If you're thinking about different ways to learn how to fight, I'm sure that karate is one that has crossed your mind. And why wouldn't it? You've seen movie stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan perform moves that make you ooh and ahh. Here we'll look at where this martial art came from and the many techniques taught. We'll also take a good look at whether this fighting style will get you through a real life fight.
History of Karate
Japan was where this technique became popular and where most people think it came from. However, it was developed by the people of the Ryukyu Islands, which Japan later captured. The Japanese started learning the art after 1926. Okinawa used to be part of the Ryukyu Islands and was an important place for the teaching of this martial art. Okinawa turned into a US military base during the second world war and the soldiers there began to learn the skill. Movies started being made and karate became very popular in the Western World. Although in the United States we think lots of things with kicking and punching are karate, it actually refers to certain techniques.
Karate Techniques
There are many ways to learn this self defense. You can think of it as an art form, a sport, or a way to fight. The philosophy behind karate is to become a less selfish person with a clear mind. You can learn fundamental moves (called Kihon), structured forms that are almost like dances (kata) or learn direct contact and fighting with other people (kumite). The fighting can be choreographed or free fighting with points arranged and the winner having the most points. Grappling or grabbing an opponent is generally not allowed and the focus is on striking or hitting.
As you learn more and more, you are generally rewarded with a darker belt. Most places will start with a white belt and end with a black belt. To get a new belt, you'll have to prove that you've memorized certain forms, skills, punches, kicks and maybe even pass a test of physical strength.
Will Learning Karate Save Your Life?
As a general rule, I think that learning this skill is a good thing. The philosophy of cleaning up your life is excellent. You will definitely become more flexible and aware of your body as you train. But, will you quickly learn how to take down an attacker and leave him helpless? Not really.
Some of the main issues I see with applying the training to real life are:
1. One and done philosophy. Usually the techniques you learn focus on one or two strikes or movements, then you back away. This makes sense if you're having a friendly contest, but not if someone is trying to rape you.
2. Not much emphasis on using your whole body. Generally you'll be striking with your feet in one position. In fact, if you move, you'll probably run into someone next to you in line. This really bugs me because often these places are teaching young kids. So, imagine the 13-year-old in the picture above kicking you in the stomach. Probably hurts, but you're ok. Now, imagine her running from across the room and kneeing you in the groin. Now you're on the ground. Sadly, kids usually aren't taught how to use their body weight to destroy vulnerable targets.
3. Not much teaching about targets. When I took classes, we learned a few different places to hit on people. The solar plexus was one, the groin was one, and those were about it. However, we weren't taught what to expect when we hit those or how to capitalize on those movements to hit other targets and leave the person incapacitated. In fact, most of those moves would be considered "illegal." I didn't learn, for example, that I could burst someone's eardrum just by slapping their ear with an open hand, which would cause them to be off balance and in a lot of pain. This is something a person of any strength could do.
So, all of these things lead me, personally, to the conclusion that I wouldn't trust this training to keep me safe if someone was trying to really hurt or kill me. I like the philosophy of karate, but I think that it often gives people a false sense of security. You just don't learn to finish people to where they can't hurt you anymore.
In my mind, this is what real self defense means. You can stop an attacker from any current or further attack. Also, I want my kids to be realistic about what they could do to stop a potential kidnapper. Can they throw them around karate-style like they see in the movies? Of course not. Can they clap their hand over their ears and rupture an eardrum and yell for help? Absolutely.
History of Karate
Japan was where this technique became popular and where most people think it came from. However, it was developed by the people of the Ryukyu Islands, which Japan later captured. The Japanese started learning the art after 1926. Okinawa used to be part of the Ryukyu Islands and was an important place for the teaching of this martial art. Okinawa turned into a US military base during the second world war and the soldiers there began to learn the skill. Movies started being made and karate became very popular in the Western World. Although in the United States we think lots of things with kicking and punching are karate, it actually refers to certain techniques.
Karate Techniques
There are many ways to learn this self defense. You can think of it as an art form, a sport, or a way to fight. The philosophy behind karate is to become a less selfish person with a clear mind. You can learn fundamental moves (called Kihon), structured forms that are almost like dances (kata) or learn direct contact and fighting with other people (kumite). The fighting can be choreographed or free fighting with points arranged and the winner having the most points. Grappling or grabbing an opponent is generally not allowed and the focus is on striking or hitting.
As you learn more and more, you are generally rewarded with a darker belt. Most places will start with a white belt and end with a black belt. To get a new belt, you'll have to prove that you've memorized certain forms, skills, punches, kicks and maybe even pass a test of physical strength.
Will Learning Karate Save Your Life?
As a general rule, I think that learning this skill is a good thing. The philosophy of cleaning up your life is excellent. You will definitely become more flexible and aware of your body as you train. But, will you quickly learn how to take down an attacker and leave him helpless? Not really.
Some of the main issues I see with applying the training to real life are:
1. One and done philosophy. Usually the techniques you learn focus on one or two strikes or movements, then you back away. This makes sense if you're having a friendly contest, but not if someone is trying to rape you.
2. Not much emphasis on using your whole body. Generally you'll be striking with your feet in one position. In fact, if you move, you'll probably run into someone next to you in line. This really bugs me because often these places are teaching young kids. So, imagine the 13-year-old in the picture above kicking you in the stomach. Probably hurts, but you're ok. Now, imagine her running from across the room and kneeing you in the groin. Now you're on the ground. Sadly, kids usually aren't taught how to use their body weight to destroy vulnerable targets.
3. Not much teaching about targets. When I took classes, we learned a few different places to hit on people. The solar plexus was one, the groin was one, and those were about it. However, we weren't taught what to expect when we hit those or how to capitalize on those movements to hit other targets and leave the person incapacitated. In fact, most of those moves would be considered "illegal." I didn't learn, for example, that I could burst someone's eardrum just by slapping their ear with an open hand, which would cause them to be off balance and in a lot of pain. This is something a person of any strength could do.
So, all of these things lead me, personally, to the conclusion that I wouldn't trust this training to keep me safe if someone was trying to really hurt or kill me. I like the philosophy of karate, but I think that it often gives people a false sense of security. You just don't learn to finish people to where they can't hurt you anymore.
In my mind, this is what real self defense means. You can stop an attacker from any current or further attack. Also, I want my kids to be realistic about what they could do to stop a potential kidnapper. Can they throw them around karate-style like they see in the movies? Of course not. Can they clap their hand over their ears and rupture an eardrum and yell for help? Absolutely.
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