Natural Anatomical Armor

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Natural armor, not the manufactured kind but the kind you create through training, practice and experiences. Karate-ka today and in the past all work out hard, use various pieces of equipment (hojo undo stuff or weights or what ever is in the gym) to build up the muscle mass similar to what folks do to build up a "body builders" physique. 

Yes, size matters but it also depends. For instance, building muscles up larger than nature intended for the size skeletal frame you were born with had both benefits and obstacles to its use especially in violent situations. Yes, mass as to weight also matters and again it comes down to height and frame size as well because as with all things there is a balance point, think the middle of a yin/yang principled trait/concept. 

Moving mass and applying methodologies in a principled based efficient and effective way to maximize power and force is better than the perceived benefits of body building, etc. I think you get the picture and one important part of that picture is knowing your body and mind so you can achieve balance in strength, mass/size and efficient/effective application of the physical/mental as already described. Exceeding or falling short in any of the area's that achieve balance may have a benefit but as with nature, it always has a detriment so finding that out and finding its benefit/detriment ratio to your objective and goals in karate, competition and/or self-protection for self-defense will influence how, why and what you achieve in your regimen toward that goal or objective. 

It would also be best understood that mere muscle mass and strength, although excellent body armor in general, it not the best for self-protection where strong muscle development that fits one's frame and height with a balance of muscular strength and muscular stabilizing strength is solid. Development of this type of body builds mass that fits the frame and height size allowing a person to utilize it in ways that protect the body through both movement and muscular development. It maximizes the ability to move, to apply speed and also protection. Remember that we have no information/data on who, when, where and how a predator is going to attack. Remember that we have no information/data on our awareness simply because if they choose us as targets it is often because our awareness is low or gone resulting in a state of non-readiness leaving us surprised, off balance and exposed to rapid damage and an OO bounce state of mind. 

Having a well rounded body-mind state of being as it goes toward health, fitness and mental stability means creating a mind-body state that is able to deal with maximum efficient, effectiveness and ability/durability to stop such an attack, regain advantage, stop the damage and end the encounter.  

Remember, even the best strategies, tactics and abilities will not provide full and complete protection because that is NOT the way nature made us. That is why there are certain methodologies that will unbalance, kills structure and balance regardless of how superior we develop the body and mind. That is why natural anatomical armor development and maintenance depends on other factors, concepts and traits such as movement, i.e., when others target certain vulnerabilities our movement, dynamic, will change things resulting in deflection of just plain missing the target. 

How best to develop a solid, effective and natural anatomical armor of our bodies. First and foremost, avoidance along with escape-n-evasion are still your best defense. 

1. Know your frame size.
2. Eat nutritious and healthy foods and drinks.
3. Strengthen your muscular system to its maximum according to your frame and height.
4. Diversify your strength building toward stability strength along side regular physical strength. 
5. Learn fundamental principles with emphasis on physiokinetic's. 
6. Learn how to remain in the now, the present moment. 
7. Train, practice and experience those reality-based adrenal stress-conditioned methods, tactics and strategies. 
8. Train, practice and experience applicable movement while applying methods, etc.
• movement is critical because those vulnerable parts of the body unprotected by bone or muscle can only avoid damage, etc., by our movement, i.e., moving the body and body part out of the line of attack so the method misses, etc. 
9. Develop the mind toward understanding those things that drive conflict and violence. 
10. Make sure you are having FUN while doing what it is you do. 
11. Enhance stability through heavy bag work, challenge pushups, makiwara and karada-kitai (body hardening/conditioning regimen). 

Understand that movement is a critical concept and method to avoid damage whether you move to avoid it altogether or you move so that the method fails to hit its target. Kata, in and of itself has a ton of things to teach us but one area it fails in is movement where the system of kung-fu tends to teach movement very well while applying a flurry of method and methodologies. 

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