| There was a time when the karate man was | | | | you must first put away all your preconceived |
| looked upon with respect and feared. A time | | | | ideas about what real combat is. Forget the |
| when, if someone said they were a black belt, | | | | ring. Forget what you see on TV. How can an |
| it caused others to be impressed. You can say | | | | older man; say middle-aged, defend against a |
| that karate has become outdated. But what has | | | | group of younger, stronger and faster |
| really happened is that karate has become | | | | opponents. It will not be by speed and power. |
| exposed. There has been an interesting | | | | If he is to win; and he must, he has to do |
| development in the martial arts in the late | | | | something all together different. Yes the |
| 20th Century and into the 21st. Martial arts | | | | older man is a master of self-defense. But |
| have evolved and become much more true to | | | | his system is highly evolved. He relies on a |
| life than ever. | | | | core group of concepts rather than |
| | | | techniques. Of course he uses proper |
| If you are one of those people who like to | | | | technique but it is all grounded in his core |
| question things then maybe this thought has | | | | principals. He also has the amazing ability |
| gone through your mind. Why are there so many | | | | to fight in a very apropos manner because he |
| different martial arts systems in the world. | | | | is guided by highly developed contact |
| We all have two arms and two legs don't we? | | | | reflexes. In other words, if he is touched by |
| So why all the different systems of self | | | | an aggressor, the older man instantly knows |
| defense? I know that systems were usually | | | | all about him and deals with him in proper |
| born out of a need such as one group of | | | | time with super preparatory application. |
| people having to fight another group who were | | | | That means he stops the first attack and all |
| better armed. So they developed systems to | | | | future attacks immediately. He also uses |
| fight those men who used certain weapons a | | | | skeletal alignment to enhance his power. He |
| certain way. Unfortunately these men thought | | | | is able to hit much harder than his younger |
| their system more effectual than they should. | | | | counterparts who use muscle to deliver their |
| | | | blows. The skilled older man delivers his |
| So let's look at what we have in the world | | | | strikes with his bones which feels like being |
| without going into a deep history lesson. You | | | | hit with the end of an iron rod. |
| basically have karate and ju-jitsu from | | | | |
| Okinawa and Japan. You have a multitude of | | | | The answer is to unite with the opponent's |
| kung fu systems from China. You have Tae Kwon | | | | energy. No struggling or resisting but moving |
| Do and a few others like Tang Soo Do from | | | | according to "the now". To be able to |
| Korea; boxing and wrestling from Europe of | | | | discharge a highly potent "motion martial |
| course. Of these there is every variation | | | | art". Not static or choppy, muscular |
| under the sun. You name it and someone has | | | | movements but relaxed yet aligned motions |
| tried to develop it into a fighting system. | | | | that can deal with an attack as if it were |
| But what do we really have. The fact is that | | | | just a crude language. Yes, the answer is to |
| all we really have is three men out there. It | | | | have a highly developed and fluent martial |
| all boils down to THREE. You have boxers or | | | | language as a complete and elaborate |
| people who fight predominantly with their | | | | communication. Yes, self defense can be like |
| hands, kickers who like to use kicks as their | | | | this. The only martial art I know that |
| main weapon and grapplers who like to take | | | | achieves this elevated dexterity is Wing |
| people to the ground and finish them there. | | | | Chun. |
| That's really it. Just those three. Now there | | | | |
| are people who are good at one, two or even | | | | If a person truly dedicates him or herself to |
| three of those methods. Those guys are now | | | | only doing and developing a system that is |
| known as mixed martial artists. | | | | fit for the 21st Century real world self |
| | | | defense, then he must use external defenses |
| Someone once asked, what is truth? I think we | | | | guided by internal faculty. A system that |
| can ask that same question here. I mean how | | | | encompasses the most effective techniques a |
| can the average guy deal with someone who is | | | | person can deliver with the most advanced |
| skilled in one or even three of the main | | | | internal concepts one can make manifest. Now |
| fighting methods? You know, the grappler who | | | | I mentioned Wing Chun earlier but not every |
| can kick and box. If the guy is good at all | | | | Wing Chun teacher has developed in this |
| three methods then do I have to be good at | | | | manner or to this level. It is rare to find |
| all three methods, too? Do I have to fight in | | | | people who have this high level skill. But |
| the same manner? I know karate won't do the | | | | they are out there. |
| job. Definitely Tae Kwon Do will not do. How | | | | |
| about adding a self defense class or two. | | | | If you really want to get involved with a |
| Will that help? I don't think so. What about | | | | martial art and want to find verity, then |
| kung fu and all the various animal styles? | | | | take a few steps back. Get back far enough |
| No. You can pretend to be an animal but that | | | | away from what is traditionally known and |
| won't beat the skilled boxer, kicker, | | | | taught. Take an honest look around and see if |
| grappler. So how do we deal with this guy. It | | | | the martial art before you justifies itself |
| can't be using his own methods. You can't box | | | | intellectually. Ask the hard questions. Will |
| a boxer and expect to win if he's really good | | | | it work against the boxer, kicker, grappler |
| at what he does. Let's just assume this guy | | | | guy? Can it be done effortlessly? What makes |
| is a really good mixed martial artist who | | | | the most sense? Study and do research before |
| happens to be a thug and wants to rob and | | | | you join a school. I can tell you right now, |
| maybe even kill you. What's the answer if you | | | | forget karate and Tae Kwon Do unless you just |
| don't have a weapon at hand? | | | | want to do a sport. Don't be too reverent |
| | | | with any martial art system. Be honest with |
| The answer is elementory yet intricate. In | | | | yourself and hopefully you'll find a good |
| order to effectively deal with a skilled thug | | | | teacher. |