the same boat. I am 31 now but I feel if I had started Kyokushin/Enshin when I was alot younger to compete in my 20's.

I think I will go for the Sabaki Challenge in a few more years. It's very fierce but doesnt seem as brutal as the Kyokushin knockdown since more points are awarded for throwing techniques.

Best wishes to you with your decision.

My only advise to you is to do what you wont regret not doing.

Mike san,
I try to think that I'm still young enough to compete. But unfortunately my work(contracts) is keeping me busy and other things in life. You will have a wife soon and perhaps new life to follow. So I fully understand your thought. I think it's up to you to decide when you want to become one to support others or continue fighting.

Osu.

MMMM It's a completly personal decision to make there. Karate is different things to different people, not competing deffinatley is not a disservice. Alot of real old school karate ka from other styles of karate don't even believe in competing. They think competing takes away from the budo path of karate trianing. I dont belive this is so but it shows how different people view karate differently. I've seen many non contact style insrtuctor not able to perfomr well due to knee and hip injuries cos some of their stances are terrible for the knee joints. There is a chance of injury in everything. Definatly a hard decision to make but only you can decide that.

Sometimes I think to myself... we train to fight... what point is there to train if I don't fight. The last time I got into a street fight I was 15 years old. So if I don't compete there are no fights.

Other times I think, this is budo and a way of life.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment! Osu!