If the Founders Were Born Today, Karate Would Look Completely Different — and That Proves the Old System Is Outdated - By Sensei Liam Musiak

Traditionalists often say:

“We must preserve the art exactly as the founder intended.”

But here is the truth nobody wants to admit:

If the founders of Karate were born today — in our modern world —

they would NOT create the same system they created 80–120 years ago.

And that fact alone tells us something important:

❗ The old system is outdated.

Not in spirit — but in method.

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🔥 Why the founders would evolve their systems today

The karate pioneers worked with the tools and knowledge available in their era:

• No criminology or behavioural science

• No CCTV-based fight analysis

• No understanding of modern knife crime

• No pressure-testing science

• No structured self-defence law

• No scenario or environmental drills

• No mixed-discipline influence

• No sports science or biomechanics

• No psychological training

• No high-stress simulations

• Very limited padwork

They built brilliant systems for their time, not ours.

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🔥 If the founders were alive today…

If Funakoshi, Otsuka, Mabuni, Motobu or any founding master were born in 2025, they would:

• update their techniques,

• revise their syllabuses,

• modernise their training,

• incorporate science and criminology,

• pressure-test everything,

• and absolutely restructure their ranking system to reward ability and development —

not just time served.

Because they were innovators.

They changed everything in THEIR era.

They would change everything in OURS.

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🔥 Why this proves the old system is outdated

If even the founders themselves wouldn’t use the original version of Karate if they lived today,

then logically:

The original version is outdated for modern combat and modern self-defence.

Not “bad.”

Not “wrong.”

Not “disrespectful.”

Just outdated.

A system created for 1930s Japan struggles in 2025 England unless it evolves.

Karate doesn’t die because people innovate.

It dies because people refuse to.

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🔥 Why Jissenkō Ryū exists

I didn’t create Jissenkō Ryū to rebel.

I created it because:

• The world has changed.

• Violence has changed.

• Law has changed.

• Psychology has changed.

• Training standards have changed.

And Karate must change with it.

Realism is not disrespect.

Evolution is not betrayal.

Innovation is not ego.

The founders’ refusal to stay still is what created Karate.

My refusal to stay still is what keeps it alive.

⸻

🥋 Sensei Liam Musiak

Founder of Jissenkō Ryū Karate