Why Karate Has a Bad Reputation – And How Voracious Karate Is Fixing It By Sensei Liam Musiak

Liam Musiak
Aug 17
3 min read

Karate is one of the most recognised martial arts in the world, yet it also carries a reputation problem. Many people see karate as outdated, unrealistic, or even “fake.” Sadly, there are good reasons for this perception. But there are also ways forward – and at Voracious Karate, I’ve made it my mission to bring karate back to its true purpose: realism, skill, knowledge, and dedication.

Here are the top ten reasons karate has gained a bad reputation – and how we avoid them.

1. McDojos & Belt Factories

Far too many clubs are happy to hand out black belts to children as young as 10. A black belt should represent maturity, resilience, and a deep understanding of karate – not a few years of attendance and parental payments.

👉 At Voracious Karate, the minimum age for 1st Dan is 16, ensuring students are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready.

2. Dan Ranks for Time, Not Skill

At the other extreme, many instructors receive higher Dan ranks simply for waiting long enough. They may hold 5th, 6th, or even 7th Dan, yet their knowledge, fighting ability, and teaching haven’t developed since their early days. This devalues the meaning of rank.

👉 At Voracious Karate, rank is earned only through skill, knowledge, dedication, and innovation – never for waiting years.

3. Point Sparring Over Real Combat

Karate competitions often reward “touches” rather than realistic strikes. While this has its place, it can give the false impression that karate can’t be effective under pressure.

👉 We train with pressure testing, pad work, full sparring, 2v1 drills, and real-world scenarios so students can apply techniques under stress.

4. Lack of Real Self-Defence

Many karate schools still teach the same techniques from 50 years ago without adapting them to modern threats – knives, multiple attackers, or ground fighting.

👉 At Voracious Karate, self-defence is at the core, with 33 different street-based scenarios, knife defence drills, and ground survival.

5. Poor Quality Instructors

A lot of karate instructors can’t spar, can’t fight, and can’t explain kata properly. Yet they hide behind their rank.

👉 At Voracious Karate, I hold myself accountable: everything I teach, I can demonstrate under pressure.

6. Kata Without Bunkai

Too often kata is treated as a dance with no explanation. Outsiders watch and understandably ask: “What’s the point?”

👉 We go deep into bunkai (applications) for every kata, showing students how ancient movements apply directly to modern self-defence.

7. False Sense of Security

Students are sometimes told, “This block will stop any punch” without ever testing it. That false confidence can be dangerous.

👉 We use realistic sparring and drills to test techniques, so students know what works and what doesn’t.

8. Commercialisation & Watered-Down Standards

The karate boom of the 1970s–80s led to schools chasing profit, not progress. Standards dropped, but the prices went up.

👉 At Voracious Karate, we value quality over quantity. I would rather train five dedicated students than 50 who are pushed through belts without earning them.

9. Training Exactly as 100 Years Ago

Many clubs proudly claim they teach karate exactly as it was done a century ago. But the truth is, the world has changed. Violence has changed. Weapons, multiple attackers, legal considerations, and modern fitness science must be part of training. Teaching as if nothing has changed in 100 years may be “traditional,” but it isn’t practical.

👉 At Voracious Karate, I honour tradition but constantly evolve it. I create new drills, update syllabuses, and build training methods that prepare students for the real threats of today – not just the past.

10. Stagnation

Too many clubs rely on “this is the way we’ve always done it” rather than pushing forward. Karate gets stuck in the past.

👉 At Voracious Karate, I balance respect for the old with innovation for the new – ensuring karate remains effective, modern, and respected.

The Voracious Karate Standard

Karate doesn’t deserve a bad reputation – people do. Specifically, those who hand out 10-year-old black belts, and those who sit on higher Dan ranks without ever proving their skill or knowledge.

At Voracious Karate, we are fixing karate’s reputation by demanding higher standards: