Have you ever heard of, what I call, "the karate myth?" This is something that I talk about quite a bit, and something that other martial arts instructors don't like to hear about. And, if you're serious about developing real skill in the science of self defense, then you must make sure that you are not falling victim to it. In fact, if you believe in the same karate myth that has many well intentioned martial artists deluded and blinded, then you could be betting your life on whether what you've actually learned will work when you need it most.
What is the karate myth?
Let me ask you a question. When you think of learning self defense, who do you think of learning it from?
For most of us, it's a black belt martial arts instructor. Unless you have some aversion to some aspect of martial arts training, you, like most people may have already fallen into the trap of this dangerous illusion.
What I'm talking about is the assumption that a person who wears a black belt...
...can actually teach you how to defend yourself in a real world attack situation against a brutal assailant who wants to damage you or worse.
I know how that sounds. In fact, you might be wondering, "isn't that what a black belt means?"
And, the answer is... Not necessarily.
In fact, in the Warrior Concepts' Mastery Program, founded on the art of Ninjutsu, a student is not considered to be able to defend against a real-world attacker throwing anything he wants - until 2nd degree Black Belt!
You see, not every martial art is designed for self protection or combat.
Surprised? I know how you feel. Because I once believed that anyone wearing a black belt was a master in self defense. And then I found out the truth that...it just isn't so. He or she may have mastered the skills, kata, and requirements for their particular system or "style," but that says nothing about whether or not they know what they must in order to survive a brutal encounter where there are no rules, no discipline, respect or sense of "fair play."
You see, there are many reasons for which a person can earn a black belt in a particular martial art. Add to this the fact that there are different approaches to teaching, and more than one focus for those training in any given martial art. Some of these reasons for training include:
1) Training for sport competition. The skills learned and practiced here will tend to lean toward allowing the practitioner to be successful in a contest. I have actually demonstrated a simple shift of my knees to slip a punch and been told by one of these folks that anything I do afterwards doesn't count "because they actually hit me!"
How is this possible?
Because in the sport competitions, the "strike zone" extends beyond the actual target - in this case anything over the shoulders counts as a head shot - and therefore is treated as though the punch actually landed when in fact it didn't.
2) Training for spiritual development. The training in this type of program can be more like engaging in moving meditation practice. Here, the practitioner goes through his kata with his eyes and concentration on his extended hand, kick, or moving body part. NOT on an attacker and his immediate surroundings - where it "should" be if you're focusing on surviving a brutal attack.
3) Empowerment and personal development results. Often students and instructors can forgo the combat elements of martial arts training and focus instead on the development of success and life traits - traits like:
Confidence Discipline Improved self esteem Respect Etc.
The martial arts have a long history of helping practitioners to develop these skills. That's not the problem. The problem lies in the fact that students can often be lead to believe that they are actually skilled in self defense when in reality they were allowed to "feel" powerful because they learned some skills.
4) Physical skill and prowess. Believe it or not but, some of the most famous martial arts celebrities of movies and television...
...were never trained as martial artists!
It's true. In fact, several well-known actors were trained in Hong Kong or China where they were enrolled into schools that focused on training stunt people and martial arts actors.
Many martial arts are designed more for the physical skill ability, than for actual combat or physical self protection.
5) Self-preservation and safety. For a martial art to claim to be teaching self-preservation and personal safety - as a primary focus and not an add-on benefit - there are very specific lessons that must be a part of the program. Some of these lessons include:
Strategic thinking Human physiology and the use of strong points against weak A "no-rule" philosophy Non-combatives training to reduce or avoid the need for fighting at all Drills and exercises that focus on concepts and principles rather than preset techniques Training for "unfair" situations including defending against bigger, faster, better skilled, and multiple attackers
Having a black belt in a sport-oriented martial system that regularly competes in a rule-laden contest with rules, referees, and safety mechanisms is a far cry from the reality of a life-threatening attack. I'm not saying that the sport martial artist, or any of the others listed above, can't defend himself. Then again, I wouldn't say that a high school wrestler couldn't defend himself either.
What I am saying is that his focus on, and consistent training that relies on elements that won't be present in a dangerous encounter will actually put him at a disadvantage! This is so because it's not what he's training for.
Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.For more information on what you MUST know to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: /street-fighting-self-defense-book.html
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