"Hypothetical": to compete or not...

**kitkatninja** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 12:46am

I'm just throwing it out there, say:

1. You've got a few years experience of karate (black belt already)

2. You've had a break of X amount of years, due to a damaged knee

3. Started another style of karate as a beginner - not bothered about trying to get old rank recognised or skipping grades.

4. You've already won a couple of medals for katas in national karate competitions in the past.

Would you compete in the competitions as a beginner in this style? Would you tell people about your past experiences or not? Would you consider it unethical or just the nature of competitions?

-Ken

**Fish Of Doom** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 4:07am

yeah, i'd consider it unethical to enter yourself as a beginner. i'd speak to the sensei, and if possible to the competition's organizers, and see in which category they'd consent to enter you, although your sensei might need to teach you one or two non-beginner kata from the style so as not to throw you naked into the deep end, so to speak.

**kitkatninja** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 4:27am

Originally Posted by Fish Of Doom

yeah, i'd consider it unethical to enter yourself as a beginner. i'd speak to the sensei, and if possible to the competition's organizers, and see in which category they'd consent to enter you, although your sensei might need to teach you one or two non-beginner kata from the style so as not to throw you naked into the deep end, so to speak.

Thanks mate, that's what I was thinking :)

-Ken

**Prince Vlad** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 4:32am

Well in my BJJ club there are very few white belts who are complete noobs to MA. Some white belts have decades in judo or sambo and in some cases are guys competing on the MMA circuit. Rolling with them is like being thrown to the wolves but that's the nature of the game. Competitions are no different, BJJ in my country is quite new so the people who are attracted to it are mostly people with MA backgrounds. Competing in the white belt division is like a lucky dip, you never know what you'll be up against. I don't really see the problem myself but I would let your instructor know just in case, he can make the call.

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 4:42am

In Brazil they make Judo black belts compete at purple.

***TaeBo_Master*** · Posted On: 8/19/2011 5:09am

How different are the karate styles? If the forms are completely different, the sparring ruleset is completely different, then there might be some justification in competing as a beginner. Also, how do you compare to the students in your new style? Within your own school are you more comparable to the beginners or the advanced students?

Can't go wrong with talking to your sensei. Just tell him your former experience and how long your break was, etc. Then leave the decision to him. Assuming he's an honorable guy, he'll direct you in the right way. At least then you have the ethics part off your back.