fearing violence…

[Spartacus Maximus]

Most people including trained martial artists who have never had the misfortune of physical confrontation often do not understand or appreciate how easily a human body can be damaged.

Normal law-abiding people would much rather avoid all the legal, ethical and mental consequences of using force. 

All it takes to cripple or end a life is one strike or fall, even without intent. There are countless instances of people falling badly and getting very serious or fatal injuries that were not intentional. Most of these involve untrained people. 

Despite this, this is rarely discussed in martial arts schools. It is by far the best reason to avoid playing with MA outside the dojo/school or using it unless absolutely forced to defend oneself. 

Young men and teenagers (especially)who train would do well to listen and hear this warning. One bad judgment and a stupid fight(they are all stupid unless defending yours or another’s life/limb) can and will ruin your life, your future and perhaps your sanity. 

Am I prepared to deal with the authorities and the legal system?

Do I really want to go through the mental consequences of having permanently crippled another human or caused their death?

These are the questions to ponder. As a personal cautionary true story, I keep a newspaper article about a former classmate who has been disowned by his parents and serving 25 years. He had no training whatsoever but killed another fellow with one punch causing the other 18year old kid to fall and fracture his skull open on the pavement.

 

 

[Nidan Melbourne]

I've had a few times where I had to physically defend myself where my Verbal Ninjitsu didn't work. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to go through the legal system having to prove Self-Defence. As each time I did it was on security camera where the entire incident was on 2 two different cameras, and had multiple witnesses to it. 

Both times, I did have to move and react with intent to defend myself. Each time I did react, I continued to verbalise that continuing to put me in fear and attacking will led to someone getting hurt or possibly die. 

From a lot of cases that i've heard about where self-defence was used and the perpertrator passed away, where the trauma was either from some concussive force unleashed something else or some form of trauma to the skull and brain.

[ryanryu]

Yes, I definitely feel this way. I haven’t been in any real confrontations to speak of (and I don’t intend to be), but if I was, I would be afraid of delivering more damage than I intend to. It’s trying to have control over something wild and chaotic and unpredictable.  

What is extra sobering to me is that while a lot of advanced techniques are clearly dangerous, some of the most basic ones can still do serious damage. I’m thinking of all the videos I’ve seen of a reverse punch/cross knocking someone out cold… and then they faceplant into the pavement. Or a leg sweep like osoto gari, a basic judo throw, can really mess someone up. Same with the knee-joint kicks in Goju.

You are learning powerful techniques in karate and that needs to be tempered with self-control and wisdom. We would talk about this from time to time in my old dojo, but I’ve tried to introduce it up front with my students to get that seed planted… probably before they’re even capable of doing the techniques effectively. But I think it helps foster an appropriate mindset for the training.

[Spartacus Maximus]

What is most concerning is that many people who’ve never experienced violence with true intent to harm do not realize that even a poorly executed strike from an angry untrained person can have disastrous life-altering consequences.

Whether it is intentional or not, all it takes is one bad fall to turn a knockout into something much worse.

This is a very good reason why youths, especially teenage boys and young adult men ought to learn not to never take violence lightly, and the self-restraint/control to not be provoked or goaded into stupid fights over frivolous ego issues.

Martial arts training just makes everything potentially worse and serious injuries much more likely. 

[sensei8]

Should then, MA training be discouraged and dismissed; thereto, discredited??

One might not have an inkling as to if they’ll be effective at that moment of cause. Assumptions as to how effective one WILL BE, and not, MIGHT BE, are questionable, if not completely accurate.

Ineffective techniques are birthed by having not matured in techniques, of which are because of fear. FEAR equals Future Events Appearing Real.

FEAR stands in the way of creating effectiveness. This isn’t an overnight phenomenon at all.

One’s sparring sessions are riddled in fear. One’s afraid to be hit. Therefore, one’s block or deflection are ineffective because instead of executing properly, one’s thoughts are more concerned with being hit instead of stopping said attack.

As long as fear is concerned, fear has already made one ineffective, and unfortunately, fear will just grow and grow.

Best way I can express it is by saying…

Act as though you’re already dead. Only then can one perform effectively as one is meant to do. 

If only one could have a Vulcan Mind-Meld performed on them because then pain doesn’t exist, therefore fear doesn’t exist…ask Mr. Spock; he’ll tell you. 

MA is effectively but only when the practitioner is effective, and their effectiveness relies on one not becoming afraid.

Imho!!

 

 

[KarateKen]

What is worse is that some students, typically young adults who train at MMA gyms, are hoping and looking for violence when they go out.  They are all excited to use their MA training on someone in the bar.  

[sensei8]

1 hour ago, KarateKen said:

What is worse is that some students, typically young adults who train at MMA gyms, are hoping and looking for violence when they go out.  They are all excited to use their MA training on someone in the bar.  

I agree wholeheartedly with you!! They’re excited until their effectiveness fails them. 

Their effectiveness is only as good as their fear will allow. 

 

[sensei8]

Let me add or reiterate these words from a Army Captain who fought in WW2, that might make better sense…
 

“The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.”

Ronald Speirs, Lieutenant Colonel, Army, Retired

[Spartacus Maximus]

This is not at all to dismiss, discredit or discourage training in martial arts. It is more about having a healthy aversion to violence and the importance of reserving it for only the worst threat of unavoidable physical harm.

Having a good understanding of how easy it is to cause serious injuries to a human body and being conscious of its fragility should be something to consider. Particularly if one trains to develop the skills to do it effectively.

Knowing this does not exclude the usefulness and perhaps the necessity of training for such skills. 

[KarateKen]

On 8/6/2025 at 12:37 AM, Spartacus Maximus said:

This is not at all to dismiss, discredit or discourage training in martial arts. It is more about having a healthy aversion to violence and the importance of reserving it for only the worst threat of unavoidable physical harm.

Having a good understanding of how easy it is to cause serious injuries to a human body and being conscious of its fragility should be something to consider. Particularly if one trains to develop the skills to do it effectively.

Knowing this does not exclude the usefulness and perhaps the necessity of training for such skills. 

Absolutely.  We live in a violent world and knowing how to protect yourself can be lifesaving.  Even if you don't use it against an attacker, martial arts are great for fitness, self-esteem, personal growth, self-confidence, and meeting new friends.