Do Basics Work For Self-Defense?

By Christopher Caile

Basics in karate, taekwondo and kung fu help perfect basic skills, but if you think they are useful for self-defense, think again.

Basic punches, kicks, and blocks isolate one movement, or a simple group of movements. Most often they are practiced standing still, or are combined with simple movements as in basic self defense drills where one person steps and punches, while the defender steps back and blocks.

The benefits are many. By isolating one movement in constant repetition you help perfect your basics, and basics teachers so often say, are the building blocks of good, fast and powerful technique. So what’s there not to like?

A lot, it turns out. Here are some of the problems.

One major problem is that hard blocks (so often practiced, especially in karate and taekwondo) just don’t work against most attacks. They are too slow (because they require a wind up or preparation move before execution and because they are done hard) and are therefore ineffective unless you have extra time and you know beforehand the attack that is coming. That’s why boxers dodge and weave, slip punches and use a soft parry or a cover-up.

Of course basic blocks work if the attacker has to take a big step toward you and you have time to step back and wind up – but that is not likely in a close in, fast or surprise attack. To make basic blocks work in the real world, movement has to be minimized and/or modified. This is exactly what is seen in some techniques taught in old-style Okinawan karate. Blocks are more direct and in some cases the forward hand (as in an
inside block against a straight punch to the face) is used to parry (similar to what a boxer would do) while the rear hand is reserved for a secondary movement such as controlling the blocked punching arm or as a counter attack.

There are also many attacks, such as grabs and holds that basics just don’t address. To counter these attacks a whole new vocabulary of techniques must be learned. Examples include headlocks, hair grabs, two arm grabs from behind, etc.

Another problem with practice of basic technique (blocks, punches and kicks) is that it separates defense from counter-attacks. A defensive block to a punch does not change the equation  – you are still under attack and a second one will probably be coming. Self-defense, if it is to be effective, should stop the attack immediately by either controlling the attack and the attacker or by simultaneously countering – ideally both. You take control and multiple defensive and counter techniques are involved.

Then, too, there is the problem of movement. Practicing blocks and punches from a stationary position actually ingrains the wrong muscle memory. Self-defense, often reflected in the moves of traditional Okinawan kata, combine techniques with movement – forward, to the side or at angles to get out of the way and/or to get into a position of advantage.  Stationary drills don’t teach this. That’s why even after years of practice many practitioners in karate, taekwondo and kung fu just move backward when attacked. They lack skills in angling and movement to the side.

If you want your technique to work against real-life attacks, you must develop and practice coordinated skills. You can’t depend on instinctual improvisation, thinking that technique will come out when needed (how many of you have heard that?). Instead you must combine all your elements – movement, defense, counters and control – into single explosive or effective combinations. Defense against common attacks should be practiced over and over until they become part of your reflexive vocabulary.  Of course this is the essence of old Okinawan kata, but few today teach the applications and self-defense.

In Okinawa before karate was imported to Japan there were no basic drills. Kata was the principle method of teaching. If you knew the applications, your technique included the necessary elements. You developed self-defense skills. But karate once in Japan expanded its curriculum. Techniques were extracted from kata and taught in isolation. Added to practice were basic punch, block and kicking drills, basic back and forth punching and blocking combinations, practice fighting and competition. At the same time the central role of kata practice was diminished and in most styles self-defense applications that included a rich mix of strikes, kicks, body manipulations, off-balancing and control techniques, throws and take downs were no longer taught.

But don’t think that practice fighting or kumite substitutes for this loss. Practice fighting parried down the rich inheritance found in kata to focus on percussion techniques – punch, kick and block combinations aimed at safe targets of a single opponent. In contrast, self-defense includes grabs, holds, multiple opponents, and the use of weapons and techniques aimed at targets outlawed in kumite. And the attacks are for real. They can be hard, brutal and come with no warning.

This is not to say that basics should not be practiced; they should.  They teach the body how to perform singular techniques and how to develop power. They also teach balance, how to flow between technique and minimize movement within the prescribed movement pattern. But you need more for self-defense.

In short, beginners may benefit from standard drills of basic techniques, but for more advanced student you should develop your self-defense skills too. Practicing basics alone, or simple back and  forth punching and blocking drills actually ingrain actions that are counter-productive in self defense situations – single technique, difficult to execute blocks, rooting in place,  lack of simultaneous counter attacks and control For self-defense you need to learn how to modify and combine your basics. And where basics punches, kicks and blocks don’t fit a particular self-defense need, you need to expand you vocabulary of skills – all ingrained with movement. This way you learn how to actually apply and use your basic blocks, kicks and counters with other self-defense technique. You learn how to move and control your opponent – skills that someday may just save your life, or at least your skin.

About the Author Christopher Caile

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Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 65 years.

He first started in judo while in college. Then he added karate as a student of Phil Koeppel in 1959 studying Kempo and Wado-Ryu karate. He later added Shotokan Karate where he was promoted to brown belt and taught beginner classes. In 1960 while living in Finland, Caile introduced karate to that country and placed fourth in that nation’s first national judo tournament.

Wanting to further his karate studies, Caile then hitch hiked from Finland to Japan traveling through Scandinavia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia — living on 25 cents a day and often sleeping outside.

Arriving in Japan (1962), Caile was introduced to Mas Oyama and his fledgling full contact Kyokushinkai Karate by Donn Draeger, the famous martial artist and historian. Donn also housed him with several other senior international judo practitioners. Donn became Caile’s martial arts mentor, coaching him in judo and introducing him to Shinto Muso-ryu under Takaji Shimizu.

Caile studied at Oyama’s honbu dojo and also at Kenji Kurosaki’s second Tokyo Kyokushinkai dojo. In his first day in class Oyama asked Caile to teach English to his chief instructor, Tadashi Nakamura. They have been friends ever since. Caile also participated in Oyama’s masterwork book, “This Is Karate.”

Caile left Japan with his black belt and designation as Branch Chief, the first in the US to have had extensive training in Japan directly under Oyama Sensei. As such, Oyama Sensei asked him to be his representative on visits to his US dojos to report on their status.

A little over a year later, Nakamura, Kusosaki and Akio Fujihira won an epic David vs. Goliath challenge match against Thailand’s professional Muay Thai Boxers in Bangkok, Thailand, thrusting Kyolushinkai and Nakamura into national prominence.

Back in the US Caile taught Kyokushinkai karate in Peoria, Il while in college and later in Washington, DC. while in graduate school. Durimg this time Shihan Nakamura had moved to New York City to head Kyokushinkai’s North American Operation.

In 1976 when Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate organization, Caile followed. Living then in Buffalo, NY, Caile taught Seido karate and self-defense at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) for over 15 years where he also frequently lectured on martial arts and Zen in courses on Japanese culture.

Caile moved to New York City in 1999 to marry Jackie Veit. He is now an 8th degree black belt, Hanshi, training in Seido Karate’s Westchester, NY Johshin Honzan (Spiritual Center) dojo. In Seido Caile is known for his teaching of and seminars on kata applications. He also produced a 14 segment video series on Pinan kata Bunkai currently available to Seido members.

Caile is also a long-time student and Shihan in Aikido. He studied in Buffalo, under Mike Hawley Shihan, and then under Wadokai Aikido’s founder, the late Roy Suenaka (uchi deshi under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and was Shihan under Tohei Sensei). In karate, Suenaka (8thdan) was also an in-house student of the Okinawan karate master Hohan Soken.

Having moved to New York City, Caile in 2000 founded this martial arts educational website, FightingArts.com. Twenty-five years later, in 2025, it underwent a major update and revision.

For FightingArts.com and other publications Caile wrote hundreds of articles on karate, martial arts, Japanese art, Chinese Medicine and edited a book on Zen. He also developed relationships with a cross section of leading martial arts teachers. Over the last four decades he has conducted extensive private research into karate and martial arts including private translations of the once secret Okinawan hand copied and passed on Kung Fu book, the Bubishi, as well as an early karate book by the karate master Kenwa Mabuni. He periodically returns to Japan and Okinawa to continue his studies and participate Seido karate events. In Tokyo he practiced (with Roy Suenaka Sensei) in a variety of aikido organizations with their founders – including private interviews and practices at the Aiki-kai Aikido Honbu dojo with the son and grandson of aikido’s founder, Doshu (headmaster) Kisshomaru (an old uchi-deshi friend) and his son, Moriteru Ueshiba and in Iwama with Morihiro Saito. On Okinawa he studied Goju Ryu karate under Eiichi Miyazato, 10th dan founder of Naha’s Jundokan, and also with Yoshitaka Taira (who later formed his own organization, who specialized in kata Bunkai. While there Caile also trained with Hohan Soken’s senior student, Master Fusei Kise, 10 dan as well as with the grandson of the legendary karate master Anko Itosu.

Caile’s other martial arts experience includes: Diato-ryu Aikijujitsu and Kenjitsu, kobudo, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Kali (empty hand, knife and bolo), study of old Okinawan Shoran-ryu & Tomari body mechanics, study of old Okinawan kata under Richard Kim, study of close quarter defense and combat, including knife and gun defenses, Kyusho Jitsu and several Chinese fighting arts including 8 Star Praying Mantis, Pak Mei (White Eyebrow), and a private family system of Kung Fu.

Caile is also a student of Zen as well as a long-term student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Kung (Qigong). As one of two senior disciples of Chi Kung master Dr. Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) Caile was certified to teach and practice. This led to Caile’s founding of the The Chi Kung Healing Institute on Grand Island, NY. In Western NY, he also frequently held Chi Kung seminars, including at SUNY Buffalo and at the famous Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. His articles on Chi Kung also appeared in the Holistic Health Journal and in several books on alternative medicine.

Caile holds a BA in International Studies from Bradley University and MA in International Relations with a specialty in South and Southeast Asia from American University in Washington, D.C. While in Buffalo, NY he also studied digital and analog electronics.

In his professional life Caile also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and photographer. Earlier he worked in the field of telecommunications including Managing a Buffalo, NY sales and service branch for ITT. He then founded his own private telephone company. This was followed by creation of an electrical engineering company that designed and patented his concept for a new type of low-cost small business telephone system (which was eventually sold to Bell South). The company also did contract work for Kodak and the US space program. Simultaneously Caile designed and manufactured a unique break-apart portable pontoon boat.

Most recently Caile co-founded an internet software company. Its products include software suites with AI capability for control and management of streaming media, such as video and music, an all-in-one book publishing software product for hardcover, eBook and audio book creation and security software for buildings and government use.

For more details about Christopher Caile’s martial arts, work experience and life profile, see the About section in the footer of this site.