Book Review: Practical Karate 1:
Fundamentals of Self-Defense

The Cover of Practical Karate 1: Fundamentals of Self-Defense

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Authors: M. Nakayama and Donn F. Draeger

Reviewer: Mark Groenewold

This book, Practical Karate 1: Fundamentals of Self Defense, is the first of a six-volume set dealing with, you guess it, self defense. At first, I was rather hesitant to review these books, unsure of where to start and how to do the texts justice. I have been thinking long and hard about what karate ought to do better in order to survive and grow beyond the present. There is a gaping whole in our curriculum, and it is the teaching of self-defense and karate as a means of evening the odds when facing attackers.

These texts are a good start. For the next several book reviews I will be pulling these books apart, focussing on the good, trying to eliminate the more impractical, and highlight the techniques and principles that may help people become better equipped in a violent world.

I think that the events of September 11, 2001 shook the world pretty hard, especially Americans. People begin to play out scenarios in their minds about “what if” and “what could they do” or “what would they do” if placed in similar situations. The truth of the matter is, that we have no idea how we would fare if it was us who was on one of the hijacked planes. Sometimes the toughest and most highly trained can freeze up, while a high school girl who works as a cashier at Safeway can be a hero.

As karate students and instructors we have access to some very serious information that can be of help to others in times of crisis. We have the tools and access to good instructors. Should we choose to bend our will towards better research and study of karate as a means of self-defense we will have truly contributed to the legacies we have inherited. We also need to train with a better sense of foresight. It is true that our governments are scouring the world for terrorists, but will they still be as vigilant 5 years from now? How about 10 years from now? How about 15 years from now when the attack on the World Trade center is a subject for school textbooks? Will we forget? Will we be prime targets for the next group of lunatics?

It is my profound hope that karate clubs will look carefully at these Self-Defense texts of Nakayama and Draeger. They have much to offer and should be finding their ways into training curriculums in dojos all over the planet.

This text, as well as the others, begin nicely with 10 essential points. They are:

1. Never underestimate your assailant Always assume he is dangerous.
2. Stepping, weight shifting, and body turning are the keys to avoiding an assailant's attack and bringing him into position for your counterattack.
3. Turn your body as a unit, not in isolated parts, for maximum effect.
4. If the ground is rough, bumpy, or slick, you may be unable to maneuver as you would like. Simple weight shifting and twisting of your hips may be all that is possible. Don't get fancy in your footwork.
5. Your body can only act efficiently in karate techniques if you make it a stable foundation, working from braced feet and a balanced position as you deliver your blow.
6. Coordinate your blocking or striking action to the assailant's target area with your stepping, weight shifting, and body turning for maximum effect.
7. Do not oppose superior power with power, but seek to harmonize it with your body action and direct it to your advantage.
8. Seek to deliver your striking action to the assailant's anatomical weak points (vital points) rather than to hard, resistant areas.
9. After delivering the striking action to your assailant's target area, you must never loose sight of him and you should be constantly alert for a continuation of his attack.
10. Use discretion in dealing out punishment to any assailant. Fit the degree of punishment to the situation.

The first point is very salient. Never underestimate the assailant. Someone who is trying to hurt you will likely do everything that they can towards that end. Be wary. The next few points (2-7) are the most difficult for beginners to understand. Sure, it looks good on paper, but what does it mean? This is where instructors need to show their students what these sentences mean. Instructors need to show how stances fit together, why you may need to extend your rear leg, how to use your hips in conjunction with blocks, why the retracting hand (hikite) is so important for strong punches and blocks. Get on the floor and do it, show it, and teach it until students can see and do it themselves.

The last three points are very practical, while the last impresses on us the significance of karate still acting as a civilizing agent, and that restraint still has with it courage and discernment. There are, of course, situations that require no restraint and where total abandon is required.

I have read flippant remarks on the net regarding these books as stupid, impractical, and a means to line the bursting pockets of the incorporated JKA. I am not a JKA apologist, but I think that these comments are the reflection of people who haven't bothered to take a really good look at what they have to offer. Yes, there are some things that are seemingly impractical. I will let you know which ones I think are not great techniques for self-defense, and if you disagree please feel free to let me know. We need to discuss these things thoroughly to figure out what is really the best for students and instructors. Lets take a look at these texts and decide for ourselves what is worthwhile, and what doesn't work.

Nakayama and Draeger begin by stating the importance of stance, being balanced, using hip rotation, and training on both sides of the body. All practical. All common sense. The stance training offered in the book is much like you find in the dojo. Step in. Step out. Rotate your hips. No surprises here. Thankfully, this material is a brief recap of the excellent chapter on the same material in Master Nakayama's Dynamic Karate.

The next chapter discusses blocking and avoidance of attack. Good material and lots of practical advice about blocking. The photos, however, are a mixed bag. There are some good demonstrations about how to have good karate blocks, but they are demonstrated against someone who is executing karate punching attacks. The attacker chambers his fist and punches karate style. A thug on the street is more likely to cock his arm back and launch in with a round house or cross punch. We need to train against those attacks, not the attacks of fellow gi-wearing karate club members. My least favorite block is the X-block, as I feel that it may not be as conducive to a counter attack that you can do with a rising block, but I do like the press-block that is demonstrated. That move, coupled with some hard elbow counter attacks, has some powerful possibilities.

Chapter three, for this reader, is the real gem of the whole book. I especially like the diagram on page 58 (my text) that has the line drawing of what technique is best suited for what tender part of the body. We should enlarge this picture and post it in the dojo. If you have written examinations for shodan at your dojo, this should be homework and mandatory memorization. Chapter three shows us where to deliver the goods when it comes to attacking would-be assailants. I am particularly fond of knife-hand attacks to the neck and ear, palm heel attack, and all the elbow attacks. One objection I have to the text is that the “assailant” is launching his attack way over the head of Master Nakayama. I would much preferred to have seen the man really try to hit Master Nakayama so we can see a closer representation of a real conflict. The rest of this chapter has excellent material on kicking (especially low kicks) and knee attacks.

This text has a lot of good stuff to offer, but it is imperative that the instructor “edit” the material for class based on the abilities of the student. For example, it is not necessary wise to teach knife hand attacks to beginners who have unconditioned hands. Teach them something that they can use right away, like elbow attacks, or low kicks, or knee attacks. The body needs conditioning to use the full repertoire of technique.

This leads us to another issue. I personally think that it is unnecessary to be equally versed in all the technique that is offered. For self-defense purposes, a few hard and effective techniques can serve someone in a variety of situations. Punches, elbows, eye and neck gouges, knees to the abdomen, and other vicious things are often enough. High kicks are chancy. Better to step up to the plate and use your hands.

Lastly, for this installment, body conditioning is very important. There are those who say that women cannot defend themselves because they are not strong enough in their upper bodies. The same voices may continue to intone that karate is a waste on women and kids because men will always be able to bash them around in a real situation. Well, if that is the case, if you are not as strong as you could be, get to work. Do 30 push-ups a day for six months and you will be stronger than you are now. If you can't do push-ups from your feet, start on your knees, use the stairs or a chair, just start getting into shape. The stronger you are, the harder you can hit. The harder you can hit, the better your chances are of living to see another day if you are being attacked. Self-defense training has no warranty, only an offering of a chance to hedge your bets for survival in a violent situation.

Do whatever you can to stay alive, and fight right to the bitter end.

Volume 2 is next.

Mark Groenewold
Ishikawa-ken, Japan
February 2002

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