Is Karate more a sport or a way to learn to fight for real?

Question

Is Karate more a sport or a way to learn to fight for real?

Answer 1

Karate can be self-defense or sport. It just depends on the school, the instructor, and what he teaches.

Answer 2

It can be both but ultimately it depends on what you personally want from it sporting stuff like competitions trophys etc or how to defend yourself in real street situations your choice on this one :)***

Answer 3

depends whose running the place. typically though, i think of karate as self defense, real fight type thing. thats what my place is teaching. still like to do sports sparring though

Answer 4

Karate is truly a way to fight for real. It is really a mind state and a way of life as well......Self defense is fighting for real once you can not avoid the fight anymore. Isn't it?

Answer 5

I like American Kenpo karate as a very useful street smart style that has many other Martial arts combined into it.  It's emphasis is on defense.  Kempo is a more Traditional Okinawan style.  People like MMA such as Muay Thai and BJJ with a bit of Karate sometimes for sport.

Answer 6

Okay, but the karate is part of sports and it purpose to use the Karate is only for self defense and it not for to use it to fight for real.

Answer 7

Hi.

It really depends on the style of Karate...

Some styles are sports with only competition in mind when they train.  Instead of training for real life combat they train to fight in a ring with a referee that's there making sure things don't get out of hand.  But keep in mind that Karate is not one single style, it's a category that encompasses many different styles, some of which really do teach you to fight and defend yourself in the real world.

This is not a rule however, some schools that teach a more sport oriented version of Karate may emphasize the self defense applications of their art and really make it practical for real world fighting.  Same thing with good street combat styles, the individual school may emphasize, in addition to the street combat aspect, the sport aspect.  In these scenarios you may end up getting the best of both worlds, it's not always one or the other.

Unfortunately there's really is no definitive answer to your question as there's no general rule that determines the effectiveness a given style of karate.

I hope that answers your question :)

Answer 8

It doesn't always depend on the style, it depends on the school and what it's based on. My Kempo Karate school was based on self defense.

Answer 9

From what I understand, Karate can be a very effective fighting style. If I were going to learn the best technique for actually fighting I would learn jiu-jitsu and/or kempo. Both are very interesting and seem great for learning street fighting skills.

Answer 10

karate is a sport

Answer 11

depends on the type... moderns= sport.............

olds = one hit one kill (or thats what they strive for)

Answer 12

it can be either/ both