Self defence - this is one of the main reasons why many people start martial arts training (other reasons are: body image, health, sport etc..). The traditional part of karate is kata and bunkai (application) kata, which is self defence. Kata masters a spontaneous response to different attack scenarios: defence from punches, kicks, holds, chokes ,multiple opponent attacks, and so on. Originally karate was created as a combat system in Okinawa to be used in situations like “to kill or be killed”. Nowadays karate is mostly a great physical conditioning system and we must appreciate the fact that we live in such society where it is not necessary to constantly defend ourselves from violence. Traditional Budo teaches: “the wisest thing to do in a situation is to run away”…This means that the key of self defence is to learn how to predict and avoid confrontation, and use physical violence only in cases where your life or your love ones is in danger!
Aristotle: “Anyone can become angry-that is easy. But to be angry with the right reason, to the right degree, at the right time, to the right purpose, and in the right way-that is not easy.”
For kids, general safety rules taught in public schools are the way to be safe. For adults, everybody must use their own common sense to react rationally to violence (avoid violating law).Everybody who is looking for physical confrontation eventually might end up in the hospital (if loses) or in jail(if wins)…not pretty perspectives at all!
Conclusion.
To see traditional karate self defence, look our webs section “kata” and bunkai.
Also offering an entertaining (not suitable for children) video course of “street self defence” by one famous fighter with vast experience in this field. The course is technically very practical, but I hope, by watching it, you will realize that it is better to not be there! Violence does not look pretty!
Remember-the art of self defence is not in winning the fight but in avoiding it!
