Vital points

Self-defence, a training aspect that has been stepped up this season, is attracting the interest of many practitioners. Whether we're talking about "Jutsu", "Torite", etc., the fact remains that certain simple rules are prerequisites to useful and effective practice.

Building on solid ground

Although some people imagine self-defence as a means of acquiring fighting skills at low cost, by which they mean without too much effort and concentration, as opposed to the more traditional practices of Karate, where progress requires sustained and in-depth technical work, the reality is quite different.

It's an illusion to think that, in a situation of stress and urgency, you'll be able to apply a few "magic" gestures learned superficially, with complacent partners, in a convivial atmosphere. Unless, that is, the reflexes acquired through training involve a whole chain of criteria, acquired at the price of much repetition and unfailing willpower.

stance, always...

What makes a gesture effective is above all the stance adopted. And in this respect, "basic" Karate is essential, when it teaches us, through hundreds, even thousands of testing Kihon, to master Zen Kutsu, Ko Kutsu, Kiba Dachi, etc., as well as weight transfers and transitions between these stances.

The reason for this is doubly obvious. To apply anything, you must first and foremost be stable yourself, with the aim of unbalancing the opponent or aggressor, not giving him the time or opportunity to firm up his grip, to "break his axis", while keeping his own strong.

In addition, you need to place your center of gravity as low as possible, at any rate below that of your opponent, which goes hand in hand with the previous remark. Just look at sumo wrestlers for proof of this.

Going for contact

The second key point is exactly the opposite of our reflexes, or of what would appear to be the wisest course of action: to move away. The spontaneous reaction is often to withdraw your arm, raise your shoulders, push the assailant away, avoid a blow by stepping back.

But you need to do the opposite! It's by getting closer to the attacker that you can hinder him, prevent him from following through with his original intention, leave him no room to land any kind of blow, in short, as we say in our jargon, "control" him. And the psychological impact will not be the least, thanks to the effect of surprise created by moving forward, which is absolutely unexpected. The "mental vacuum" thus created can authorize a precise, swift and decisive riposte, which, even if it doesn't totally disable the fighter, will enable him to escape, or at least to extricate himself from a critical situation (strangulation, wrench, etc.).

Staying together

The last point relates to a very classic aspect of Karate practice, that of "connection". Here, we must take particular care to stay grouped, compact, and bringing the limbs close to the body as much as we can.

In the practice of traditional "Torite", whether standing or kneeling, we can see how essential it is for the elbows to be glued to the body, brought back to the central axis as much as possible, otherwise nothing can "work" and, on the contrary, we aggravate our situation by a sterile expenditure of energy by offering openings and additional levers to the opponent.