Under such circumstances, the best possible offense is a good defense warding off an attack. Self-defense means the ability to stop your opponent or assailant on the spot. So, the measure of your self-defense techniques starts when you hit your opponent with your best shot. If your best shot gives your opponent the giggles, you haven’t got much of a self-defense.

Of course, the well-trained martial artist does not have to attack an untrained opponent at all, much less drop him on the spot. It’s possible to be faced by someone who is past the point of verbal argument or reason, in which case, instead of attacking you should concentrate on a defense which would effectively block the attack and place you in a position to counterattack if you had to.

When it comes to defending against the hooligan or punk, however, if your best shot doesn’t stop him, you’re in trouble. So don’t forget the bomb!

My sensei relates this story: Some time ago there lived in Shuri two Ishimines. One, who was from Shuri-no-Akahira, was known as Akahira no Ishimine, and the other, from Shuri-no-Gibo, was called Gibo no Ishimine.

Although Gibo no Ishimine was six years younger than Akahira no Ishimine, he was very cocky about his reputation as a skilled karate fighter. One day, as he was walking along a stone wall, he bumped into Akahira no Ishimine.

“I hear you are practicing every day and your reputation as a fighter is spreading,” Akahira stopped him. “Let me give you a word of advice, one Ishimine to another. Self-defense is two spokes to a wheel...“But Gibo no Ishimine was not listening. He was bored with the elder’s incessant chattering and finally blurted out, “Can you give me a lesson?”

Akahira smiled and faced his eager opponent. He blocked and feinted as the younger man continued to throw blow after blow. Gradually, he began pushing Gibo against the stone wall. The youngster finally realized what,Akahira was trying to teach him: It is difficult to overpower a truly skilled karate man by any form of direct body attack.

Gibo no Ishimine bowed his head in apology as the wiser Ishimine walked away.