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Martial Arts Articles Self Defense

The Karate Myth: Why Most Martial Arts and Self-Defense Programs Are Wrong

Author: Jeffrey Miller

You know, when I first started learning how to protect myself, the training was almost entirely focused on the memorization and performance of the technique. What I mean is...

...the lessons revolved around the step-by-step mindset. Even testing was centered around the correct "performance" of the technique in question. But, that performance was tied more to duplicating a string of "moves" than it was on...

...the successful resolution of the situation based on what was going on!

I remember a friend of mine during those days. He was very good at the art that we were studying and much further along than I was at the time.

He was testing for his black belt and everything was going well. His "performance" was flawless -at least as far as I could tell.

Then, during the last part of the final kata ('preset fight scenario'), he changed the move from a strike to a shoulder throw. The throw was awesome and his partner never saw it coming. It was great!

He told me later that, everything was going along as it should be and he knew what was to come next but...

...something was "off" with what his partner was doing with that last punch.

He literally "found himself" executing the throw, and remembered thinking, "this isn't right."

Well, long story short...

...he failed that test.

I couldn't believe it. According to the judges - the panel of "experts" who were supposedly teaching him to be able to "go with the flow" and defend himself... He failed!

He took a surprise situation, adapted to it, and still maintained control of the flow of things in a way that ended with him being the victor.

"Yes", said the judges, many of whom were our instructors, "that's true. But he didn't do the technique correctly."

This was one of the most significant moments of my life. When I realized that, the reason I was there for training - to not die in a situation - was not the focus of the training...

...at least NOT at that school.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and director of Warrior Concepts International in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He is the author of the "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" eCourse, which is available free of charge to subscribers of his self defense newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html He is also the creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training Program, author of the book, "The Karate-Myth" as-well-as the powerful, "Danger Prevention Tactics" video. Additional information is available by visiting http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

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Notice: These martial arts and self defense articles are gathered from various public sources and are presented "as is" for for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Lo Man Kam Wing Chun Kung Fu Organization. The authors of this site make no claims and take no responsibility regarding the content of these articles.

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