General Karate: A New Compromise Between Budo and Sport in Modern Western Society

Abstract

Studi Purpose: Today, in the modern West, karate exists in two systematically different paradigms: Budo and Sport, which are in a state of constant competition for a place and influence in society. In recent years, there has been a tendency to shift the focus of Western society towards Sport, which poses real challenges to Japanese style Budo karate: 1) the threat of becoming a typical Western sport; 2) the threat of marginalization and loss of authenticity and features of the Eastern combat system.

Method. The review and analytical study is a summary of the results of the author's previous research and is based on his many years of practical experience in both Budo and Olympic sports. The working hypothesis of the study is to determine the potential ability of the sport discipline of General Karate to become a new compromise between Budo and Sport and to be an effective means of protecting karate from modern challenges and strengthening the influence of authentic Japanese style karate in the West. The article is the presentation at the 13th International Conference IMACSSS, 14-16.10.2024, Malaysia.

Result and Discussion. The article provides evidence that Budo and Sport are fundamentally different social phenomena that cannot be evaluated solely in terms of sports competitions. The author uses a civilizational-historical approach and analyzes the structural construction of the Budo and Sport paradigms, respectively.

Conclusion. The author considers the compromises made by the East in promoting karate to the West and the assertion that General Karate can be a new compromise that meets the needs of Westerners in top-level competitions and, at the same time, does not require the style to change its own identity, abandon the traditional training strategy or make any concessions to its own philosophical principles.