What is the difference between todays Karate and the original Karate?

Answer 1

The Short Answer is intent! Earlier empty hand development was developed for life threatening events. The training grading was slow and often a student would incur injury learning the techniques associated the branch they were studying. Today the Mentality of most people would not tolerate the lack of positive acknowledgement with a two belt grading process of the old days just white and black. I should also add that shodan is just a first degree. It only states that you know all the basics well. There are nine other degrees to obtain! The degrees have specific developmental levels attached to them. I have personally found often many dan rated practioners are not fully informed of their positions of development relative to their ability to disseminate information and executive technique, which is disheartening.

Answer 2

It greatly depends on the the school and style as well as the location of the dojo. While there are schools that stick to the fundamental principles of the originators, most have expanded to encompass sport applications. The large number of ranks to provide gratification quickly to the students, the competitions to earn trophies, many schools have lost track of the deadly implications of the origins of their style.

While styles do evolve over time, the traditional kata can be traced back hundreds of years. They have been modified to gain some efficiency and have adjusted to the cultures were they are taught.