why Karate (Oriental Martial arts)?

[opr1945]

If I understand history correctly, a Monarch as a country's representative of history, culture and ideals could change with the slash of a dagger and be replaced by a new Monarch who represents a different country culture and ideals.

"Governments/political parties in power come and go, but the monarchy remains. It was there 1000 years ago and yet still here, a link to the past. It maintains continuity, constancy and unifies the fragments of society despite the chaos of the political world and everchanging society, guardian of the nation's traditions and identity."

Historically, change often came frequently and swiftly. Only recently with the loss of actual power have Monarchies become stable and predictable. Because it is no longer worth the effort of getting rid of one to become the replacement. In my opinion anyway.

 

[Gyakuto]

If I understand history correctly, a Monarch as a country's representative of history, culture and ideals could change with the slash of a dagger and be replaced by a new Monarch who represents a different country culture and ideals.

"Governments/political parties in power come and go, but the monarchy remains. It was there 1000 years ago and yet still here, a link to the past. It maintains continuity, constancy and unifies the fragments of society despite the chaos of the political world and everchanging society, guardian of the nation's traditions and identity."

Historically, change often came frequently and swiftly. Only recently with the loss of actual power have Monarchies become stable and predictable. Because it is no longer worth the effort of getting rid of one to become the replacement. In my opinion anyway.

I think this is another facile excuse for an expensive and privileged Royal family.

But they can be useful; with an invitation to a state visit extended to Lichenface, we might’ve found a new role for the Royal embarrassment that is Prince Andrew. Invite Andrew Tate to the occasion plus a crowbar/prybar, Rhohypnol and a large jar of Vaseline and the three of they’ll have a great time.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I think this is another facile excuse for an expensive and privileged Royal family.

But they can be useful; with an invitation to a state visit extended to Lichenface, we might’ve found a new role for the Royal embarrassment that is Prince Andrew. Invite Andrew Tate to the occasion plus a crowbar/prybar, Rhohypnol and a large jar of Vaseline and the three of they’ll have a great time.

That's a mental image that will take some time to expunge.

 

[Cri70]

That hypothesis doesn’t really explain the early spread in Europe though; there was never an occupation of Japanese by European armed forces.. When the U.K. became the cultural 51st state of the US, in the 60s onwards, then perhaps.

By the time karate hit Europe, the Takushoku gang (Nakayama and others) had clear business ideas and followed a classic "industrialization" path, with standardizations (of curriculum, of movements/technique), certifications of instructors, and seeding business in major countries, with the aim of creating and industry of instruction. They had wanted to make a living out from karate as Funakoshi had done (though rather modestly) but they needed a different angle as times were very different, and they wanted to scale up.

This kind of industrialization works - they work to this day, as anyone who's been near any corporate training programs and its "certifications" knows - and they work well. The JKA managed to create a successful teaching and certification business which only began to crack when some of the people realized there was more money to be made if they split.

The US road was apparently very different and way more organic, exactly because a lot of karate there was the result of servicemen returning home.