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| karate has become outdated.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