Can Karate be effective?

[cedak]

Huh? Effective regarding of what?

The most basic techniques: Some quick and easy ways to use self-defense that doesn't take long to learn and understand. An example like a simple punch, kick, or header. Very effective (if you know when and how to do it).

Techniques like katas and sequences: Long katas that take time to learn in your muscle memory. To use these, you need time and speed whereas you can remember everything at once. That's not a great technique to use, especially if you're not sure what to do next.

Although; karate is effective in basic methods if you're ready and know how to do it correctly.

Here are some basic questions:

What katas and techniques do you actually know how to use? Katas are pretty useless if you don't know or can't remember how to do and use them.

What katas and techniques are you sure when to use? Katas are quite useless if you don't know when to use them.

What self-defense techniques do you have the will to use? Basic techniques are good, but not very effective if you're not going to use them when you have to.

What obstacles are in your range? Karate is useful, but it doesn't work if you use the wrong kata or technique.

Are you in shape or not? Karate if really useless if you're lazy or not in shape for it.

What if you're in a problem where you have to do something, but you can't remember the sequence and then you suddenly slow down? Katas are pretty useless if you don't remember the sequence.

Basic techniques are pretty good if you know when to use them.

Also, we have a question regarding 'how is that person attacking you?’ If you know a good technique…

But the person, you encounter has a weapon like a knife…

…or an impact weapon like a club…

…or a gun…

…we have a range problem. We're at a safety disadvantage.

[cedak]

Huh? Effective regarding of what?

The most basic techniques: Some quick and easy ways to use self-defense that doesn't take long to learn and understand. An example like a simple punch, kick, or header. Very effective (if you know when and how to do it).

Techniques like katas and sequences: Long katas that take time to learn in your muscle memory. To use these, you need time and speed whereas you can remember everything at once. That's not a great technique to use, especially if you're not sure what to do next.

Although; karate is effective in basic methods if you're ready and know how to do it correctly.

Here are some basic questions:

What katas and techniques do you actually know how to use? Katas are pretty useless if you don't know or can't remember how to do and use them.

What katas and techniques are you sure when to use? Katas are quite useless if you don't know when to use them.

What self-defense techniques do you have the will to use? Basic techniques are good, but not very effective if you're not going to use them when you have to.

What obstacles are in your range? Karate is useful, but it doesn't work if you use the wrong kata or technique.

Are you in shape or not? Karate if really useless if you're lazy or not in shape for it.

What if you're in a problem where you have to do something, but you can't remember the sequence and then you suddenly slow down? Katas are pretty useless if you don't remember the sequence.

Basic techniques are pretty good if you know when to use them.

Also, we have a question regarding 'how is that person attacking you?’ If you know a good technique…

But the person, you encounter has a weapon like a knife…

…or an impact weapon like a club…

…or a gun…

…we have a range problem. We're at a safety disadvantage.

[cedak]

Huh? Effective regarding of what?

The most basic techniques: Some quick and easy ways to use self-defense that doesn't take long to learn and understand. An example like a simple punch, kick, or header. Very effective (if you know when and how to do it).

Techniques like katas and sequences: Long katas that take time to learn in your muscle memory. To use these, you need time and speed whereas you can remember everything at once. That's not a great technique to use, especially if you're not sure what to do next.

Although; karate is effective in basic methods if you're ready and know how to do it correctly.

Here are some basic questions:

What katas and techniques do you actually know how to use? Katas are pretty useless if you don't know or can't remember how to do and use them.

What katas and techniques are you sure when to use? Katas are quite useless if you don't know when to use them.

What self-defense techniques do you have the will to use? Basic techniques are good, but not very effective if you're not going to use them when you have to.

What obstacles are in your range? Karate is useful, but it doesn't work if you use the wrong kata or technique.

Are you in shape or not? Karate if really useless if you're lazy or not in shape for it.

What if you're in a problem where you have to do something, but you can't remember the sequence and then you suddenly slow down? Katas are pretty useless if you don't remember the sequence.

Basic techniques are pretty good if you know when to use them.

Also, we have a question regarding 'how is that person attacking you?’ If you know a good technique…

But the person, you encounter has a weapon like a knife…

…or an impact weapon like a club…

…or a gun…

…we have a range problem. We're at a safety disadvantage.

[sensei]

Can Karate be effective?

yes karate can be effective! the question is , can the person behind karate execute the proper techniques for a certain situation? Karate was developed in okinawa for self-defense, right?> and karate is battle tested! the reason why some practitioners gets hurt specially in street figth is that they are only train with linear techniques.

[kungfupanda]

Can Karate be effective?

Yes...Duh! ^_^

[Eyegouge]

Without immediate medical attention they would. if you catch someone with their chin up with an elbow or knuckles square on in the throat it can crush their larynx, and if someone stabs you in the eye with long nails and it's a good one, massive eye trauma follows which could lead to death. remember i said knuckles deep so that means your eye is popped and turned into white bloody applesauce, not just getting poked in the eye.

[HtTKar]

wtf my 103 lb g/f could kill a person with one punch, all she'd have to do is jack em as hard as she could right in the throat. either that or sharpen her index and middle nails and jam them knuckles deep in someone's eye socket

I doubt either of these would kill

[Eyegouge]

wtf my 103 lb g/f could kill a person with one punch, all she'd have to do is jack em as hard as she could right in the throat. either that or sharpen her index and middle nails and jam them knuckles deep in someone's eye socket.... I don't think she could kill a bull thou, you got even me there...F that bull stuff man, a wild bull with unfile'd horns, F that shit I'd be running like...like...a guy who runs a mile in 2 minutes....

[blitz]

20% of people voted karate as non effective? tell that to the 52 bulls mas oyama (i think thats how you spell it) killed with his bare hands.

any style is effective (apart from an obvious few stupid styles)

Spelling is right. And you forgot to mention he killed a man with one punch.

[Nutz]

[QUOTE=missionaryman12]

Exactly what are you referring to when you say 'street fight', because Karate isn't exactly the best art to use in an alley with three potentially armed assailants around you.

your idea that karate isnt a good art to use in a alley with three armed assailants is very flawed. My teacher has had to take on four men before. one with a stick one with a knife any the other two unarmed. and he is still here teachen me. so if you think that karate is not good in a street fight even with multiple attackers you thinking is flawed.

Then the thugs were semi-retarded. 2 on 1 is bad enough, but 4 on 1, with armed opponents, is a 99.95% no-win situation. Check out Paul Vunak's tape on mass attacks and play with it a while. You'll soon see where reality stops and storytelling begins. If there were 4 of them, they either A, were taking turns like in the movies or B, were suprised that he fought back and he startled them enough to make his escape (which means he didn't "defeat" 4 armed attackers).

IMO anything that teaches you to try to fight in an assault type situation if a life-threatening "art". To survive an assault on your life you need to escape and evade as quickly as possible. Therefore you must train for that sort of situation. See some of my other threads for more info on my thoughts and views on the subject. Or better yet, look over Demi Barbito's material. His stuff is as close to my philosophies as I can refer one to without actually training with me.

[Nutz]

Where's the option for "It depends on the person"?

Just like Boxing can be effective, wresting can be effective, yada, yada, yada, it is entirely up to the abilities of the praticioner. However, just because someone may be good at a particualr MA, this does not in any way mean they'll be capable of employing it in reality. In order to do that you'll need to have well trained combat attributes such as a degree of athleticsm, hand-eye -foot coordination, timing, power, quickness, the list goes on and on. But for non-steet environments, where everything is equal, then (and only then) is it up to technical proficiency.

[gong fu]

20% of people voted karate as non effective? tell that to the 52 bulls mas oyama (i think thats how you spell it) killed with his bare hands.

any style is effective (apart from an obvious few stupid styles)

[missionaryman12]

[QUOTE=Ascended]Exactly what are you referring to when you say 'street fight', because Karate isn't exactly the best art to use in an alley with three potentially armed assailants around you.

your idea that karate isnt a good art to use in a alley with three armed assailants is very flawed. My teacher has had to take on four men before. one with a stick one with a knife any the other two unarmed. and he is still here teachen me. so if you think that karate is not good in a street fight even with multiple attackers you thinking is flawed.

[Nutz]

The big thing is that unless your training is so engrained into every fiber of your being, how do you know what technique to use or even worse, what will be effective against your opponent.

Believe it or not, this is easier to accomplish that most people realize. I was privy to "special" training a few years back and it became apparent that the trick to engraining your movements into long-term muscle memory is simplicity + repetition, repetition, repetition. It sounds like common sense, but most don't really comprehend how easy it is if done correctly. For example, take the Army SF's training of the time which was only 8 weeks long at 8 hours a day. You do that and you're good for life (as they often considered are). HOWEVER, these guys fought. Hard. Lots of knockouts, several dislocations, and plenty of pain. If you can train that hard you'll be a formidable foe with the requisite autonomous reactions necessary in real life situations.

[shaolin-warrior]

Exactly what are you referring to when you say 'street fight', because Karate isn't exactly the best art to use in an alley with three potentially armed assailants around you.

I agree,
I've had the misfortune of being in a few scrapes and although my MA training gave me confidence, the fighting style was far from shaolin, It was strictly down an dirty. I've heard too many tales of people with MA training that get their buts kicked. Even the most proficient MA practitioner has to realize,( and most do ) that we train in a controlled environment with willing participants. Some arts are best for the octagon and some for the mats and most have some very good street value. The big thing is that unless your training is so engrained into every fiber of your being, how do you know what technique to use or even worse, what will be effective against your opponent.
For the last few years i've trained with the same few sparring partners and we get agressive. Fat lips black eyes ansd the occassional bloody nose. But we know each other to the point of predictability. On the streets you had better not under estimate your opponent or over estimate your ability, those two mistakes could very possibly be your last.