In the age of numbers a great many people end up as statistics. It's possible to delve into the lives of the average Banker, the average Lawyer, the average Jockey, Ballplayer, Golfer, and the average Man. The Northwest Karate Black Belt Association is many times called upon to furnish figures on the "average" Karate-Ka. THERE CAN BE NO SUCH PERSON. The Karate contestant can be tied to no figures. Each is an individual and remains so under all circumstances.

First off, there are the men who make their living from instructing the Art. Then there are those who own their own Karate studios, stores, farms, or other business and who practice Karate only part time and only enter in a few tournaments.

Probably in the largest category are those who make their living other than from Karate but practice Karate for the various benefits that they receive from the Art itself. They may be old timers, who figure that they are not going to be out done by the young guys. Maybe they never were active in sports. Maybe they never were active in sports until they heard about Karate. Maybe they were sportsman but never had that "something" that would put them on top. They may be the comparative newcomer who may, through experience, natural ability, and luck, someday reach the top. These men contest at every opportunity and go to great expense to compete and if they win...a trophy...if they lost, the mighty ovation of the clapping hand, that's all.

On the fringe is another group. The young hopefuls. This is the group that the Northwest Karate Black Belt Association wants to help the most. They haven't studied Karate long enough to have what it takes to win and are not well enough acquainted to demonstrate all of the ability that they have in Karate. By teaming up for travel expense, borrowing and working; hoping, these young men can last for years, getting lucky for a win at a tournament on occasion and waiting, working for the skills to develop, the experience, and the breaks to put them in the winners circle.

One of the features that make Karate Tournaments so highly a competitive sport is that there is no prize money, just trophies and the handshakes that go with winning. The thought of competing against other men for the sake of a Mark of Measurement for Self-Improvement.

To stay on top at these tournaments as a contestant, the individual must win, so therefore he must try to continue to improve himself as for each winner there must be several losers.