Mari Berbagi ilmu dengan MR.Alvin: Efficiency in a fight....dream on!

Efficiency in a fight....dream on!

Teaching someone how to fight the karate way...not really (c1978)

The photo might appear to look like there's a fight going on, but there isn't, we're just 'sparring'. Play-fighting with no intention of hurting each other. Besides, the difference in fighting ability here is obvious, my kohai's attempt to move in and kick (mawashigeri) off of his leading leg, has been blocked with my shin, his outstretched hand has been covered, and my free hand has already landed a friendly tap on his chest to let him know his attempt to attack has failed...miserably!

There is a well entrenched misunderstanding within the karate world that learning lots of fighting techniques is equal to learning how to fight...it's not! You can learn any number of 'moves' you like, but let me tell you something, when the s#*t hits the fan for real, you had better be a mean son of a bitch if you expect to walk away from such a confrontation. Believing you can be 'efficient' is a dream peddled to folk who don't know what it is to fight. It's all a part of the macho martial arts BS that each generation of 'wanna-be's' fall for.

Real fights last for seconds, but this is seldom down to 'efficiency', it's down to good fortune, or one party being far more 'prepared' than the other. I once saw a big guy taken out by a little guy's girlfriend. She took her stiletto heel shoes off and buried one of them deep in the big guy's back. He never saw that coming! When he went down, the little guy kicked him in the mouth and relieved him of several teeth, before the two of them took off.

You can't teach efficiency in fighting unless you have a handle on every possible outcome following the 'kick-off'. Seriously, if you believe fighting can be conducted 'efficiently' or learnt 'quickly', you're dreaming. So at least be clear, in your own mind at any rate, what it is you're doing, teaching, charging money for! Because to do otherwise makes you appear foolish; and I suspect there are few things worse in life to the guy who see's himself as a serious 'martial artist' than to look stupid.

Knowing a particular technique is not the same as being more than happy to use it on someone, Paying attention to the consequences of your actions in a fight will always bring defeat. If ever you find yourself in a position where you have to physically fight, you have already lost a lot...even if you walk away the victor. Creating a macho image around violence is childish and puerile, and unbecoming those who believe themselves to be budoka.

The most efficient fights are stopped (by your attitude) before they begin........