Hello Karate Breakdown supporters and community! In an effort to get more of my writing out there and really build the momentum to bring back practical karate, I'm holding myself accountable by finishing a book I started writing years ago. Here's to 2025 - and bringing back practical karate!
“Water from the purest source does not require any filtering.”
GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS
These fundamental assumptions act as an introduction for this book but also a reference page to be looked over as a reminder of why such concepts are being emphasized and others are not. The main focus of this book is self-defense in its purest form.
“Prepare for the guy that your parents always warned you about: the bigger, faster, stronger person.” – Manuel Guerra, Sensei
With that statement, listed below are the general assumptions that lay the foundation for the concepts described in this book.
1. The opponent is stronger than you.
2. The opponent is bigger than you.
3. The opponent is faster than you.
Therefore, the first understanding in self-defense is the idea that when attacked, your goal is to survive the confrontation not “win” the fight. This brings up the big debate among martial artists and the general public about the practicality of traditional styles compared to modern day practices like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
As a spectator and a student of the arts, I love MMA. I enjoy the athleticism, the dedication, the technical excellence required to excel at this combative sport. However, in my opinion it is still a sport. I agree that learning MMA will give you an edge over anyone who doesn’t train in anything, however self-defense in its purest form requires a violent, primal mentality that isn’t suppressed by a rule-based fighting system. I also understand that 99.9% of traditional schools live a hyper-reality of unrealistic scenarios and pseudo-confidence. But as a representative of the legitimate old ways, I am reminded that learning a skill that isn’t bound by regulations or rules will always provide a more holistic approach to that skill (if approached correctly). And when considering survival rather than victory, one must be prepared to do anything necessary to survive. Thus, by thinking of surviving a life or death altercation, you will win. But if you’re thinking of winning a match, you might lose a fight for survival.
Train with this in mind in everything you do.
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