What is the difference and does it matter you may wonder? Basically, it comes down to technique focus and intent. In self-defense karate you practice to respond naturally in the first critical 5 seconds of a violent encounter. Also true for children's response to bullies. You train so your response on that dark, cold night in the parking lot when you are suddenly surprised by an attacker will be to quickly focuses on attacking soft tissue areas (neck, throat, groin, inner thighs, etc.) ensuring you are not another statistic on the police blotter. Your attacker wants your car, wallet, or just to hurt you (yeah there are some people like that). This encounter will usually be over within 15-20 seconds. You practice self-control in class so you normally prevent going over the legal limit on using your protection techniques - otherwise you will go to court and pay his medical expenses and more. The soft tissue targets used in self-defense karate are mostly off-limits in sport karate. Your only trophy or award for self-defense karate is waking up the next morning where you planned to be rather than in a hospital or the morgue. Usually, if you know self-defense karate you won't need it. The reverse is often true, too, or there will be many times, in the dark, cold, wet parking lot when your confidence and bravado suddenly deserts you as you notice someone emerging from the shadows heading your way and you really wished you had prepared yourself adequately for this moment.
Sport karate uses many of the same striking techniques as self-defense karate yet they train and compete with protective equipment and the targets are different, too. I enjoy watching the quick hand and foot techniques during competition and hearing the satisfying thud of the gloves or boots on the chest protectors. Understandably, no one want to suddenly see someone take an unexpected punch to the throat, a kick to the groin, or a dislocated shoulder or knee which are the self-defense karate targets. That would be more like watching the gladiators in ancient Rome than a sport karate competition.
Sport karate participants can win a trophy from competition and possibly get a picture in the paper, too. It is great fun to watch and participate in. If you are really good you may even get into the Olympics or Hollywood! You just won't do that with self-defense karate.
Very adaptable sport karate students can often handle themselves well in many confrontations. I have witnessed this on the streets. Yet growing up in Detroit I witnessed trophy winning karate people thrashed by street fighters because when under stress you react with what you practice.
So your goals and purpose for studying karate determine if you should study sport karate or self-defense karate. Both types of karate practice will get you into better shape, help you lose weight, and improve your self-control. They both have ranking systems so you will eventually get a black belt. If you like competition and want to win a trophy or medal and be the best, or better than others, you really want to study sport karate. Let me know when you have a tournament and I will come watch.
However, if you are concerned about a sudden unexpected violent encounter, especially if you are with your kids or loved ones, then self-defense karate is more for you. Self-defense karate uses efficient, natural techniques developed for smaller, often weaker, unarmed opponents. So self-defense karate is good for both men and women.
If you can't decide which you prefer come try a FREE self-defense karate class and see for yourself. There is no obligation to continue and no high pressure sales technique to make you stay. You can walk away after class with no hard feelings because we only want members who are interested in discovering and focusing on self-defense.
Oh, and leave your ego at the door. We are a very friendly bunch and like to laugh and tell jokes. No one is going to try to impress you with what they know and you won't impress them either.
Our small classes are led by a 7th Degree Karate Master with over 35 years experience instructing U.S. Marines, U.S Embassy Security Personnel and Foreign Security Operatives as well as people just like you. There are also a slew of black and brown belts members with up to 25 years of karate experience to help guide you in learning these natural and useful technique applications.
703.310.9596 robertoshidokan@gmail.com www.robertoshidokan.com