Is Karate effective when used as self-defense ?

[G95champ]

karate will work just like anyother style will work if you can remain calm and do what you have been taught.

[Anando]

Thanks for the info. So it is important to be patient and practise a lot until you may apply Karate. I guess it is just the same as with everything else. Thanks a lot.

[MMouse]

The better question to ask is, will a punch work for self defense? Or a kick? Or an elbow? Or a knee? Of course they will. All systems have the tools and potential to be used effectively for self defense, IF they are trained properly. Because isn't that basically what karate is? Punching and kicking, just like kickboxing? I know some are going to fight that statement, but oh well. When it comes down to it, a punch is a punch and a kick is a kick. There are no "magical" secrets.

[Scorcho]

The Boxer beating up the karateka is really irrelavant. Try putting on gloves and sparring a bit. It's a whole different ballgame. Gloves change the way you block, the way you move, even the way you think. While boxers have a fitness and resistance to blow advantage, on the street, I think that the karateka may get the nod because all or most of his/her practice is bare-knuckled. It depends on the training/sensei though.

[Scorcho]

The Boxer beating up the karateka is really irrelavant. Try putting on gloves (not the whimpy karate sparring gloves, but real 12 oz. boxing gloves) and sparring a bit. It's a whole different ballgame. Gloves change the way you block, the way you move, even the way you think. While boxers have a fitness and resistance to blow advantage, on the street, I think that the karateka may get the nod because all or most of his/her practice is bare-knuckled. It depends on the training/sensei though.

[ESA-Shotokan]

Bruce Lee once said that the best form of self defence is to run the other way - so yes, karate will develop the fitness and stamina to do this.

 

I echo what everybody has said in that any person who trains hard in a combat art/sport will have an advantage in a face off. Even a seasoned street-fighter is in the same class; such a person could grab you and but you in the face 10 times before you even thought about it.

 

The best advice is to keep out of trouble, yes sometimes easier said but I would not train in karate just so to make me feel safer. The people who do combat sports that then get beaten up tend to be those people who "think" they are great martial artists because they have been doing a bit of training for a couple of years. I've been studying karate since 1980 and I still feel like a beginner at times.

 

Okay it's my first post and I'm rambvling on already!

 

Hi everyone

[Guest]

Anando, many I ask you some questions about what style of Karate your learning?

 

1. The is the name of the style of Karate your learning?

 

2. Does your dojo teach how to defend against clubs, bats, knives and handguns? Or do they just teach kata strikes, and kicks?

 

To answer your question, NO Karate and most martial arts styles will not work for self-defense. Why, because most forms of Karate and martial arts were designed hundreds of years ago when times where different and they use difficult kata forms instead of nature body standees.

 

There are some good martial arts styles that are more girded towards self-defense such as Aikido, American Kempo and SubLevel 4 Kenpo; but they all take years to learn and are not that effective. Martial arts are good for self-control, discipline, and determination, but for self-defense.

 

Self-defense use natural body moments that don’t take long learn, I am not say that you don’t have to practice, but self-defense will come faster and be more effective then martial arts.

 

Self-defense is 90% will/desire and 10% technique. If the fighter doesn’t have the will to survive then he will lose regardless of the technique. That’s why there’s no one perfect style.

 

I highly recommend the Israeli self-defense style Krav Maga.

 

There are 5 videos; they will cost you about $60 (off eBay) to $99 (from the manufacture).

 

Video #1, History and into to the system

 

Video #2, Striking techniques,

 

Video #3, Defense techniques from grabs,

 

Video #4, Defending against knife attacks

 

Video #5, Defending against handgun attacks

 

More info about Krav Maga can be found here:

 

https://www.fightstorevideos.com

[cross]

Some reasons why karate WILL be good for self defence:

 

1. Most techniques are basic and realtively easy to learn.

 

2. Was designed for un-armed combat.

 

3. Teaches people to make the most of what they have, weather they are big, small etc.

 

4. In a good school, the sparring should be an expression of YOURSELF. This means that you learn what works best for you.

 

5. If you look hard enough into your style and use some imagination you will find alot of extra techniques that will work for you.

 

Some reasons why karate WILL NOT be good for self defence:

 

1. If the school focuses on competition.

 

2. To much kata practise without the applications being shown, this is not always the instructors fault. It is up to the students for some part to look into what they are learning.

 

3. Sometimes not enough practise against partners is available once the student learns the techniques.

 

4. Not enough information is given to the students about self-defence and how/why situations occur.

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT>>>

 

5. Students think that just by turning up to class every week they will become great fighters etc. It takes alot of hard work, and once you learn the techniques you need to find out what works and doesnt work for YOU.

 

If you need futher explanation on any of these please ask...

[Anando]

@dragonlord

 

I am doing Karate-Do which is pretty much based on Shaolin MA.

 

What is so special about it ?

 

@cross

 

Actually my trainer resent competition and therefore our club doesn't participate in any competitions. We are more focussed on the techniques. We do practise against partners but in my opinion training appears to be pretty static. Once in a while we just spar against a wall to invigorate our knuckles. We deliberately neglect the technique and try to focuss on how to perfectly hit the wall. By doing this I got the feeling that simple natural boxing seems to be more flexible and effective. Most techniques are performed in combination with a certain body position. What should I do if my enemie isn't standing right in front of me, but just a few inches further away, or further to the left ? So probably we do not get enough information on how to apply these techniques in reality. But how could I learn it ? After reading through this post, I get more and more the impression that Karate is a way to move your body atypical to the natural movements that are ingrained in our human mind. So when it comes down to a real fight it rpobably gives you the opportunity to appply a wider diversity of different movements to defend or attack your opponent. But it is questionable whether you are able to correctly apply the and perform certain techniques.

[cross]

What should I do if my enemie isn't standing right in front of me, but just a few inches further away, or further to the left ?

 

You use footwork.

 

The techniques you learn in low stances and with your body in a still position are exactly that, "learning techniques".

 

You dont stand still in sparring do you?

But how could I learn it ?

 

Read alot, practise, ask your instructor if he is knowledgeable etc.

But it is questionable whether you are able to correctly apply the and perform certain techniques.

 

Once you practise a technique for long enough it becomes your natural reaction, so you are replacing the humans natural reaction (something you dont have any control over), to a reaction that you know because you have practised it.