I know what you’re thinking…
It’s the age old question: Should I take Karate classes or Self-Defense classes??
Which might be best for you?
I’d think of it as the difference between the Star Wars series and “Forrest Gump”.
And you’re probably saying to yourself, “It’s really a win/win. I love all the Star Wars movies (except for Jar Jar Binks!) and “Forrest Gump” is one of my favorite all time movies too!”
>>> And this is completely off topic, but just imagine a mash-up of the these two iconic brands?? Watching Forrest navigate his way through the Cantina bar on Tatooine would be cinema magic for sure! <<<
Getting back to the original question though…
What in the world could either of these movies have anything to do with training in Karate or learning some self-defense? Because after all, isn’t Karate a self-defense system? Aren’t we just talking about the same thing here? All fair questions.
I think of it like this: Karate is a lifestyle, an ongoing practice that really has no end. It has many facets like Katas, Kumites, partner drills, sparring, etc. It’s something that you can devote as much time as you want to it and still never reach the end. And if you study Karate for long enough, it becomes part of you, part of how you act and carry yourself each day.
For me, Karate has been a practice that, over time, has helped me develop an inner peace and confidence that was never there before.
And this is where I came up with the Star Wars analogy. Just when you think there can’t be another Star Wars movie, they come out with something else: yet another movie, a show based on one character, a cartoon, and who knows what else? As much as I’ve enjoyed Star Wars since I was a kid, I can’t keep up with everything Star Wars! It just seems to never end, which is probably true.
Much like Karate, it just keeps going.
OK, but then how does that make learning some specific self-defense skills anything like Forrest Gump?
Learning self-defense only is a way to cut through all of the curriculum and art of Karate training. It is just taking out the parts that might be needed in a situation where you need to protect yourself. So, while Karate is a self-defense system, it is also an art that takes years and decades to encompass.
Just learning self-defense is hand picking the most useful parts for specific situations so that you have a mini-system of knowledge and skills for a singular purpose: to keep you safe. It’s a stand-alone practice, it has a beginning and an end that completely meets the needs you might be looking for.
There is no “Forrest Gump part II” because it wasn’t needed. It was an incredible story that can be told again and again just the way it was told. We learned what we needed to know about Forrest and all of his adventures. The movie served its purpose.
So, if you need a Land Cruiser or a shrimping boat to get around in, I’ve got you covered!
But, BE WARNED!!
Just because someone teaches a martial art does not necessarily mean they are qualified to teach a self-defense specific class.
And why not?
Self-defense requires knowledge of realistic situations. Any martial art instructor can teach you some self-defense techniques, this is true. But are they the techniques that you need?
I have both first hand experience AND study of what is needed and why for self-defense. This is not just a theory that I threw together, this is knowledge gained from a real world laboratory as well as working with experts in the field to give you EXACTLY what you need to know.
And, if you want to take it a step further after that, I’ve got you covered there too with ongoing Karate practice that takes this self-defense into an artful lifestyle that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
So, whether you want an epic saga or one-hit wonder…603 has what you need!
Contact me to learn more about ongoing Karate classes OR specific self-defense lessons. And if you don’t really know what you need, a conversation is the place to start! Call or text John at: 603-726-6335
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