Self-Referral
Serious Karateka know a great deal about how the body performs Karate techniques. Most know how to generate maximum speed and power, they already understand the pro’s of Karate training – they have the Karate “chip”. We are not about to dissect and analyse this, except to say that the Karate developed and practiced by the Japan Karate Association is justifiable on technical grounds because the merits of every technique can be explained in minute detail. As well as this, JKA has some good scenario-based training that stretches our awareness far beyond what is called free-sparring. Some of the more clever advanced Kumite drills beyond Jiyu Kumite reduce predicability to a point where we engage in as much uncertainty as Karate allows.

But whatever we do in the Dojo can never replicate the stress of a situation outside its boundaries. What happens in comfortable, bare-footed orderly Karate classes will almost certainly not occur “outside”. On this basis, do we concede that Dojo practice can’t equip us for the chaos of the street?

Karate is extremely orderly. Karateka dress the same, train on the same even, polished floor, partner with people of the same height and rank – they even use the same language. On top of this, there is a system of hierarchy which adds to this orderliness by introducing concepts like courtesy, respect discipline and humility. These elements may contribute to character development, but are they essential or even relevant to out-and-out assault where the intention to harm is not negotiable?

Real Surprise
Contrast the order of the Dojo with the chaos of the street. Most of us have at one time or another been paralysed with fright. A momentary feeling, usually 0 to 2 seconds of mind-numbing and overwhelming weakness in reaction to a surprise confrontation. In this situation, the brain recognises a problem and the body goes through an instant series of changes where the heart rate becomes elevated and the awareness is amplified. Under grave threat, we become temporarily incapable of deciding quickly between any number of possible ‘learned’ actions and it is unlikely that Karate will be top-of-mind. Even if it is, the victim will not be able to snap into combat mode, infact he will probably freeze - unless he has trained specifically to avoid this reaction.

For a trained Dojo fighter, the experience of sudden shock, such as when he is rushed, assaulted or just startled by someone, may not be due to a lack of confidence in his ability. He may well possess adequate, even devastating defensive techniques, but the unforseen introduction of the ‘numbing’ element will more than likely render his skills temporarily useless. So, is Karate training valid in this event? That depends on what you are training for. A full force kick in the face from an untrained overweight hard-man when you are lying on the ground will have the same effect as a beautifully executed jyodan mawashigeri from a person with ten years Dojo training - it may even have more. Street fighters don’t control their aggression, they don’t pull blows and they don’t hold back. A trained Karateka may on the other hand not ‘let go’ to the same extent as his attacker(s) because Karate Dojo training is predicated on a consideration for the partners safety as opposed to the intention the street guy has to devastate.

To have any hope of surviving serious assault, we must throw the rules of order out the window and prepare for chaos.

Preparing for chaos
So what can Karate possibly give us that will get us safely through a stressful, chaotic situation and save our lives? This is where the distinction between Budo Karate and Karate by any other name (eg, sports) becomes crystal clear. For Karate Waza to work, it must be the right move executed correctly by a person in the right frame of mind. Such a frame of mind is definitely available from JKA training.

Ikken Hissatsu meaning “to kill with one blow” is a Japanese martial arts term that assumes one technique applied with a killing mindset. Budo Karate advocates this. Importantly, this mindset is not a safe mindset or a careful one. It really doesn’t take any account at all of personal safety. It is only concerned with the elimination of the adversary, if necessary, at the expense of personal injury – precisely what is needed in dealing with violent street attack.

Essentials
Increasing the chances of surviving an all-out street assault depends on several critical factors. We can’t hope to account for every possibility that might occur, but we can strip away what is unnecessary and superfluous and leave ourselves with a fighting chance of success. Here are few things that must be kept in mind. Note, I would strongly suggest that each element is isolated and fully appreciated before they are brought together.

Keep it simple, this cannot be emphasised enough. The knowledge of scores of different movements could get you badly hurt or killed. There is no sense in accumulating complicated techniques, even if they are proven street defences – learning any more than 3 or 4 could be detrimental. Distil complex techniques into their basic elements and master them so comprehensively that you have complete confidence in their immediate effectiveness in high stress situations. Don’t be concerned with how pretty they look, their effectiveness is what counts.

There is a vital reason for keeping things simple; If you have too many options, you have too many choices. Choosing takes time and time is your enemy in the instant when the assailant has the advantage. Your reaction time can more than double if your response is complicated by choice, so hard-wire those 2 or 3 techniques only.

Repeat and Assimilate. Karateka are very comfortable with the concept of repetition and this is an advantage. Human beings input, process and integrate new physical tasks when they are repeated over and over. This happens as a result of a complex pattern of neural activity taking place in the brain. If the tasks happen to be combat techniques and they are properly assimilated, the outcome is that the body will be prepared to act spontaneously in situations where split seconds can determine life or death. Keep in mind that training for rapid response is different to Dojo training, don’t confuse the two and don’t be tempted to introduce anything that could complicate things.

Train to respond with immediate reflex reactions because there will be no time for conscious thought. If you respond to the assault and survive, you may then be able to make a judgement about restraint or escape. This will be determined by the circumstances and the environment ie, the number of assailants, whether there are weapons involved, whether you have been wounded, your emotional state, your clothing, eyewear, jewelry, the time of night/day, the weather etc. We are only concerned here with the how you respond to the shock of attack. What happens afterwards, assuming there is an afterwards, is a luxury you will deal with by instinct.

Expect to be fighting on the ground. If the assault against you is not over in one or two blows, there is a good chance that you will wind up on the ground. If you are lucky, wrestling on the ground could give you a chance to make a decisive move.

In combat terms, ground fighting is the last thing a Karate man wants. This is a whole field of its own which cannot be overlooked when you are preparing for chaos. As an old street fighter in the big cities of Britain, I was motivated more than anything else to stay on my feet and get it over with very quickly because I hated the prospect of going to the ground. In this article, I have not offered any advice on what techniques to use - that is for you to find out, I will say that the right technique quickly applied in the right frame of mind will be effective whether you are grappling in the mud or trading stand-up blows.