How to Study Karate or Other Martial Arts and Still Be Good at Self-Defense

There are literally dozens of reasons to study theI point out on my knife-defense DVD called "The
martial arts. Everyday, countless numbers ofCutting-Edge," your attacker will almost always
children and adults take up the practice and studycome to your world. That means that you will
of such martial arts as karate, judo, aikido, as wellmost likely be attacked in familiar territory -
as many other mixed or ecclectic forms. And, forwhere you live, work, and play. Take a good look
the most part, a student will probably find whataround your world. Knowing where danger is likely
he or she is looking for in the program that theyto come from, and in what form, is a crucial
choose. I say "for the most part" because, theelement to being ready if and when it
one area of study that cannot be left to chancedoes.Researching the School, Program, and
is that of self-defense.While just about everyTeacherI find it disconcerting to watch people
form of martial art can help a student to developtake more time trying on jeans to find just the
personal success traitsright fit than is done in selecting a self-defense
like...ConfidenceDisciplineFocus, and...RespectNotprogram. According to statistics, students chose a
every art, or teacher for that matter, is cut outmartial arts or self-defense program based more
to teach you what you need to know to surviveon comfort and convenience, than for
a life-threatening situation.Now, before you go offeffectiveness. Effectiveness, they assume, is the
all half-cocked because you think I dishonoredsame regardless of school or program; so the
your art or school, or because you think I justdecision most often comes down to location of
said that you can't learn to defend yourself bythe school and scheduling.It's important to
taking karate, give me a minute to explain whereremember that, selecting a school, program, and
I'm coming from. As a former federal policeultimately a teacher, is not the same as buying a
officer and undercover operative in the areas ofpair of jeans, or a hundred other decisions that
drug suppression and black market investigations,you could make. Why?Because this decision, if not
as-well-as plenty of street-time as both amade properly, could cost you more than you're
uniformed police officer and bodyguard, I canwilling to lose.What it comes down to is whether
assure you that, there is much more to defendingor not you want what you need, or you just
yourself than learning a few punches, blocks, andwant to feel like you've done something. The
kicks in a karate class.So, how do you make surechoice is yours. The martial arts, in their most
that what you're getting out of a martial artsoriginal form, were designed to deal with
class or so-called self-defense program will work indangerous assailants and for the preservation of
a real-world situation? How do you make surelife. If an ancient warrior didn't practice enough,
that you're not going to be spending yourfailed to learn an important lesson, or wasn't
hard-earned time, money, and effort onprepared for the attack or attacker he was
something that, when the time comes, will be asfacing - he died. Plain and simple.In Today's world,
worthless as not having trained at all? The answerwe don't have to deal with physical danger on a
is......you're going to have to do some work aheadday-to-day basis like our martial ancestors did.
of time.If you're going to get what you need toAnd, quite frankly, that's a good thing. However; it
survive a street attack in Today's world, you'realso produces a situation where underskilled,
going to have to do some research in threeinexperienced, and sometimes unscrupulous
important areas. They are...Knowing What Youintructors can pass off lessons that are more
NeedExamining Your Life and Lifestyle,harmful than good. But, that does't mean that you
and...Researching the School, Program andcan't find good, quality, accurate instruction. What
TeacherI go into these areas in great depth in theit does mean is......you, and no one else, is
book, "The Karate-Myth: Why Most Martial Artsresponsible for your own safety and self-defense
and Self-Defense Programs Don't Work and Howeducation.Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and
to Be Safe in Today's Violent World." To readmaster instructor of Warrior Concepts
more about it and these important topics, just goInternational. A senior teacher in the Japanese
here.Let's take a look at each area to see what'swarrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching
really needed if you're serious about gettingthe ancient ways of self-protection and personal
control over this part of your life.Knowing Whatdevelopment lessons in a way that is easily
You NeedThis area requires that you direct yourunderstood and put to use by modern Western
awareness at your community and the types ofstudents and corporate clients. Through their
attacks that typically occur in your little corner ofmartial arts training, his students and clients learn
the world. Remember, you're probably not goingproven, time-tested lessons designed to help
to be attacked by a kung-fu stylist launching athem create the life they've always dreamed of
crane fist. However, knowing that 98% ofliving, and the skills necessary for protecting that
attackers in North America use a hooking or anlife from anything that might threaten it. To learn
uppercutting punch will take you a long waymore about sponsoring a seminar and other
towards learning techniques and defenses that willrelated subjects, visit his website.
actually work.Examining Your Life and LifestyleAs