Would my techniques work if I needed them?
Hopefully, this is a question that each of us asks ourselves on a regular basis as we explore our training. We all know by now that kata must be abstracted for utility in real world situations but what we often forget is how “real life” situations occur. Babladelis sensei often refers to karate as life protection rather than self defense. And I think this is an apt description. In truth though, much of what we work on during class is only a small part of the equation. There is an emotional and psychological aspect to confrontations and conflict that we often forget about.
This clip about knife defense illustrates it nicely. Watch how the course instructor reduces his subject emotionally before attacking. Upon first watching, I was bothered by the seeming lack of professionalism he demonstrates. It is jarring and, in some ways, hurtful. The student might be compelled to perceive himself as inferior and weak. And this is precisely the kind of thing that gives an aggressor the edge, armed or not.
I cannot be exactly sure of what value there is to the latter half of the video, showing the partner work, other than trying to help the participants snap out of comfortable practice with compliant partners. But the first half drives a clear point home; the attack starts emotionally, not physically. Makes one feel rather defenseless, even after years of training. Here’s another video in which grappling specialists match their wits against a knife attacker and the generally poor outcome that results.
The point I am trying to make is not that grappling is inferior, or that there is even a superior set of techniques for defending your life against a knife attacker, etc. The bottom line is that no amount of technical skill in any martial art will save your life if you are not emotionally prepared for what could happen. We tend to recognize when a situation is becoming potentially dangerous very early on and this is sometimes paralyzing. That benchmark is pivotal in determining whether you are in a victim role IF things progress from there. Decide what you will do in advance, rehearse your approach, and repeat it regularly. Find ways to disengage early and what to do afterward. The best way to deal with this situation is not be in it.
This is not about how to win a conflict. It is, as I’ve been told so many times before, how not to lose!