Self-defense refers to actions taken by a person to prevent another person from causing harm to one's self, one's property or one's home.
Karate practice consists of a number of exercises and activities that create a strong mind, body and spirit and are fun and healthy to practice but it really all boils down to Self-defense. Self-defense moves and techniques can be exciting to learn if you are in an uplifting practice environment with other motivated individuals who are properly trained and supervised. Many effective techniques are quite easy to learn and self-defense fundamentals are interesting to study and finally understand. It is also quite important to realize that having the ability to take care of yourself translates into confidence which will allow you to make clear and wise decisions. When you believe in yourself you can do things you never thought possible. Having confidence in yourself, essentially, brings out your strongest potentials which is a very important part of your "self".
Our approach to self-defense utilizes four levels of response to address any self-defense situation.
Avoidance - During all times when not engaged in physical self-defense one must be aware of their environment and any potential dangers and take steps to avoid having to use physical self-defense techniques. This can be accomplished by making wise choices concerning friends, destinations, activities and such and by being pro-active in leaving any situation that may become dangerous. Escape - If, while practicing avoidance, a need arises to use physical techniques to protect ones self you should first consider escape techniques which include breakaway moves and relocation of yourself by walking, running, driving, etc. to a place where it is safe or help is available. Control - Techniques such as joint-locks, arm-bars, take-downs or grappling can be used to find an opportunity to escape, acquire help, or to set up striking techniques. Some control techniques can be modified to cause an attacker pain or even to disable by injury to the attacker's body. -
Striking - Various types of strikes can be performed such as punches, kicks, kneeing and elbowing techniques or any of various movements of one's own body that result in effective impact on the attacker to cause them to stop the attack either by dissuasion or making them physically unable to continue the attack. Striking techniques should always be set up by footwork, feints, fakes or limb manipulation and should be used in combinations that cause the attacker to leave openings in their defenses. Effective techniques are applied to vital targets with enough force to cause a desired effect to the attacker and not cause injury to one's own body.
These levels should be quickly considered in their numbered order but may be skipped if necessary due to an evolving and dynamic self-defense scenario. You should use the lowest level of response that you can be positively effective with, be powerful and explosive in the application and return quickly to level one, all while not causing unnecessary harm to the attacker. You should defend yourself vigorously until completely safe and not worry about being injured but instead rely on your training to allow you to finish the job as effectively as possible. These particular levels can be used individually or in combination such as striking while grappling.
Training for self-defense should be creative and realistic but safe, while techniques and moves should be practiced until the movements become natural and second nature. |
