| A while back, I was reacquainting myself with a long | | | | unaware of danger. However, attacking an |
| time friend during a weekend get together. We were | | | | unsuspecting victim goes against the very heart of |
| talking about our families' weekly schedules and I | | | | Okinawan Karate, not to mention the laws of all fifty |
| mentioned that my daughter and I spend a couple | | | | states. The second vulnerable instance is when an |
| nights a week at karate. My friend, who's always been | | | | individual is attacking. This, I believe, is the essence of |
| a bit outspoken, surprised me by asking if I could beat | | | | karate as a martial art. |
| up the other guys in our group. I told him that was | | | | In an altercation, an opponent would almost certainly be |
| tough to say because karate is a defensive art. At the | | | | on his or her guard before any physical confrontation |
| time, I said this without thinking, but I have thought about | | | | were to begin. It is very difficult to initiate an attack |
| this a lot both before and since the conversation. | | | | against a wary opponent, even an untrained opponent. |
| I have had to use karate for real in two instances. In | | | | Furthermore, it is even more difficult to initiate an attack |
| both instances I was completely defensive in posture, | | | | against a wary opponent if the aim is to subdue |
| and in both instances I immediately and without thought | | | | without harming. On the other hand, if the opponent |
| applied my karate training and was able to subdue | | | | initiates contact, he or she is not concentrating on |
| both attackers without injury to myself. I have also | | | | defending themselves, and an opening for a counter |
| been in other fights, but if I in any way contributed to or | | | | should occur. Once this opening presents itself, the |
| failed to attempt to avoid the altercation, I did not apply | | | | karate-ka may chose the least lethal technique |
| my karate training. This was not a conscious decision, | | | | appropriate and necessary for his or her own |
| so I'm not exactly sure why. For years I had assumed | | | | protection |
| it was a moral issue. By being at least partially to | | | | This is why I believe trying to avoid confrontation is |
| blame for the physical conflict, my subconscious | | | | such an integral part of karate. When facing an |
| prevented me from using techniques that could result | | | | aggressor, a non-confrontational attitude should |
| in injury to the co-instigator. While I do not wish to | | | | accomplish one of two results. Either the aggressor will |
| underestimate having the moral advantage as a factor | | | | relent finding an unwilling opponent or sense this |
| in a fight, it has occurred to me there was probably | | | | attitude as weakness. By thinking the victim weak, the |
| another and much simpler reason as well. | | | | aggressor may underestimate his or her opponent. |
| As karate-ka, we are not normally taught how to be | | | | The first result avoids the physical confrontation |
| the aggressor. Most forms of practice, with the | | | | entirely; the ultimate goal of karate. The second result |
| possible exception of sparring and some katas, begin | | | | gains the karate-ka an advantage that will assist in the |
| with a block or counter to an attack. Even katas that | | | | successful subduing of the aggressor. This also allows |
| begin with a strike are in response to an attack. This | | | | the karate-ka to gain a moral advantage which would |
| means we spend only a fraction of our time training | | | | help to release any inhibitions in using their training |
| how to successfully initiate contact. This may appear | | | | I have often heard the adage "Karate Ni Sente Nashi" |
| to be an omission in karate training, but I suspect it has | | | | (there is no first attack in karate). This saying certainly |
| evolved for a reason. | | | | has a firm foundation in the martial arts for obvious |
| There are two points in which individuals are most | | | | moral reasons, but reflection shows that there may be |
| vulnerable. First is when they are unsuspecting or | | | | a less obvious tactical benefit to this philosophy as well. |