Karate: Ancient pursuit in need of new face: Steve Bunce reports from Birmingham on a sport's desire to shed an unwanted image

KARATE is a serious discipline. At the 29th European Championships held over the weekend at the National Indoor Arena here, more than 400 competitors from 34 countries helped distance the ancient sport from the excessives of kung fu and the spurious claims of martial artists.

The English Karate Governing Body claims more than 115,000 registered members. However, it remains linked with a dark side, an often seedy mix inspired by the exploits of Bruce Lee and TV's kung fu master, David Carradine. Add a few beats of the disco classic, 'Kung Fu Fighting', and the distortion is complete.

'Kung fu and kick boxing have not been good for karate,' said the England and Great Britain coach, Ticky Donovan, who has been in control since 1977. 'Karate is not for bullies, there is simply too much control and skill involved.' In bouts the judges search for kima (poise and balance) and often ignore full-contact head shots.

'It is about controlled technique. A slight touch is what it takes at this level. Timing, speed and control, the ability to show what you can do without actually doing it, is what counts. Knocking an opponent out is no good because he can't continue and you would be disqualified,' added Donovan, his gaze fixed on different mats.

In the kata discipline, acrobatic kicks are mixed with punches in a solitary dance to impress the judges, but in kumite, shinguards are taped on, fist-mitts worn and concentration focused for confrontation. The divide between men and women is faint.

Men fight for three minutes, women for two. Despite the rules, blood ruins the white outfits and bruises and cuts keep the six doctors very busy. At one point, a wayward oi-tsuki sent Val Bugur from Turkey down in a pool of his own blood. He went to hospital - broken-nosed - and his opponent was instantly eliminated. As the officials pondered the implications, a gangling figure from the St John's Ambulance mopped up the blood.

Donovan and the 22 members of his squad spent a week at Lilleshall to prepare, but on Friday night, the kumite team of women, four including a reserve, who won the World Championship in 1992 were beaten by Italy in the first round. It was a bad loss and the women were suspicious of sympathy. 'It is my fault, right, right. I messed up, not the others. OK?' insisted Molly Samuels, a 10-year veteran of international competition.

'C'mon on, Trish. Work the girl and close the gap. Up and down, that is how you have to fight, you know that,' she shouted later at Patricia Duggin during the open class competition. Duggin, her shaved head bristling with sweat, her face fierce, won three times but was narrowly beaten by the Spaniard, Consuelo Hernandez.