According to expert Jesse Enkamp, Mike Tyson was more than just a dominant boxer – he was also a proficient karate master. Enkamp, a popular karate expert and YouTuber, highlighted Tyson’s mastery of the martial art, suggesting that his boxing style bore resemblance to traditional karate.
Enkamp explained on his YouTube channel that both old-school boxing and traditional karate share similarities, as they are performed without any protective gear and without strict adherence to rules.
He coined the term “smartial artist” to describe Tyson’s approach, emphasizing Tyson’s karate prowess.
Enkamp collaborated with boxing trainer Jay Elder to support his theory, although Elder didn’t entirely agree with all of Enkamp’s assertions.
While Elder acknowledged Tyson’s speed and agility, he noted differences between boxing and karate techniques.
Elder observed that Tyson’s boxing style involved rolling off his shoulders and hips to throw punches, which differed from the more upright stance typically seen in karate.
He pointed out that Tyson’s habit of keeping his head down contradicted traditional karate practice, where practitioners tend to keep their heads back.
Furthermore, Elder highlighted the distinct body positioning required for kicking in karate, contrasting it with the stance needed for boxing, where the focus is on punching and maintaining a lower, more stable posture.
Overall, while Enkamp suggested Tyson’s karate influence in his boxing style, Elder highlighted the fundamental differences between the two disciplines, underscoring the nuances of each martial art.