History is a valuable teacher. If you care to take a look. 

Tegumi (手組) or Mutō (無刀) is a traditional form of wrestling from Okinawa. A common practice in Okinawa’s Ryukyu Kingdom period, ‘tegumi’ nearly disappeared from the Okinawan martial arts curriculum.
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It is believed by many researchers that tegumi was probably the original form of fighting from Okinawa. And those researchers believe that tegumi, along with the striking and kicking techniques imported from China, was the forerunner to the art of karate.
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Before 1900, it is believed karate placed just as much emphasis on the grappling elements of the art as it did upon the striking. Training would include throws, joint-locks, chokes, strangles, grips, and counters etc.
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In the early part of the 20th century, karate underwent many changes so it would be suitable for the physical education of Okinawa’s school children. Many techniques were removed to make it safer for children, and for teaching large groups.
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Today, the reality is that most modern karate has become overly aesthetic, and far removed from the karate developed as a self-protection system on the island of Okinawa.
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To be an effective martial artist, it is imperative that you have a knowledge of all ranges of fighting, like the masters before us. Therefore, it is vital that some form of grappling forms part of your practice, just as it did for the masters of the past who created karate.
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But how often have we heard ……. There are no throws or grappling in karate and those elements are only found in Judo or Jujitsu?
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Shigeru Egami, in his book. ‘The Heart of Karate-do’ wrote; “There are also throwing techniques in karate… Throwing techniques were practiced in my day, and I recommend that you reconsider them.”
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Gichin Funakoshi also makes reference to grappling techniques in ‘Karate-Do Kyohan’. He wrote; “….. in Karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included.”
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Karate is an effective tool, and when learned for its technical aspects and principles, with locks, throws, breaks, and strikes, it can be devastating.
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Karate has ground work, chokes, joint locks, and throws. But sadly these practices seem to be disappearing from the curriculum today.  The traditional karate of today is mainly just seen as a punching, kicking and blocking art.
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“One of the principal reasons kata remains such a ‘riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’, is that the original 2-person training methods that linked basic technique to defensive application, tegumi, are no longer associated with the modern tradition.” – Patrick McCarthy from a 1997 article introducing Tegumi
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History is a valuable teacher. If you care to take a look. 👊🥋
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