(Approx 2 minute 10 second read)

Someone sent me a personal message saying that I “don’t understand the martial arts” and that if I did, I would “show respect”.
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I have no idea what article he was referring to – he didn’t say. He just launched into several accusations.
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Assumptions like that usually lead to misunderstanding and conflict. His comment seemed to come from a place of emotion, not reason. He doesn’t know me, where I’ve been, or how I’ve spent my time.
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But what I do spend time on is challenging misinformation in the martial arts.
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He accused me of not understanding, and then told me I’d “missed the point” – all without addressing a single thing I actually said.
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Let me be clear: I’m not trying to tell anyone what to do. I ask people to think about why they train, what they’re training for, and whether what they’re doing actually works in the right context. If that feels like an order, maybe it’s hitting a nerve.
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I’ve never told anyone they wasted their time with their training. I’ve questioned methods that don’t stand up to pressure or offer any real self-protection. That’s not disrespect – it’s responsibility. If that makes people uncomfortable, we’re probably not training for the same reasons.
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I don’t know this person well enough to be offended by them. His message didn’t upset me – it just highlighted how easily things get twisted when people read through the lens of their own emotion rather than what’s actually written.
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Maybe I called him out without knowing it. He didn’t explain. But if a post offends someone that deeply, chances are we’re standing on very different ground.
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Everyone has an opinion – of course they do. But having one doesn’t automatically make it right, or useful. What matters is whether it’s based on experience, reason, and reality – not just emotion or tradition.
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Who was it that said, “The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing”? That’s never been my way of doing things, and I won’t apologize for that.
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I do respect the martial arts. I respect my teachers and peers – some of whom share my mindset, and others who don’t.
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I respect the past masters who guided us toward practical karate, and even those who moved it in a different direction.
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But respect doesn’t mean blind agreement. Some of those masters may have been wrong. I may be wrong too. That’s not disrespect – it’s honest reflection. I value the people who have guided me, and still do. Questioning methods, updating ideas, and learning from experience is how martial arts should evolve.
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After more than 50 years of practice, I’ve formed my opinions based on what holds up in reality – not on tradition alone.
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Respect isn’t about staying quiet. It’s about having the courage to speak honestly – and being willing to stand by it.
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If standing up for honesty in the martial arts brings criticism, so be it. I’d rather be criticized for speaking the truth than praised for staying silent. That, to me, is the kind of respect that actually matters.
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But then again, I may be wrong.
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Written by Adam Carter – Shuri Dojo