Post by Sensei Justice on Apr 28, 2006 19:25:13 GMT -5
2. There is no first strike in karate
The second rule in Master Funakoshi Niju Kun is the idea that karate is not used for aggression.
Many people have read this and take this many different ways. IMO first attack means you go out looking for a fight to pick on someone to show off your talent or skill. I do not read this as the inability to hit first.
Now by no means am I saying you should start a fight. You should always try and walk away but in certain cases the issue may be pushed and you know a conflict is going to occur in that case I am a firm believer that you should become the aggressor.
I know this is a slippery slope but when I think of this Kun I relate it to things like the War on terror. We ask countries like Iraq to get along and they refuse and make threats at some point we must hit them before they hit us. Again we are not looking for a fight but when a aggressive move is made I think you have the right to attack.
One of the big things we teach at the GSKA is the application of the kata. In this application you will Find lot of moves that most people do not relate to the style of shotokan. Things like throws, take downs, joint locks, submissions, chokes, sweeps, etc. All of these moves are control type of moves and this is what we teach or try and teach our students to use in case of first strike.
I agree there is no place for first strike in karate but I also think a good defense is a good offense.
The aim of karate should be to never fight thus the first strike Kun but I don't think Funakoshi ever ment set there and let them hit you before you react. A well trained Martial Artist can read the signs and body language and react when the attack is about to take place.
Sucker punch NEVER, Look for trouble NEVER but when trouble finds you and there is no where to run IMO you are not committing the first strike but defending yourself. Thus there is no first strike in karate.
I know this Kun is very controversial and I look forward to peoples thoughts and ideas on it.
The second rule in Master Funakoshi Niju Kun is the idea that karate is not used for aggression.
Many people have read this and take this many different ways. IMO first attack means you go out looking for a fight to pick on someone to show off your talent or skill. I do not read this as the inability to hit first.
Now by no means am I saying you should start a fight. You should always try and walk away but in certain cases the issue may be pushed and you know a conflict is going to occur in that case I am a firm believer that you should become the aggressor.
I know this is a slippery slope but when I think of this Kun I relate it to things like the War on terror. We ask countries like Iraq to get along and they refuse and make threats at some point we must hit them before they hit us. Again we are not looking for a fight but when a aggressive move is made I think you have the right to attack.
One of the big things we teach at the GSKA is the application of the kata. In this application you will Find lot of moves that most people do not relate to the style of shotokan. Things like throws, take downs, joint locks, submissions, chokes, sweeps, etc. All of these moves are control type of moves and this is what we teach or try and teach our students to use in case of first strike.
I agree there is no place for first strike in karate but I also think a good defense is a good offense.
The aim of karate should be to never fight thus the first strike Kun but I don't think Funakoshi ever ment set there and let them hit you before you react. A well trained Martial Artist can read the signs and body language and react when the attack is about to take place.
Sucker punch NEVER, Look for trouble NEVER but when trouble finds you and there is no where to run IMO you are not committing the first strike but defending yourself. Thus there is no first strike in karate.
I know this Kun is very controversial and I look forward to peoples thoughts and ideas on it.