Through 4 years of reading, and self-driven study of the works of Iain Abernethy, Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder, scouring interviews with Sgt. Rory Miller for real, practical information. I now know the ‘shape’ of the skillset I want to build. I know karate was originally intended as a no-nonsense self-defence method with the primary strategy of doing damage and I’m not content with perfecting performance kata or going for competition sparring titles.
Great so far, but here’s the difficult part…
My karate must have an aspect which allows me to inspire others and to communicate a message and I need to know for my own sake and for that of future students, that I have earned the right.
I’m a Creative. I don’t mean that in a smug way, it’s just a job description. If I can’t make or produce something that inspires a response then it’s all over for me and I’ll happily get into the box.
So how does this 30 year old office worker, who’s never been in a real violent confrontation, learn and pass on effective, proven self-defence skills?
What qualifications should I study for? What hands-on experience do I require? Should I get a part time job as a bouncer to get the experience of confrontation? Do I need to spend time in the company of a corrections officer or a paramedic, in order to see and experience true violence and its aftermath?
I don’t knowingly romanticise violence or needlessly put myself in harm’s way – which is probably the biggest reason for why I haven’t experienced true violence. But I do want to learn how to prevent or neutralise a street ambush for the sake of myself, my friends and my family and ultimately bring this knowledge to others – and I want to know that my skills really work.
How do I earn that knowledge and earn the right to pass it on?
