Why Karate Will Fail You

(By Christophe A Clugston)

Many people approach Karate as a viable form of self defense and street fighting. These people are swayed by the claims that Karate was borne during the feudal period of the Orient and that it was developed for personal protection. This is continued with many movies from the 60's 70's and 80's portraying a man or woman capable of beating countless others because of a secret knowledge of Karate.

Today even with the advent of Muay Thai matches and MMA cage fights, the public still feels that Karate will give them an added advantage for self defense. They want to believe that using Karate will some how allow them to withstand a street confrontation or street attack. In fact, there are many schools that make a large amount of money guaranteeing that not only will you gain more confidence but you will gain abilities to protect yourself in many street attacks.

The reality is something different. Here is a list of the necessary qualities of any performance/outcome based self defense system:

1)It relies on using gross motor movements as these are the only ones you are capable of when you are truly scared.

2)It trains you against an aggressor who is trying to do you harm. You do not go from thrashing about in the air to being able to protect yourself anymore than you thrash about in your living room and can begin to do an open ocean 3 mile swim.

3)The technologies had to be developed in the same environment that you will face. Trying to do a Horse Punch from the Feudal period will not allow you to handle gang bangers.

4)Your instructor has had to had actual experience in the arena he is training you for. You wouldn't go to a virgin for sex advice, would you?

5)The underlying laws that govern all fighting and movement must be understood and integrated.

6)The technologies must work for a variety of body types and sizes. If it only works for tall people and you are very short, then you have wasted valuable learning time.

7)It must easy to integrate into your nervous system so that you can use it. Taking years before you can use anything leaves you too vulnerable.

8)It must be based on performance and saving your life. It cannot be based on tradition.

This is where Karate fails. It does not use the above points. In fact, it does the complete opposite. To save your life and gain real self defense you must keep the above points upper most in your mind.

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