better now than then?

[fujicolt]

I know it is controversial and we have - whether we like it or not entered a Nanny State era were we are told not to take risks - but have a look at the clip below:

Firstly much of it has been stolen from legend videos. Ged Moran has some unbelievable archive material - some never seen yet and i do recommend you all buy his stuff - not only cos he is a fine karateka himself (seen within this set of clips) but also because we must ALL preserve this stuff and if he loses it all because of a freak happening - we are all at a massive loss.

I know the modern guys and gals are very sharp and athletic BUT would they be so 'gymnastic' if they really faced this kind of determination and willingness to 'take a hit'.

this is top level 70's, 80's and very early 90's stuff and i assure you all - local, regional and national comps that we all could take part in were just as rough if not as fast - honest!

but no one could deny that it was a MARTIAL sport back then - would you not agree!

Yes we got injured sometimes - yes it was very hard work but no more dangerous than rugby - for example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDlJlkm9 ... ature=fvwp

[Lyndon_Davies]

Bearing in mind I took part in quite a few of the tournaments on the clip (thankfully, managed to avoid being "blatted" by a "name" so I'm not visible ) this is karate competition as I know it.

But, I think that if current competitors were allowed this level of leeway on contact and trained with that in mind, some (not all) would cope and would eventually show the same level of athleticism as they do now (once the "fear factor" was overcome)

Let's face it, people like Ronnie Christopher, George Best, etc. could do it then, so chances are there are people out there that can do it now. Whether they'd enjoy getting hit as much is a different thing...

[fujicolt]

Get your point Lyndon - but i am not sure you are getting mine. At the moment - because of the rules and approach - it appears (to me that) you must be* tall, slim, supple and gymnastically skilled to exceed.

Well - we had those and i shall name them if necessary BUT we also had people of all shapes and sizes and levels of suppleness and agility who were equally - if not more so - effective because they developed speed, timing and strategies etc to enhance their karate.

BUT most importantly - in order to do that they had to be very courageous and brave and willing to understand that they must 'commit' (despite the inherent risks) to deliver those techniques/strategies/tactics etc. As a result they often - very often - overcame the more physically gifted. Karate is meant to be physical and mental - wouldn't you agree.

I fear it is becoming reliant on physical.

here is a thought - look at the line ups now - similar sizes weights etc (never mind open categories) - look at the line -ups back then =
SHAPES AND SIZES. did the biggest most athletic win - yes but not always

Steve Cattle, Billy Higgins, Bob Rhodes, Gary Harford Andy Sherry etc etc etc

worth a thought i would respectfully suggest - oh and Lyndon - would you (if starting now and looking at the 'champions) think - yes this is something I could excel at? but you did back then.

[fujicolt]

OOPS - speed typing again Lyndon

When i said 'you did back then ' i meant you excelled and do not be modest you did at a time when guys your size quite literally had a mountain to climb and i do say that with total respect and understanding of how it was.

[Lyndon_Davies]

Fair point.... I have said to people that I would not be able to compete and win in today's competitions. It is the tall skinny people that now have so much of an advantage as to make my lack of size an enormous mountain to climb under current rules. I'm sure there are those that could do it, but the odds are pretty much stacked against them in "no weight category" competitions. To link to the "heart/ability" thread, if I was fighting someone, they knew that I was likely to inflict pain on them and to compete with me they had to be prepared to accept that. (as a point - I was never disqualified in years of competition)

But my point is, I'm not sure if I'd be able to do any better now if we brought back the level of contact we had then. Yes, "guts" played a BIG part in it, but the new generation are almost all so much bigger and I have to assume that, faced with the same challenges we faced, there would be some who could cope and compete. I'd have a slightly better chance than I do with the "tag" style but I think the people I'd be hitting have grown, so it'd be good "little 'un" against good "big 'un" and my money (from bitter experience ) is always on the big guy.

[fujicolt]

I kinda get your point Lyndon but Billy Higgins and Steve Cattle were not tall and look at their achievements against the Likes of Terry O, Eugene Codrington, Mick Wragg, George Godfrey, to name but a few real big uns of that era?

but i do understand the disadvantages you highlight.