"Is Karate Effective On The Street"

This is a question you see posted on many different forums. This was my response to one such posting, feel free to comment if you agree or disagree.


The question isn't valid. If I chop you across the front of the throat, yes it works, if you hit me in the head with a bat, no it doesn't. Question should be "Can karate be an effective form of Self Defense?"


Even asked in this manner is not completely correct. Lets try: "Are punches in the face, kicks in the groin, stomps on the knees, strikes to the throat, pokes in the eyes, hammer fists to the nose, knees and elbows to the head and joint breaking techniques really effective on the street? What do you think?


I'm trying to make a point. If a grappler walks into a dojo and says "Hey lets spar a little" I'm probably going to end up on the ground in a very uncomfortable position.

If someone confronts me on the "street" I'm not going to "spar" with him, I will stomp the knees, poke the eyes, strike the throat, kick the groin and maybe if i react swiftly, with power and speed and control the situation before my opponent can get started, maybe my "karate" will be effective.


If a boxer lands a solid hook on a grapplers chin and knocks him out, is grappling an ineffective art?


If a football player runs head on into a boxer an flattens him out, is football now the most effective art on the street?


Maybe the question should be "Are you effective on the street?"


I believe trained properly anyone can be effective and I also believe everyone can be beat.

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