From the small group of people that have responded to this thread, I feel that you have elevated your skill level beyond a sucker punch response to a situation. The kata make it very clear that there has to be some form of movement from the other person before we respond. Within the GoJu kata we block or parry at the same time moving Tai Sabaki and at the same time striking. You can not punch or kick or takedown an individual based on a verbal confrontation. It is against the law to attack someone on speculation. There has to be some movement toward you, a step, a grab or the drawing back of a hand. At some point in time if we feel threatened and feel we have to hit first really takes the art aspect out of it all, and you can be sued or you may go to jail. I know there has to be more to this no first strike in karate then we have touched upon so far. Boomer said it best The way this particular instructor looks at it is through the idea that aggressive defense is the key to shotokan karate. Therefore the first movement of your opposition (what your opponent sees as his advantage) is actually to your advantage with your devistating uke waza. I know the saying is, it is better to be judged by 12 then carred out by 6 but if this is an art of self defense then where is the art. Maybe the sport people are right, kata is useless. Any thoughts?
Agreed, I live in NY state and the laws here are some of the most stringent. I think Karate ni sente nashi has some very broad meaning which is as much mental as physical. Some things that were said, practiced and excepted in days of old would not fly in modern times. There are many ways to look at things and this is what makes for good posting
. There was a quote I heard long ago that I feel is very applicable to my martial arts as I have gotten older. The best block is to not be there. I think it is a perception of ability that we are looking at here. I would never advocate standing in one place while being used as a punching bag, or worst. Also I would not advocate moving in on someone to try and beat them to a perceived attack. I think in broad day light on a busy street if I happen to bump into someone by mistake and they get angry my perception as to what to do would be much different then that same street at 2 am in the morning. This is where the mental and physical aspect of No first strike in karate comes into play. Day light if I call them a jerk I have moved past humility and in affect, thrown the first shot. 2 am in the morning on the same street someone approaching I would give them the benefit of the doubt and cross the street. If they followed then in my mind that is there first strike and as the opportunity arises I will do my best to destroy them. In our art there is a fine line between action and reaction and it is up to us technicians to decide. Karate ni sente nashi are words, kata is the book that these words take form in.
Agreed, no where in kata or drills are hesitations taught. Just free flowing techniques.
Agreed, I live in NY state and the laws here are some of the most stringent. I think Karate ni sente nashi has some very broad meaning which is as much mental as physical. Some things that were said, practiced and excepted in days of old would not fly in modern times. There are many ways to look at things and this is what makes for good posting
This, I fear, is a product of the 'sport karate/taekwondo' era. You are taught to get that point - always attack. The kata/poomse/forms aspect of training is largely disregarded in that arena. In my past TKD training, when I inquired about a particular move in one of my forms and whether it was offensive, defensive or both, I was actually told my my instructor that (after a deer in headlights kind of look) "you won't ever use that move in a tournament so don't worry about it." That's not to say all sport schools/styles are bad, but you get my point.
