Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
We all have heard this maxim bandied about over the decades we have spent in and out of the dojo but until recently I came to realize its importance TODAY. Before I head off into never-never land, read the following by Abernethy Sensei.
Now, dependent on how you perceive Funakoshi Sensei’s intent or how you decide to make it work for you and your dojo just remember that if you are teaching self-defense for self-protection the following is critically important to navigate conflict, violence and legal system’s consequences when the dust settles.
The legal system, fundamentally for most of the states, believes wholeheartedly that, “One is NOT permitted to strike preemptively!” One example provided by Mr. Lawlor in his book, “When Deadly Force is Involved,” a “Michigan Appeals Court stated that preemptive strikes have no place in the law of self-defense.”
You might say, what has this to do with the Funakoshi maxim? Well, long ago in a time and place this philosophy, although not that long ago, was to teach that karate was a discipline that should not be used in a preemptive way, it is for defense only.
Modern practitioners might feel strongly that to give up the advantage of striking first is tantamount to ensuring one fails in defense. In my view, my feelings on the subject, that is a crossover from a competitive discipline into the self-protection discipline where such aggressive perceptions and actions can work against you in the legal system.
Mr. Lawlor, in his book, goes on the state, “one can strike first through avoidance, deescalation and/or escape-n-evasion tactics LONG before one takes action that could result in deadly force or grave injury.” If you have gained an awareness similar to the one I write about in regard to military bearing and awareness you should have developed the skills to detect and observe situations, environments and people with dangerous characteristics so that avoidance, as a primary, becomes your preemptive strike against violence.
All of us get so caught up in our combative and violent nature we jump right into the combative nature of the martial disciplines like karate. We focus heavily on the “fun” stuff and gloss over at best those things that would make the maxim valid, avoidance before violence.
It is best summed up in a quote from Buddha, "People should learn to see and avoid all danger. Just as a wise man keeps away from mad dogs, so one should not make friends with evil men."
For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)
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