Karate in defense

[whaledawg2]

I'm a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn't)?

[kerling]

Originally Posted by whaledawg2

I'm a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn't)?

Well my karate didn't do jack for me when I was hit from the side in crowd by a guy I didn't see. I would guess only the force could help you with that one.

I have also been attacked and done a part of kata (Heyan godan) (with out thinking about it) as a defence and to overtake the opponent.

Worst thing I did was when I was beeing startled by a guy that jumped my from around a korner was hitting him very hard on the chest(Morote uke). He was no so happy for the rest of the day because of chest pain.

Regards Kerling

[kerling]

Originally Posted by whaledawg2

I'm a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn't)?

He he according to this thread I'm the only lonely fellow wich has used this for self defense.

I am the last one from my style.... he he.... ahhh just rambling and enjoying the pink chatroom

[samuri-man]

thankfully i've never had to use it bat through assesing the strikes i can confedently say in a one on one fight it's effective enough to give the beat down on an enemy

[Dr.Syn]

Originally Posted by kerling

He he according to this thread I'm the only lonely fellow wich has used this for self defense.

I am the last one from my style.... he he.... ahhh just rambling and enjoying the pink chatroom

Not so fast there..I was a bouncer for a number of years and used what I learned from the Matsubyashi Shorin-Ryu discipline to keep me unscatherd..Of couse there was this bimbo who tossed a full pitcher of beer on me because I thew her drug dealing boyfriend out but that's another story..

[JohnnyX]

Originally Posted by whaledawg2

I'm a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn't)?

Are you thinking of taking up Karate - or do you already do it?

[whaledawg2]

Originally Posted by JohnnyX

Are you thinking of taking up Karate - or do you already do it?

I've been doing it for a few months, not long really. I'm just not confident that the techniques work in a real situation, so I was hoping for evidence that they do.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by whaledawg2

I'm a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn't)?

MY Martial Arts training isn't all about kicks and punches. Karate has helped me in the past by making me more confident and self aware. Thus I have never been in a confrontation to date that I either couldn't talk myself out of or deal with just control and restraint techniques.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by whaledawg2

I've been doing it for a few months, not long really. I'm just not confident that the techniques work in a real situation, so I was hoping for evidence that they do.

I felt the same too, so I started taking self defence classes. Strange thing is though, I now see more connections with Shotokan and the techniques used. Unfortunately you learn a lot more about the bunkai as you go up belts and see more and more alternative uses of the techniques shown to the earlier belts. It really does depend on whether your Instructor is fully informed, how much time and dedication you wish to put into the art and whether you can afford to spend time and money attending other Martial arts, seminars and Instructors. If you can do this then all the better - no one has all the answers IMHO - you're best to go out looking for them.

[TheMightyMcClaw]

I study Shotokan karate, and my teacher is a guard at a prison. Violent and vile men try to kill him on a fairly regular basis, so I guess karate has worked for him.
My general advice - analyze the bunkai. I'm amazed at how many counters to basic grabs there are in the kata I've learned. As one Shorin-Ryu stylist said, "Karate isn't designed for fighting expert fighters. It's for fighting the average thug off the street." The bunkai has a wealth of extremely practical applications.
But really, for self-defense instruction... I think the teacher is more important than the style. If you have a good teacher, trust what he says.

[JohnnyX]

From what I have seen in my association, you wouldn't want to mess with anybody at 3rd Dan or above.

I got a long way to go.

[Nrv4evr]

I once used the jiu-jitsu elbow (grab head and pull it inward into the elbow to the nose) thing in pinan yondan in a semi-contact freestyle match. I also used the very, very, underestimated shuto to the neck in a fight once. The guy was down for at least 5 minutes, just coughing, immobilized.

[YODA]

Originally Posted by JohnnyX

From what I have seen in my association, you wouldn't want to mess with anybody at 3rd Dan or above.

I got a long way to go.

So you reckon the 2nd Dans are pussies huh?

*Writes note to Shukokai HQ

[JohnnyX]

Originally Posted by YODA

So you reckon the 2nd Dans are pussies huh?

*Writes note to Shukokai HQ

It's a "kid thing". Just that all the 3rd Dans and above are Adults.

Maybe I should have said: "From what I have seen in my association, you wouldn't want to mess with any Adult with a Dan Grade."

Jeepers, there's even a white belt whom you wouldn't tackle - he has been doing JKD for nearly 6 years though.

[whaledawg2]

Originally Posted by YODA

So you reckon the 2nd Dans are pussies huh?

*Writes note to Shukokai HQ

So how come you can use dirty words and I get threatened with the sin bin for w**ker. That word is much worse.