I hear this all the time. I read articles or letters in Black Belt magazine where somebody (a self proclaimed expert) says karate does not work on the street. All I can say is this is such a load of bull! I know your going to say “you teach karate, of course your going to defend it”. Sure I teach karate but that is not why I defend it. I defend it because these nay sayers really do not know karate. They may be looking for a way to defend themselves and think they can learn it all in two or three months.
Karate just does not work that way. If you are getting beat up and you want take karate so you can kick so butt, probably the only butt that is going to get kicked is yours! I don’t want to discourage any of my students but it takes years to learn karate. If your wearing anything less than a brown or a black belt don’t go looking for a fight.
So I don’t sound like I am supporting my case that karate is a good art for self defense on the street. Karate is a great art for the street. Look at it’s origins. Karate is a streamlined version of Kung Fu designed to handle multiple attackers and dispatch them as quickly as possible. That sounds pretty good to me. In a karate school we are teaching much more than how to fight. We teach history, good manors, respect for others, perseverance, right attitudes, balance, how to move, how to hit, how to kick, the list goes on. You don’t learn all this overnight. I’ve been training in karate for 6 years and I know a ton, but I have still only scratch the surface of what there is to learn out there.
So why do I thing this stuff works? Because I understand the principles of karate. Everything is designed for efficiency and maximum effect. People watch us do kata and say “who is going to use a front stance in a fight” or “what could that move possibly do?” Well your right no is going to assume a front stance and start a fight. We don’t even do that in sparring. But the front stance and others are in there. Only for a split second but they are in there. Just at that moment when you need a strong foundation to land a punch or you need that stance as you shift directions. Watch any good sparring match. Don’t watch the fight just watch the feet. You will only see the stance for a split second. It works in sparring and it works on the street.
So should you learn Karate to defend yourself on the street? Absolutely. Will you be able to handle yourself in two or three months? Absolutely Not. Give me three years and you will be as convinced as I am.
You need it now! OK I understand years of training and Japanese formality is not for everyone. That OK I’ve got you covered here at Ward’s Family Karate, in Colorado Springs. Not only do we offer the fines martial arts training in Colorado in the form of karate, but we have the most effective street self defense program you will find. No belts, no uniforms, and no rules. We call this program eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense. Give us a call if you would like to be able to defend yourself is only and few months and get in the best shape of your life.
If your ready to walk down the path of the the way of the empty hand, gives us a call. We have you covered either way as Ward’s Family Karate.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com