Karate is never to be used for instigating violence. Karate was developed in a time of civil unrest in Okinawa as a means of self defence for the general population and the skills taught should only ever be used in that context. Our primary aim as a truly traditional karate school is to pass the art on for that purpose.
By practicing techniques which are potentially harmful to an attacker, students learn moderation. By experiencing how very easy it is to cause injury the karate-ka develops a responsibility not to cause injury.
A properly trained karate-ka (one who practices karate) will avoid a violent confrontation and always seek peace and tranquility. If this is not possible then karate training contains all the fundamental elements of physical combat that can be used in self defence situations.
If threatened the karate-ka’s response to violence or the threat of violence will be directly proportional to the level of threat he faces.
The combative elements contained within karate training for use in self defence include:
| Atemi-waza | Striking techniques |
| Bunkai Oyo | Applications that are contained within the kata |
| Kansetsu-waza | Joint locking and arm bar techniques |
| Kobudo | Weapons instruction |
| Kyūshojutsu | "vital point art". These vital points in the human body can be attacked to produce a variety of painful or debilitating effects in self defence situations |
| Kuzushi | Unbalancing the opponent |
| Nage-waza | Throwing techniques |
| Ne-waza | Groundwork and grappling. Grappling techniques can also be performed in standing situations as well as on the ground |
| Shime-waza | Choking techniques |
The more dangerous techniques are only explained at brown belt level and above.
Let there be no mistake. Karate training can produce an extremely violent response to an attack on the person of a trained practitioner if that is what is required.
In the dojo (training hall) ASKA students practice non contact karate i.e. they do not strike each other. Just because we do not strike or counter strike each other with force at training does not mean that we can’t, it means that we choose not to.
Students learn control and practice effective karate that can be used in self defence situations in a safe family environment. At the same time their karate training provides increased levels of fitness, self confidence, self control and a general increase in the student’s level of well being both mentally and physically.
