27/08/2026
Karate ni sente nashi. " There is no first attack". Is there a more misunderstood, misquoted phrase in karate circles?
We would all like to live in some zen-like , Holywood style version of life in which we are the sage going through life dispensing justice to the obviously deserving evil criminal type.
Firstly, you have to be willing to use violence to defend yourself. Most people are not at that stage. Secondly, you have to be able to recognise and willing to act upon the signs of aggression before you are attacked. Even less people are at this stage. It is vitally important. Not just for you, but it is also a way of ' helping ' your assailant.
So signs of aggression:- Agitation, shouting, encroaching on your personal space, kicking the ground/objects, hands raised above to waist, change in skin colour, repetitive phrases etc. Experience with aggression and violence have taught me that the earlier you intervene, the better the outcome for you and for them. Escalation means increased levels of violence and violent response.
Some of it is pretty obvious. If someone tells you they are going to pull your f**king head off, its probably sensible to nip it in the bud! If I was going to hit you, I would not give you the slightest hint it was going to happen!
Learning restraint technique or quick finishers is actually an ethical thing to do and certainly far less risky than waiting to be hit.
So karate ni sente nashi is about intent. We never look for trouble, we actively avoid, de-escalate, diffuse and run away. If none of that is either working or possible, we strike pre-emptively using reasonable force. This is a far more accurate if more nuanced interpretation.
