(Approx 1 minute 35 second read)

My recent article* about the old days – when fighting was tough, and injuries were just part of training – got a lot of responses. Not surprising really many of us experienced something similar.
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To be honest, most of the comments were reflective. Those of us who lived it, who had similar experiences, know we didn’t have much choice. It was just the way things were.
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It’s like classic cars. Back in the day, they were cutting-edge – no seat belts, no crumple zones, no airbags. But we still drove them. Why? Because that’s what was available. It was the same with the martial arts back then too.
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A Shodan (I won’t name him) said, “You old people don’t have a clue. Why would you do those things? It was stupid.”
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We didn’t know any different, we didn’t have the luxury of today’s sports science or a buffet of training methodologies.
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We trained the way our teachers taught, often learning the hard way – through trial, error, and sometimes injury. The knowledge we have today exists because of those who went through it before.
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Another comment: “You’re not selling it to me.”
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Selling what, exactly? The reality of training in a different era? The grit it took to push through when injuries were common, and recovery options were limited? I’m not selling anything. I’m sharing a perspective. It’s not about glorifying the past – it’s about understanding it.
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Another said, “Meh. It’s a stupid way to train.”
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Maybe by today’s standards. But back then, you either accepted the training, or you quit. There weren’t multiple styles to hop between, no “find the right fit for you” approach. You committed to your dojo, your teacher, and the training – however tough it was. Or you quit and walked away.
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If you’re practicing today in a safer, more refined environment, maybe take a moment to appreciate the hard lessons that got us here.
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Yes, it was brutal at times. But we had discipline and respect for each other. And those of us who stuck it out, well we developed a real spirit, that wasn’t something you just learned, that was something created in the training of the time.
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Yes, they were tough times, but I am pretty sure many of us who had similar experiences, wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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Written by Adam Carter – * original article inspired by Steve Rowe
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Photo Credit: Keinosuke Enoeda and Steve Cattle at Crystal Palace from the KUGB Guide to Better Karate 1988.