(Approx 2 minute 45 second read)

When I’ve conducted seminars or watch students from other dojo trying to work out movements to the bunkai in kata, it’s obvious that many of them have been taught to simply block, then counter.
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Many instructors cite the reason for this, often referring to the saying ‘karate ni sente nashi’ – there is no first attack in karate.
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But to believe that this is solely a defensive principle, meaning that we shouldn’t attack first, is incorrect.
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Choki Motobu, in his 1932 publication ‘Watashi no karate-jutsu’, wrote: “There is an expression, ‘karate ni sente nashi’. Apparently some people interpret this literally and often profess that ‘one must not attack first’, but I think that they are seriously mistaken.”
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Motobu’s words challenge the superficial reading of this principle and prompt us to rethink what it truly means in application.
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To truly understand it, you must move beyond the notion of karate as purely defensive, and acknowledge the reality of combat.
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The key lies in understanding the difference between initiating aggression and seizing the initiative (sen-sen-no-sen).
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One of the keys to this is cultivating the ability to read an opponent’s intent and respond with decisive action, so that you’re not passively waiting for someone to attack so that you can then block and counter.
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This is why I am against various step-kumite drills, at any stage of learning.
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In a self-defense situation, it’s better to be proactive rather than reactive. Action is always faster than reaction. It’s not a consensual duel – you want to be able to disrupt the attacker’s rhythm and balance as soon as possible, leaving them unable to mount an attack, so that you can get out of there.
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Karate is mostly taught to beginners today with an emphasis on hard blocking, practicing drills with a defender blocking an attack before countering. In my opinion, this over-focus on blocking shapes early habits – though many argue that, with experience, training evolves into something more realistic.
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If you translate ‘uke’ as ‘to receive’ – its correct translation – it becomes a very different meaning. For me the whole movement hints at preemption and strategic positioning.
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Think about it logically, in the face of a determined attacker, waiting for them to initiate the first blow so that you can block, then counter, doesn’t make sense. You might get yourself seriously injured, or worse.
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Rather than simply waiting for an opponent to attack, you can act decisively when necessary.
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If you were attacked with a weapon, such as a crowbar – as I once was – and I waited to block, I would have stood no chance. In such situations, preemption is the best option, as it was for me. Waiting for an attacker to launch a physical attack before you respond is reckless and potentially fatal.
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And before you start jumping on me saying that attacking first is against the law, remember, you are not attacking first. Most countries follow the principle of ‘reasonable belief’ or ‘reasonable fear’ of imminent danger or bodily harm. This means that if a person reasonably believes they are in immediate danger of being harmed by another person, they may use appropriate and proportional force, including preemptive strikes, to defend themselves.
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This is why, in my opinion, it’s worth rethinking the step-kumite drills that so many people hold onto. If you keep teaching blocking and countering – if that’s the habit you build – then that’s exactly what students will rely on under pressure.
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But real violence demands that you act. So maybe it’s time we stop treating blocking as the foundation of self-defense, and start teaching students how to take control before it’s too late.
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Preemption isn’t aggression; it’s survival. And in a moment of real danger, it may just save your life.
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Written by Adam Carter
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Photo Credit: EWTO Cyprus