Title: Karate : Can we still defend ourselves? Is it still effective self-defense?
Article: I write this article with a heavy heart, but the art of karate as i know it is moral decline.

What do mean? i hear you ask? I mean standards have dropped alarmingly over the last 20 to 30 years.
It is true that the martial arts in general are more popular today than ever before, but quantity does not mean quality in this case.

I first started my Karate training 28 years ago, i was lucky to find a top class instructor named Frank Johnson, who had just returned from living and training in Japan.

Such was his dedication to karate, that he quit his job and sold his home, to totally immerse himself in the Japanese culture and way of life - not something many people would do today.

Anyway, back to my story, the training all those years ago was tough. The black belts were formidable, they demanded and got total respect; in return you got a good hiding when sparring with them.

Fast forward 28 years to the present day and what i see is a sorry sight.
Visiting several clubs to either train with or just to sit in on a session i find: lack of discipline, no respect, no understanding of the art and worst of all instructors with poor half-hearted techniques, who are vague in their instruction and approach to their students.

There are still some very good instructors and clubs around, but these tend to be well established clubs that have been running for many years; older instructors who share the passion and philosophy like Frank still does.

The whole karate scene has changed, many years ago clubs were predominately adults.
Today clubs are packed with kids,not a bad big you say, but what are they being taught.
I find it embarrassing and uncomfortable when i see newspaper articles about `8 year old black belts` This disgusts me - what does a child know about the deeper meaning of karate - the history,the philosophy, the true meaning of what they have achieved. More importantly can that child defend themselves i.e. against an adult.

There are many instructors today, who will grade students and pass them; even if the student isn't good enough. This could be that if a student fails a grading,that student wont come back; hence the instructor loses money and the club has to fold.
On the other hand, there are rogue instructors who want to make a lot of money, so they will pass their students regardless of their ability - or lack of it.

I have witnessed gradings

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