Genuine karate is an Okinawan martial art for self-defense; its ongoing globalization has jeopardized its inherent effectiveness. “The changes made to karate in mainland Japan and in America have altered karate so intrinsically that it can no longer claim to be genuine karate.” Dr. Hermann Bayer, Ph.D., examines how Japan re-interpreted Okinawan karate to create its own unique style of karate-do, and how Japanese and American changes resulted in a modern karate-sport business. Practitioners of karate are often confused, misguided, and even led to believe that karate is just karate—this is far from the truth. Practitioners need a clear understanding of what their training can offer them. This can only be achieved by understanding karate's true purpose and by discerning misconceptions from facts. Contents include Okinawan karate’s “principle of never changing kata”. Karate as an Okinawan cultural heritage. Socio-cultural arguments to preserve Okinawa karate—as is. Japan—the karate reproducing country. Karate or Karate-do? The business of karate, karate-do, and karate-sport. Scientific proof of a peaceful karate mind. The laws of physics reveal weaknesses when kata are changed. This substantially researched work makes a compelling case for the socio-cultural and historic arguments to conserve genuine Okinawan karate. Supported by historical facts, scientific analysis, and public records, Dr. Bayer reveals, for all to see, the complex evolution of karate and the unsettled claims made upon it by the various stake-holders.

Genuine karate is an Okinawan martial art for self-defense; its ongoing globalization has jeopardized its inherent effectiveness. “The changes made to karate in mainland Japan and in America have altered karate so intrinsically that it can no longer claim to be genuine karate.” Dr. Hermann Bayer, Ph.D., examines how Japan re-interpreted Okinawan karate to create its own unique style of karate-do, and how Japanese and American changes resulted in a modern karate-sport business. Practitioners of karate are often confused, misguided, and even led to believe that karate is just karate—this is far from the truth. Practitioners need a clear understanding of what their training can offer them. This can only be achieved by understanding karate's true purpose and by discerning misconceptions from facts. Contents include Okinawan karate’s “principle of never changing kata”. Karate as an Okinawan cultural heritage. Socio-cultural arguments to preserve Okinawa karate—as is. Japan—the karate reproducing country. Karate or Karate-do? The business of karate, karate-do, and karate-sport. Scientific proof of a peaceful karate mind. The laws of physics reveal weaknesses when kata are changed. This substantially researched work makes a compelling case for the socio-cultural and historic arguments to conserve genuine Okinawan karate. Supported by historical facts, scientific analysis, and public records, Dr. Bayer reveals, for all to see, the complex evolution of karate and the unsettled claims made upon it by the various stake-holders.

Genuine Okinawan Karate was developed as a fighting tool. Non-Okinawan Karate are for other purposes. Karate practitioners, scholars, and everyone caring about Asian martial arts and its culture will enthusiastically appreciate this eye-opening work. Dr. Bayer substantiates further how the art Karate was used to prepare a nation (Japan) for total war, how it was deliberately industrialized into a worldwide Japanized Karate-Do inflation, and how its following transformation into athletic showmanship destroyed the art’s unity and distinctiveness. The author endorses Karate-Jutsu as a genuine Okinawan martial art even as foreign knowledge and skills from India (speculated) and from China (proven) were integrated― and he explains the imitative social mechanism used to turn this local fighting art into a symbol of national identity. Since martial arts were initially understood as a moral code-neutral tool, like a weapon, this happens to contradict the modern understanding of Karate being a peaceful art with inherent non-violent values. In truth, moral codes or guidelines on how to use this tool were developed separately, not within the art. A new “back to the roots” Karate-Jutsu movement gains importance and establishes a counterculture to Karate-Do’s industrialization, helping to integrate some neglected reminiscences of Karate-Jutsu back into Karate-Do. Such a development brings Japanized Karate-Do versions closer to their martial origins, whereas pure Karate-Jutsu will be preserved as a point of reference by a group of dedicated curators. Contents include: Okinawa is the birthplace of Karate-Jutsu and Japan is the birthplace of Bu-Jutsu. How Karate and Budo were used for Japan’s war preparations. Senpai seniority was the social mechanism to integrate Karate into Japan’s martial arts tradition. Consequences of an ancient fighting art being turned into athletic showmanship. In Sports-Karate there is no more Kata in Kumite, and there is no more Kumite in Kata either. The modern misconception of avoiding a fight by all means. The path toward mastery in Karate. Sensei correct your errors and blunders, you have to correct mistakes yourself. Today’s Karate-Jutsu movement is the counterculture to Karate-Do’s industrialization. Karate’s market structure in the 21st century.