my friend has told me people who have poor vision ie needing glasses provents you being a particpant in karate

Question

is this true?

Answer 1

In my dojo, there are a few people that wear their glasses during class.

1.) A sandan who trains under my senseis and has his own dojo. I've seen him loose his glasses, catch them in the air and put them back on in the middle of a throw or fall a few times.

2.) An ikkyu who during his ikkyu test, lost his glasses but never put them back on. Despite not being able to focus all that well, he could still see motion and judge distance so he was fine. even without them.

I don't think its accurate to say its required to not have glasses on during class. Rather, a particular dojo may require no glasses, but that doesn't mean its not possible to participate.

Answer 2

No it is not true.

There are various forms of martial arts and all of them have different philosofies and goals. I supposed that if you want to spar full contact or fight in no holds bar tournaments then bad vision can be an hinderance. If you can't see your oponent then thats a bad thing. However, most people don't train to be the ultimate fighter. They practice martial arts for many reasons. Some do it for self defense, others for the excersice, entertainment, to socialize and even for the spiritual aspects of it. Thats why i said at the begining that there are different martial arts. Regardless all martial arts training have very little if nothing to do with bad eye sight. For example, if the purpose of the art is for self defence then it is a good thing to have people with bad eyesight because it gives training a new dimention. That is what happens if someone throws sand in your eyes and you can't see well. Well, you still have to defend yourself.

Also, look at some basketball players. They run around the counrt at full speed. What they do is wear special aye glasses. There are also some martial arts that train blind people. The point is that most school do not practice punshing each other in the face. Well, is an option in most schools. Most sparing only allow hits in the torso. That is chest to stomach. Not below or not above. However if you want and according to your level you could include everything like kick and punshes to the face and legs. What I'm trying to say is that a lot of people soar with glasses on. The other option is to wear contact lenses. A third option is just go without anything.

You also have to consider the grappling arts like judo and brazilian jujitsu. In these arts you do a lot by feeling and touching. You become awear of your opponets body by the way he feels. That is you can tell where his arms and legs are withough seen them because after a while you gain a sense for these things. Just like driving a car. You don't have to see the outside of the car to be able to drive it. You develop a feel for how long and wide the car is and adjust your driving accordingly to avoid colitions.

Long story short, you can practice martial arts with glasses or contact lenses. I have even seen people with a missing arm and they get pretty good.

If you want to join a martial arts club then let me give you some advice. First do soe research. What do you want to focus on. DO you want weapons, strinking, grappling, spirtuality or pure self defense. Not all arts offer everything. So, you ahve to define what your goal is. Also, different arts have different protocols. For example aikido is more spiritual and there are a lot of rituals. Thai boxing have some rituals but for the most part you will be training like a boxer in a ring hitting pads, punshing bags etc etc. Most karate and kung fu school just practice in a gym. They do a lot of drills and focus on proper techniques. If you want weapons then what type. For example there is fencing , kendo, and other sword arts. There is also the philipino martial arts with deal with the sticks and knifes. How about krav maga. It is pure self defence. Brazilian jujitsu is an excelent art wich teaches you grappling on the ground. It is very practical and is usefull. 85 plus % of what they practice can be used. However, they have very little rituals. For example you don't bow in or line up and a strick military stile drill training. Some people like that because is more like going to a gym. Others don't like that because some people like more structure and culture. Again, do your research.

Second of all research the teachers lineage. Where did the teacher learn his art. What are his belief systems. Is he a recognized person by some organization or is he a weasel trying to con people out of money?

Answer 3

No-not at all! For some things glasses are good to wear and you can get a set of sports rec glasses to wear in class if you don't want to wear your regular glasses. I have had several students wear the goggle type, plastic glasses in class for this reason and Sears has them in their Optical department for a pretty reasonable price.

Answer 4

Perhaps certain tournament rules would not allow glasses for safety reasons, but I've never heard of any dojo that would refuse students for that reason. One of the students had a special sports plastic pair made (they kind of look like goggles) to avoid breaking his good ones.

Answer 5

I've never heard that. You may not WANT to wear glasses when participating in karate (in case they accidentally get broken).

Answer 6

You can also get prescription sports glasses. The same kind that basketball players can wear.

Answer 7

Quinton Jackson, the UFC LHW champion, wears contact lenses. I know this because he got one knocked out in a fight lol.

Answer 8

I have poor vision and boxed and wrestled for years if that helps. I know guys who are almost blind who fight.

Answer 9

OFCOURSE NOT!!!

i know a kid that was almost completely blind and took karate.

Answer 10

HA I used to train in hapkido and this one guy was blind, and he was really good.