Karate for Pussies?

I’d like to steer you to the Martial Arts Planet forum board for some education, contemplation and entertainment. Good resource!

The post reads: “I’m a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn’t)?”

Post reply #1 Strikeout: “Well my karate didn’t do jack for me when I was hit from the side in crowd by a guy I didn’t see. I would guess only the force could help you with that one. I have also been attacked and done a part of kata (Heyan godan) (with out thinking about it) as a defence and to overtake the opponent.”

My kinda guy, really! He gets “pearl harbored” and attributes that to a lack of peripheral vision, which all Dan ranked students should possess, and believes he needs “the force” to help him. Is this Nick.com? His second defense, doing a kata, would have been quite entertaining if actually done as stated! Movements contained in katas are practiced and become natural after thousands of repetitions and with the understanding of the “application” of those fancy (or not so fancy) movements. If you have no intention in your practice then there’ll be weakness and mistakes in the applications.

In answer to the original question of using karate in a real confrontation, a poster adds: “From what I have seen in my association, you wouldn’t want to mess with anybody at 3rd Dan or above”

A very adept “countershot” was immediately posted underneath: “So you reckon the 2nd Dans are pussies huh?” What a hoot! I love this guy already! A sense of humor after my own heart.

All joking aside, Martial Arts Planet is a very cool self defense resource. I just ran into a humorous thread while surfing the boards. Check it out!