What is Authentic Karate?

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Authentic, something of undisputed origin; genuine. Not false or copied but real. Its origin is of unquestionable authenticated and verified origin. It is believed to be authenticate from the acceptance or belief from known facts, experience and trustworthy sources. Its very practice is considered authoritative. 

It is easy then to define authentic karate, a term I first read and coined by the Shinseidokan Dojo author, Michael Clarke Sensei of an authentic country found down under :-) . I find using authentic easier then classic or traditional but as with those two the definition is still open to interpretation and perception of the individual. This means that even the commercialized sport oriented club like practice of the physical can also be thought of, by those who practice and believe that model, as authenticate karate and/or martial arts. 

Life and its concepts are never easy to define exactly, exactly enough to satisfy the many vs. the few. It comes down to what matters to each group. Each group may end up with a different perspective and distinction as to authenticate, classical or traditional karate but in the end it only matters to that individual and his or her group. 

I too, have a unique way of looking at my karate and I do see it in all three lights, i.e., authenticate, classical and traditional, but in truth I see it beyond what is seen and practiced in most dojo around the world, including the new Okinawan Karate Systems. I see it as a matter of yin-yang where the old traditional, classical and authenticate way of karate is the yang while the more philosophical modern view, not so modern just rediscovered old ways, of karate and martial arts. What I rediscovered is what I consider the authenticate karate, a more comprehensive and complete form of the discipline. Then again, others feel and see and understand it in other authenticate ways.

To use the terms with a limited belief and understanding does no one justice and inhibits the expanse one can achieve in karate so to my mind authenticate karate is a practice that should take us beyond the basics and way into the expanse of the karate Universe with all its matter, anti-matter and void or space. Its vastness is daunting but its pursuit will be a wonderful life long endeavor one who faces the challenge will never regret. 

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