(Approx 1 minute 55 second read)

I’ve always been fascinated by history. When I lived in a rural area of the UK, reminders of the past were everywhere – Bronze Age burial sites, a Roman town and amphitheater, a 10th-century church. You could almost feel the weight of time beneath your feet. That sense of connection to those who came before still speaks to me.
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So how important is lineage, history, and tradition in the martial arts?
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I regularly hear people describe their karate as “authentic” or “genuine”, pointing to a direct link to the founder of their style. And truthfully, I enjoy that sense of connection too. I’ve trained with instructors who were students of founders, and I’ve had founders as teachers. It’s interesting, and I do take some satisfaction in knowing that I’m part of something that existed before me and will continue after me.
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But I also think we have to be realistic.
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Most people don’t get to choose their lineage. They train at the local dojo, often chosen because it fits the family schedule or because it’s near by.
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Parents don’t ask about the founder’s name on a certificate – they want their kids to build confidence, get active, and have fun. And honestly, that doesn’t require a special sensei or a sacred bloodline.
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In the beginning, what matters is the quality of instruction and whether the teacher is a good fit. Later, as students mature and develop a deeper relationship with the method they practice, exploring history and lineage can add richness. But it’s not the foundation – it’s a layer.
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I’ve trained with instructors with impeccable lineages, and with excellent teachers who could barely name their instructor’s instructor. Some were brilliant; some were not. A certificate or title doesn’t guarantee deep understanding or effective teaching.
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And that brings me to something I see often – this idea that lineage alone makes your karate “authentic”. I’ve heard one very high-ranking practitioner say, “Indeed we travel back in time to connect to our profound lineage”. At first glance, it sounds poetic.
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But when it becomes the core of your message – when it becomes the product – then it’s worth questioning. You don’t always sell quality by claiming age.
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The pioneers of karate weren’t trying to “travel back in time”. They were innovators, not purists. They carried the past forward, but they didn’t let it anchor them. They evolved.
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Today, what I do is distinctly my own. It’s shaped by what I was taught, tested through decades of training, and through application. I have proved my understanding and ability in the eyes of my teachers, as they did with their teachers. They’ve trusted me to continue the line – not by imitation, but by understanding.
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To me, that’s lineage too.
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Someone once said to me, “You have a good teacher”. That’s enough for me.
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And it still is.
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Written by Adam Carter