Here at CKJU we love nothing more than a good quotation.  Here are 2 particularly memorable and pertinent quotations in our view:

‘There is nothing more dangerous than a Martial Art that is ineffective in actual combat.’ – Choki Motubu (One of the Legendary Okinawan Founding Fathers of Karate)

‘There is a world of difference between having a black belt and being a black belt’ – Andy Gunton (7th Dan, WKU).

These seem 2 very reasonable statements for assessing the validity of a given Martial Art as practised at any given time, in any given venue.

We invite the reader to engage in an Einsteinian thought experiment. Consider All the Instructors/Dan grades in your own Martial Arts Club:

Test Number 1 (The ‘Mugger Test’)

Imagine you have just learned that an Instructor at your Martial Arts club has been the victim of an attempted mugging by a single assailant. About whose health are you most concerned, the Mugger, or the Instructor?

If the answer in most cases is the Instructor … then Res Ipsa Loquitur.

 

Test Number 2 (The ‘Black Belt Test’)

Imagine, all club members on a standard training night are made to wear a white belt. Could an average, non-expert member of the public easily identify the Instructors/Black belts through their superior committment to every technique,  and superlative skill and focus?

If the answer is in the majority of cases no, then once again…Res Ipsa Loquitur.

If the answers to either test were unfavourable, then perhaps you should consider that whilst enjoying a happy social club, (whilst possibly dressed in white pyjamas), you may need to study effective self-defence – elsewhere.