The Story of Karate

Karate is the art of self-defense and counter attack without weapons. It is a

Japanese word and in its native language means literally "empty hands".
Karate as a method of self-defense originated hundreds of years ago in
Japan. Originally, Karate (or earlier ju-jitsu) was practiced only by the
nobility in Japan and especially by the Sumurai. The techni-ques were kept
secret. The hoi polloi were denied the knowledge. It was a form of
superiority that the upper class could demonstrate to the commoners to
prove that they were superior physically—even without weapons!

This art of self-defense may be defined as "an application of anatomical

knowledge to the purpose of offense and defense. It differs from wrestling
in that it does not depend upon muscular strength. It differs from the other
forms of attack in that it uses no weapon. Its feat consists in clutching or
striking that part of an enemy's body as will make him numb, and incapable
of resistance. Its object is not to kill, but to incapacitate one for action for
the time being." (Inazo Nitobe, Bushido; the Soul of Japan)

The size and weight of your opponent may be used against him. Even a big
250 lb. brute can be toppled by a smaller, lighter man who employs the
principles of Karate. The Karate man knows the pressure points and focal
nerve centers of his bigger, heavier adversary—and strikes at these
pressure point.

To quote from the Encyclopedia Brittanica "Several of these sensitive

places, for instance the par tially exposed nerve in the elbow popularly
known as the "funny-bone" and the complex of nerves over the stomach
called the solar plexus, are familiar to the European, but the ju-jitsu expert
is acquainted with many others which, when compressed struck or pinched,
cause temporary paralysis of a more or less complete nature. Such places
as the arm pit, the ankle and wrist bones, the tendon running downward
from the ear, the "Adam's apple," and the nerves of the upper arm. In
serious fighting al-most any hold or attack is resorted to, and a broken or
badly sprained limb is the least that can befall the victim..."

Karate was taught to the special imperial guards who protected the
Emperor of Japan. During World War II, special Japanese shock troops
were taught the secrets of Karate. Toward the end of the global conflict,
thousands upon thousands of Japanese line troops were given accelerated
courses in Karate, to help them overcome their physical and weight
handicaps in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Many an ex-GI who
served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations can tell you how even a puny
Japanese soldier could perform super-human feats. Karate is faster than
judo, quicker than ju-jitsu and more deadly than both! That is why Karate,
when mastered, should be used with reservation and restraint. Karate
never should be employed as an aggressive action, but only to defend
yourself against an assailant.

Karate is highly dynamic and makes use of hun-dreds of body muscles. It

helps develop body balance, posture, agility, coordination and grace. In
fact, Karate is so popular in Japan today that thousands upon thousands of
women and teenagers are studying it. In addition to its defensive qualities,
it's ideal exercise for their figures; keeps them trim and lean. Many schools
and colleges in America today are considering adding Karate to the
curriculum.

The course in Karate, in the pages that follow, if taken at a college or

special gym, might conceiv-ably cost you up to $250.00. The price of this
handbook is $4.95. If you follow the instructions diligently and carefully, it
can safely be said that you will have received the same "$250.00 course in
print" for $4.95. And when you come right down to it, how can you
measure, in dollars and cents, the value of Karate. If you apply just one
striking point learned from this book, just once, and it saves your life, HOW
MUCH IS THAT WORTH TO YOU? How much is it worth to your wife, your
children, or your mother, father, sisters and brothers?

Will you "suppose" with me? Suppose as you are walking home from work
one night, a figure leaps from a dark alley and twins your arm behind your
back. He threatens you. What do you do?

Suppose you're walking with a female companion and she is insulted by a

tough looking hood. The roughneck is about 6 feet 4 inches tall, has big,
sinewy arms and uses profanity that would make even a tough Marine
sergeant blush! What do you do?

Your answer might be "that's never happened to me. Anyway, that's what
we have police for". But remember, dear reader, an assailant or a thief
never attacks when the law is around. Only when he thinks you are alone,
unarmed, will he strike. And the tough hombre only gets wise when he
thinks he's bigger and taller than you. Naturally, you cannot walk the streets
armed, as the cowboys did in the Old West. But with a knowledge of Karate
you turn your hands, feet and elbows into powerful weapons instantly!

The knowledge of Karate instills the exhilarant feeling of SUPER

CONFIDENCE even into a "Casper Milquetoast". Yes, with the knowledge
of Karate, YOU ARE SUPREME! YOU ARE KING! YOU FEAR NO MAN
OR GIANT!
 Offensive Thrusts
The Clenched Fist

This is the most frequently used striking point.

However, it can only be mastered after constant
practice and training. When properly executed to-
ward the right pressure points, the Clenched Fist
can drop your opponent for the count of ten— and
out! Do not be fooled into thinking that the Karate
Clenched Fist blow is as easy as it looks. Be sure
to study the illustrations. Notice that the forearm
and the knuckles form a perpendicular line. Notice
also that the front of the fist and the top knuckles
form a 90° angle. In order to carry the maximum
striking power from your body, thru your arm, and to the fist, that line must
be straight.

Even though your adversary is 50 lbs. heavier, 5

inches taller, with broad shoulders and a Rock of
Gibraltar stature, you can knock him out . . .
perhaps with one smashing blow! That is why
even an experienced Judo man is afraid to "lock
horns" with a good Karate man. (See Fig. 1 & 2)
Single Finger

Here is a relatively easy but effective form of at-

tack. It can be mastered quicker than other Karate
offensive moves. It is frequently used in striking
your opponent in the solar plexus or, if you must,
in the eyes. The striking force is the forefinger—
your pointing finger. You curl your hand into a fist,
except for the forefinger, which is kept straight as
a ruler. See illustration. You can use the
SingleFinger attack in three ways—upward,
downward and straight forward. (See Fig. 3)

Two Finger

The Two Finger attack is often used when you

want to render your opponent temporarily
helpless. It is a quick, decisive, effective stroke.
But it must be used with caution. Your striking
points are your first two finger tips. Sounds rather
ineffectual, but alas no! In Karate your two
fingertips are like sharp spears. The Two Finger
attack gives you twice the striking power of the Single Finger attack
described above. The remaining fingers are curled into a fist. But if you are
in a tight spot and the seconds count, do not hesitate to get the full force of
this attack by spreading the two fingers out—in a horizontal V-for-Victory
sign. Your target is your opponent's eyes. A quick, sharp stab will prove that
the fingers are quicker than the eyes! (See Fig. 4)
The Hook

When you give your opponent "The hook" he

won't know it—until he catches his gasping breath
again! By that time you have the upper hand.
When you employ The Hook in Karate, you will
prove once again that size and weight per se
mean little. You can be smaller than your enemy—
20, 50, yes even 100 pounds lighter! You can be frail, even sickly. But do
not despair. You pack TNT in your hand, if used according to the ancient
Karate principles. To form The Hook, you place your hand in the shape of a
clamp or hook. Where do you use it? You direct the Hook at one of the
most vulnerable parts of the human body—the Adam's apple. And it's
applesauce for your opponent! He will then use his big, hairy paws—not in
attacking you—but in clutch-ing his aching throat. He will never expect the
Hook, nor the tears of pain that will flow down his grubby cheeks.

But from that moment on, you may not be the apple of his eye, but you can
certainly expect RESPECT from any wisenheimer. (See Fig. 5)

The Knife Hand

This sounds like a misnomer, since no knife is

used, but your opponent will swear that razor
sharp cutlery was employed, that is, after he
recovers! The Knife Hand can be used in two
ways, both ex-tremely painful: The downward
chop and the side chop. The downward chop is
formed by crooking the arm at the elbow and
swinging it down obliquely in a swift, slashing,
hammer-like motion. Be sure to keep the fingers
rigid and close together. Learn to strike fast. The downward Knife Hand is
es-pecially effective on the forearm, the neck, the ribs. It can cause your
opponent stinging, excruciating pain. The second variation is the side chop.
It is formed by swinging the hand out in a semi-circle from the elbow. The
palm should be kept rigid. (See Fig. 6)

The Claw

The Claw is used mainly in attacking the ears.

The tips of the four fingers and thumb are spread
and bent. The hand is arched backward. Keep
your fingers rigid. Both hands can be used to box
your opponent's ears. You claw, dig, jab, twist and
turn. Do it quickly before your adversary can
anticipate your attack. (See Fig. 7)

The Thumb

In a baseball game when the umpire thumbs a

player, the latter is ejected from the game. In
Karate when you give your opponent the Thumb,
he's ejected, rejected and dejected—in that order!
First, he's ejected from his spot. Second, he's
rejected from attacking you. Third, he's dejected
because he thought YOU were the "soft touch"
type. The Thumb attack is formed by extending
the thumb with the fingers curled into a fist. You
may direct this blow in an upward fashion, forward
or down-ward. The beauty of the Thumb attack is that your opponent is
prepared for, a blow to the head, and you give him the Thumb in the groin
or solar plexis. Quick, silent, painful. This is one Karate striking point that
anybody can master, even if you're "all thumbs". (See Fig. 8)

The Kiss or Grind

At some time or other in your life you have seen a

relative or member of the family off on a trip. As
the train or ship pulls out, you wave and "blow a
kiss". In blowing a kiss to a departing loved one,
you bunch your fingers to a point with the hand
arched back. In Karate you do the same thing . . .
to a point. You don't blow your opponent a kiss.
But you do "kiss" your opponent with a blow. The
Kiss attack (also referred to as The Grind by
many students of Karate) is employed as a gentle
physical warning to somebody to watch out—or things will really get
rough . . . for him! The Kiss or Grind may be executed in a corkscrew
manner—digging its way into the stomach, cheek or eyes. (See Fig. 9)

One Knuckle

Curl your hand into a fist. Extend the knuckle of

the forefinger out and hold it down with the thumb.
Now watch that boorish boob knuckle down to
YOU! Use the One Knuckle attack to your op-
ponent's eyes, temple, or other vulnerable parts of
the anatomy. You can jab or dig with this attack.
(See Fig. 10)
Middle Knuckle

This is an adaptation of the One Knuckle attack.

In this case, the middle or center knuckle carries
the brunt of the attack. The hand is curled into a
fist but the center knuckle is extended. (See. Fig.
11)

Fore Knuckle Fist

Press your fingers together with the thumb, but

extend the fore knuckle. This striking method is
particularly effective when attacking between the
nose and upper lip, the temple or the stomach.
(See Fig. 12)

Big Knuckles Forward

The tips of the big knuckles are the main striking

points. You curl your hand into a fist. Overlap the
fingers with the thumb. This type of blow is often a
raking jab or hook. (See Fig. 13)
Big Knuckles Backward

Here again the striking point is the tips of the big

knuckles. However, the palm of your hand faces
you. See illustration. This blow is similar to a slap
or grind. (See Fig. 14)

Back Hand Lash

When someone gets fresh or tries to bully you

and you give him the "back of your hand" in
Karate, the poor guy might conceivably land on
his back! The Back Hand Lash is one of the
earliest striking methods in the art of Karate,
dating back many centuries. In the Back Hand Lash you keep the entire
hand stiff as a board, fingers extended straight out and close together. Arm
should remain stiff. Use this blow in attacking the ribs or blocking an
opponent's thrust. (See Fig. 15)

Side Hand Lash

This is similar to the Knife Attack except the

inside or thumb area is used. The position is as
follows: Hand remains open. Fingers are
extended out and pressed close together. Use the
Side Hand Lash in attacking the ribs or face. (See
Fig. 16)
Side Hand Hammer Blow

This blow is facetiously called the "Hammer of

Thor" because it hits like thunder and can result in
temporary sense loss and paralysis. You form a
clenched fist. Keep arm straight up and rigid.
Then smash downward . . . and look out below!
(See Fig. 17)

Bottom Fist

The Bottom Fist is employed when attacking hard

surfaces, like the head, elbow joint and also in
blocking opponent's blows. This Karate striking
point is very effective when you're faced with two
opponents, one on each side. Smash both in the
ribs simultaneously. Before they can regain their
composure, you're free ... to fight another day. (See Fig. 18)

Back Fist

The back fist is formed almost like the clenched

fist described previously, except the striking force
is the area of the knuckles and back of hand. See
illustration. This method is used mainly for block-
ing and in attacking your foe's ribs and face. (See
Fig. 19)
Heel of Palm

Give the heel of your palm to any obnoxious heel

and listen to him howl . . . for mercy. The Heel of
Palm is formed by arching the hand back, almost
to a 90° angle. The fingers should be bent and
slightly spread. Use this position when attacking
the face, nose, chin or jaw. (See Fig. 20)

The Choker

Use the Choker on any smart aleck joker. It will

make him think twice—and then turn the other
way. The striking point of this position is the area
be-tween the thumb and forefinger. (See Fig. 21)
Ox-Jaw Hand

You can give any annoying "pain-in-the-neck" a

real pain in the neck for hours with the Ox-Jaw
Hand blow. A swift smash to the neck or collar
bone does the trick. (See Fig. 22)

Back Wrist

The joint at the back of wrist is the striking point of

this blow. With the palm facing you, curl your hand
into a fist and bend it inward. This is an ef-fective
defensive position and will thwart most of your
foe's attacks. (See Fig. 23)
Bent Wrist

A variation of the back wrist, except the fingers

and thumb droop downward and away from you.
This is strictly a blocking position. Use it accord-
ingly. (See Fig. 24)

Chicken Head Wrist

A good Karate man must know not only offensive

techniques but defensive or blocking motions too.
Often it is not necessary to repel a foe with a
swift, painful blow. If a roughneck tries to push his
blubbery weight around, smart defensive tactics
might make him look awfully silly. By adroitly
blocking his blows, you can deflate any bag of wind. The Chicken Head
Wrist is an excellent blocking position and will make a "turkey" out of many
an op-ponent. Use it often. (See Fig. 25)
Outside Wrist

Did you ever knock on the front door, and not get
an immediate "who is it" from inside? Then you
pound with the side of a clenched fist. If some-
body's home, you can rest assured that knocking
will bring him a-running! In Karate the Outside
Wrist blow brings results too. You strike sharply
with the outside edge of the wrist joint. Be sure to
keep arm rigid when delivering the blow. You can
hit downward, sideways, upward or forward. The
Outside Wrist motion can be used defensively or
offensively. (See Fig. 26)

Shoulder Pinch

When a policeman disarms a burglar, rest

assured the latter will raise his hands... to
surrender. Similarly in a Karate match, if you can
"disarm" your opponent, you need not strike
another blow. You have won the match. In Karate
a man's weapons are his hands, feet, elbows and
legs. The purpose of the Shoulder Pinch is to
immobilize your opponent's arms and hands. And
if you can temporarily "paralyse" those vital organs, you're the victor! You
can apply the Shoulder Pinch two ways: from the front and from behind.
Just dig your thumb into the hollow under the collar bone; press your
fingers into his back—and squeeze like an enthusiastic accordian player!
You'll hear the sweet music of "I surrender, dear" from your foe. (See Fig.
27)
Forearm

This position is widely used in blocking. You can

use the outside edge of the forearm or the inside
edge of the forearm. Both are equally effective.
(See Fig. 28)

Elbow Smashes

If you ask your next door neighbor what is the

major function of the elbow, chances are he may
answer "to rest it on a table or counter while eat-
ing—or holding up one's head while dozing off."
Facetiously, he may be right. But in Karate, the
elbow assumes a very important, indispensable
role. It is one of the most damaging striking
weapons. Listed below are some of the many
positions that can be used with the elbow: (See Fig. 29)
Elbow Thrust—Straight Up

The striking point is the tip of the elbow. Clench

fist, extend elbow. Bring forearm back toward you.
Strike your opponent with a fast upward stroke.
Strike an opponent on the chin with an elbow
thrust and it's "chins up" for your foe—as he looks
at the ceiling lying on his back! (See Fig. 30)

Elbow Thrust—Straight Down

Again the striking point is the tip of the elbow. Clench fist, extend elbow
high up, bring forearm back toward you. Strike your opponent in a down-
ward fashion.

Elbow Rake Thrust

Extend the elbow away from you. Clench your fist. Bring forearm back
close to you. Charge your foe by moving elbow side to side in raking or
jabbing motion.
Elbow Back Thrust

Bend forearm at the waist. Extend fingers straight

out, stiff and close together (as Li the Knife Posi-
tion). Stab or jab an opponent straight back. (See
Fig. 31)

Elbow High Rear

Here is another powerful Karate striking point. Ex-

tend fingers straight out and close together, keep
palm down and arm rigid. Bend forearm to the
waist. Strike your opponent upward and to the
rear by slightly turning your body away from him
at the precise moment you attack. You should
practice this movement carefully, preferably in
"slow mo-tion" in front of a large mirror. Proper
balance and stance are vital to execute this
motion with a high degree of perfection. (See Fig.
32)
Elbow Circular Thrust

Another good striking point with the tip of the

elbow is called the Elbow Circular Thrust. Fingers
are held straight out and close together, palm to
you. Attack to the rear in a circular, grinding
movement. Strike to the solar plexus or ribs. (See
Fig. 33)

Knee

The knee is mainly used in close range attack to

the groin, thigh, solar plexus and chest. You can
strike in many directions with the knee—up, down,
sideways, forward, inside and outside. When size
and weight are in your adversary's favor, you can
use his own superior weight and girth against him.
By using your knee movements adeptly, by
attack-ing his weakest pressure points, a good
small man can cut a brute down to his size with a
few sting-ing knee smashes. (See Fig. 34)
The Knee Smash

This is the most effective knee attack and can

tem-porarily disable a foe. Bend knee and bring
up your leg. Point the knee toward your target.
Zero in! Smash upward! Use the Knee Smash
only when an emergency demands it. It is so
acutely painful that your opponent may double up
in extreme pain, then collapse. Apply first aid
immediately. Then call a doctor. (See Fig. 35)

The Knee Side Smash

Bend the knee and bring your leg up. Point the
knee toward your target. Hook the knee side to
side. A few Knee Side Smashes will convince your
enemy that you ain't fooling around! (See Fig. 36)
The Knee Down Smash

Here is a Karate offensive thrust that might

pulverize your opponent. Bend the knee and bring
the leg up behind you. Strike by dropping the knee
straight down on your opponent like an anchor
plummeting into the open sea! (See Fig. 37)

The Heel

They say that everybody has an Achilles' Heel, a

soft spot. In Karate the heel can become a
formidable striking point. You can feint your
opponent off guard with your hands and elbows,
then strike with the heel. Use the heel movements
to kick and stamp your opponent's groin, solar
plexus, instep —and even the jaw! The specific heel movements follow:
(See Fig. 38)
Back Heel Stamp

Raise foot slightly and point downward, bend knee

forward. Strike your opponent by stamping back-
ward. (See Fig. 39)

Inside Heel Stamp

Raise foot slightly and point the toes away from

your body at 45° angle. Bend the knee forward.
Strike by swiftly stamping the inside of the heel to
the rear. Your opponent may not give you the
stamp of approval for this movement, but then
you are not expecting it, are you? (See Fig. 40)
Outside Heel Stamp

Raise foot slightly and angle the toes away from

the body. Bring knee forward. Strike by suddenly
stamping the outside of the heel to the side or
rear. (See Fig. 41)

Downward Heel Stamp

Raise the knee upward about 18 inches with the

toes slightly arched. Strike by smashing straight
down. Stamp any heel with the heel stamp! (See
Fig. 42)

Roundhouse Instep Smash

Turn your body sideways away from your op-

ponent, as if you were off balance. Raise leg high
up and bend foot so that the curve of your instep
is parallel to the floor. Strike your opponent by
hooking the instep in a sweeping horizontal hook.
This is especially effective in smashing at the
groin. (See Fig. 43)
Forward Instep Smash

Raise the knee straight up with the toes pointing

straight down and close to you. Strike by directing
the instep forward or to the side, as the case may
be. The forward instep smash is the coup d'etat
when directed to the groin in close range fighting.
But it should be used with extreme caution for it
can seriously injure your opponent, perhaps per-
manently. (See Fig. 44)

Front Skull Smash

In the art of Karate as in the sport of soccer, the

head plays a vital role. You use your head to out-
wit an antagonist—and you also stay ahead in a
match by using your head literally. The front skull
smash is used when you can almost feel the
grizzly beard of your foe scratching your face.
Bring your head slightly back, tense your neck
muscles, then strike suddenly by snapping your
head forward. If your combatant doesn't see stars, he certainly will see the
nearest exit—and stagger to it! (See Fig. 45)
Back Skull Smash

Your opponent is right up close behind you. You

can almost feel him breathing down your neck. Tilt
your head slightly forward, tense your neck
muscles, then snap your head back in a swift,
smashing motion on the bridge of your
adversary's nose. (See Fig. 46)

Bottom of Foot

Karate is the art of self-defense with unarmed weapons. No clubs, knives

or pistols are used. No sticks or baseball bats. Your weapons are right on
your person—the legs, arms, hands, head, elbow. . . and even the feet—
corns, calluses and all! There are six different foot positions involved:

Ball of Foot—Downward Glide

Raise the foot high, bend the knee, curl toes

upward as far as possible. Strike by stamping ball
of foot straight down in grinding fashion. (See Fig.
47)
Ball of Fool—Rear Grind

Raise the foot high, bend the knee so foot is

horizontal to floor, curl toes up so that the ball
of foot is projected. Strike by stamping ball of
foot to the rear in grinding fashion. (See Fig.
48)

Ball of Foot—Straight

Bend the entire body slightly back with the

weight on the left foot. Raise the right foot up
and back with knee only slightly bent. Curl the
toes up. Strike by smashing the ball of the foot
straight ahead. (See Fig. 49)
The Mule Kick

In its execution the Mule Kick resembles the

swift kick of a mule. Raise your foot up
under you and toward the rear. Bend your
body downward from the waist. Then wham
your opponent with a rear thrust, using the
arch as the striking point. (See Fig. 50)

Vertical Underfoot Stomp

Bend the knee slightly up and forward. Bring the foot back. Toes pointing
forward. Strike by driving the heel straight back in a stomping or grinding
motion.

Side Underfoot Stomp

You turn your body to the side. Raise the

knee and foot to the rear; angle the toes
toward the side. Strike by stomping the arch
back and up in a grand-ing motion. (See
Fig. 51)
 Karate Stance and Posture

Stance or posture is a vital element in any sport. In baseball the proper

stance and swing at the plate may mean the difference between a clean
single to left or a whiffing strikeout! In boxing the proper stance may mean
the difference between ducking a right hand across or getting tagged on
the chin. In football the men on the line must be balanced and poised to
charge when the signals are called. In Karate too the proper stance is of
great importance. You are able to face a foe better when you adopt the
approved Karate stance. Here are a number of stances that should be
employed in specific circumstances.

The Natural Stance

You face your opponent naturally, keep your legs and

shoulders relaxed, feet together but poised for action.
(See Fig. 52)
Spread Eagle Stance

Spread your legs about 18 inches apart, toes pointed

outward a bit. Keep legs straight and body relaxed. You
are poised now to spring into action. (See Fig. 53)

Half Moon Stance

Plant your heels firmly on the floor; point the toes

straight ahead and spread your legs far apart. The
knees should be bent outward slightly. The muscles of
the legs and the hips should be taut. Weight should be
equally distributed on both legs. (See Fig. 54)
Forward Stance

Move either the left or right leg straight ahead about 18

inches, bend the knee slightly. Move other leg back.
Both feet should be planted firmly on the floor. (See Fig.
55)

Backward Stance

Bend the rear knee and direct outward; move the other
leg forward. The weight is not evenly distributed in the
backward stance. Two-thirds of the weight should be on
the rear leg; one-third on the front leg. This is a good
stance to use in kicking— gives you proper leverage.
(See Fig. 56)
Black Cat Stance

In this stance you are poised like a black cat on a hot tin
roof ready to spring into action. Front left knee is projected,
slight weight on the ball of the foot. Heel is raised slightly
from the floor. The rear right foot remains backward and
flat and bears most of the weight of the body. The back
should remain rigid. (See Fig. 57)
 Defensive Fighting Stances

In addition to the stances mentioned previously, there are a number of

other, less formal stances that the Karate man should know. The author
hopes that these stances never need be put to use, but in today's chaotic
world of teen-age gangs, hoodlums roaming the street, and vicious
degenerates preying on the innocent, the wise old adage of "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure" should certainly be heeded.

Spring Attack Stance

In this stance you are poised and alerted for any sneak
attack by your enemy. Suppose you're arguing with
somebody. He may be bigger, taller, stronger than you.
Naturally, when the verbal dispute becomes red-hot,
tempers flare. Your antagonist feels superior, confident,
cocksure. As you stand there defending your rights, you
must also anticipate his moves. Nonchalantly you
assume your Spring

Attack Stance. (See illustration) You pretend you are

merely holding your fingers, but you are poised like a
tiger for surprise attacks from any direction. Your striking
arm is held stiff and your other hand grasps the fingers of
the striking hand. As you pull back with the second hand, you force the
striking hand to snap forward. This is like a coil spring being released. It
produces devastating effects! (See Fig. 58)
Smash Attack Stance

This stance is taken when you have reason to believe

your opponent is ready to hit you. You have maintained
your composure long enough. In other words, you have
given your foe enough rope . . . to hang himself. But as a
decent, law-abiding citizen, you are not looking for
trouble. You prefer to settle a dispute or a
misunderstanding by peaceful negotia-tion . . . but your
opponent is truculent, belligerent, downright nasty! He
sizes you up and down. He has you set up as a "soft
touch", a "patsy." He can finish you off everyday of the
week and twice on Sundays, so he thinks!

You have your work cut out for you, so you unobtrusively
take the Slash Attack Stance. The split-seconds will
count, for or against you. You stand erect, turn to the side
to give him a smaller target. You form the "T" position. You raise your right
arm. Your entire body is ready to defend any surprise attack. You can slash
with the hand, thrust upward with the knee, follow thru with the clenched
fist. In short, you can flail away in any direction. (See Fig. 59)
Double Knife Stance

Stand straight, body rigid, face your opponent at a slight

angle. Bend your knees slightly to give you leverage and
balance. Keep both arms straight up at the elbow, palms
facing each other, but about 6 or 7 inches apart. In this
stance you can zoom your blows straight ahead,
sidewards, down—both hands at a time in a double-
barreled attack! (See Fig 60)

Side Knife Defense

Stand erect, body tense, face your opponent at a modified

angle. Bend knees slightly to give you proper balance and
leverage. Raise both arms in a horizontal position, about 6
or 7 inches apart. This is an excellent defense, since you
can block blows directed to your head with one hand, and
parry blows aimed at your mid-section with the other hand.
(See Fig. 61)
Body Shifting

In addition to stance and posture, body shifting comprises an important

phase of Karate. There are various forms of body shifting, each is primarily
designed to throw your adversary off balance, to thwart his blows, reduce
his target, surprise, con-fuse and befuddle him.

Side Shift

This is used when you want to shift your

entire body. Your right foot is forward and
your left is planted firmly to the rear. You
quickly shift position. Snap your right leg
back and your left leg moves forward.
Remember to keep the moving leg close to
the inside to avoid exposing the groin to a
blow. (See Fig. 62)

Turnabout Shift

You are in a forward stance. Move your rear foot

sideways and pivot on the balls of the feet. You have
accomplished a full 180° turn. The Turnabout Shift very
often befuddles an opponent and throws him off stride.
You can then plunge into the offense. (See Fig. 63)
Cross Over Shift

When you are forced to vacate your position fast, the Crossover Shift is the
right move. You cross your right foot over the left quickly and then as-sume
your fighting position. (See Fig. 64-A, 64-B, 64-C)5.
 Karate Blocking Techniques
When asked what was the secret of his team's success, a famous coach of
a championship pro football team replied, "the best offense is a good
defense." In other words, he believed in keeping the other team from
scoring touchdowns, and assembled the greatest array of defensive stars
the league ever saw. His theory was to keep the opposing team from his
goal line, hoping that sooner or later the breaks would come his way. In
Karate too self-defense plays a major role. The true Karate devotee doesn't
want trouble; he doesn't seek it in any shape, manner or form. By the same
token, courtesy and polite-ness should not be misconstrued as timidity and
fear. The Karate man prefers to prevent or block an antagonist's attack,
rather than provoke one. With this in mind, let us describe a number of
defensive moves against any aggressive action by anybody:

Defense Against a Right Hand Blow

You can parry a right cross, a

roundhouse blow or a hook to the chin
by slashing up and at a sharp angle
with the outer edge of your hand. In
this way you are able to deflect the
blow in mid-air. You then follow thru
with an offensive thrust of your own.
(See Fig. 65)

Defense Against a Straight Jab

 To defend yourself against a straight
jab, bend your body back and to the
side, away from the punch. At the
same time, parry with your open hand
to catch your opponent's fist. This will
take the steam out of his jab. (See
Fig. 66)

Defense Against an Upper Cut

Your opponent wants to end it quick.

He's aiming at your chin...a quick,
clean knockout. You have no time to
lose, less time to think. Split-second
action is called for. You have to
defend yourself against an almost
certain K.O. Move your head to the
right or away from the uppercut; this
will reduce the chances of a direct hit
on the vulnerable part of your chin. At
the same time slash downward with your hand or arm at your opponent's
arm or wrist. You have "caught" the blow—on your arm—not the chin. (See
Fig. 67)
Defense Against a High Straight Punch

A bully or wise guy who is much taller than

you has lots of confidence, most of it false.
He's living in a fool's paradise. He thinks
that because he towers over you, he can
defeat you with one high straight jab—and
then go home to watch the Late Show on
television. Let him try it. You are ready. As
he throws his punch, you bend your body
back and to the side and parry the blow with
your open hand. You have deflected the
blow cleanly. The bully's pride is hurt—and
that isn't all. You follow thru with an
offensive thrust of your own, and your
tormenter is licking his wounds! (See Fig. 68)

Defense Against a Left Hook

Your opponent delivers a left hook—and it

has your jaw written on it. But you can
intercept the blow if your natural reflexes
are sharpened and honed by Karate
practice and conditioning. Remember, your
first line of defense is your natural reflex. As
a serious student of Karate, you will be
amazed how almost automatically—as if
your opponent's punch hit a radar warning
screen—you bend your head to the side
and back and slash up and right at an
angle. You have cushioned the blow with
the side of your hand or forearm. Soon your
opponent will need a cushion—to rest his battered face after you
counterattack! (See Fig. 69)

Defense Against a Right Fist

It's Tuesday or Wednesday, but your

opponent is not waiting to deliver his
Sunday punch. He uncorks a corking right.
You ward off the blow by grasping his wrist
with your left hand or slashing up and left
and striking with the side of your hand or
forearm. You've taken his Sunday best. Now
you retaliate and knock him into the middle of next week! (See Fig. 70)

Defense Against a Low Right Hook

Your opponent tries to use psychology to jog

your physiognomy. He's a Rhodes scholar,
but strictly from the road! This cunning
codger wants to outfox you. So he feints
with a high left, to throw you off guard, and
comes in with a low right hook. This is a
tough one to defend because you must
outwit or anticipate the strategy. What should
you do? Defend against the high left or the low right hook? An unwritten law
in Karate is to play it smart and safe . . . you defend against both blows!
Yes, as he feints with the left, you raise your right hand to cover your face.
When the "surprise" right comes your way, you slash down on his wrist with
the outer edge of your left hand, but hard! Even if you can't stop both
blows, you will have slowed down the impact at least.
Defense Against a Kick

Your opponent has a kick—and it's

coming your way. He sends a mean
left foot to your groin. How do you
defend? Quickly you swing the fist of
your left hand diagonally downward to
deflect the kick. (See Fig. 72)

Defense Against Attack to the Face

A very successful defense against an attack to the face or

stomach is called the X-Defense. You can block upwards
against an attack, or downward to defend against a blow to
your groin. The X-Defense is so named because the arms
form an X (see illustration). This is comparatively easy to
master. Remember to leave your hands open; this gives
you an opportunity to grasp your opponent's wrist or
thumbs in a counterattack. Then you can use the X to mark
the spot where your foe will drop—kar-plunk! (See Fig.
73)
Peek-A-Boo Defense Against Two Fisted Attack

Occasionally a foe might try to overpower you with a

double fisted attack, or try to grab your coat lapels and
throw you to the ground. A good block-ing technique
against this aggression is called the Peek-A-Boo
defense. You put up both fists in front of your face,
knuckles pointed outward, elbows should be pointed
downward. You peek over the fists. In this way, your
adversary has a small, concentrated target to shoot at
—yet you are able to observe his every move. (See Fig.
74)

Hook Defense Against a Blow to the Ear

Your opponent likes to box things,

especially your ears. He throws a
sharp overhead left to the side of your
head. A quick and easy defense is
called the Hook Defense. You bend
your right elbow sharply and swing the
forearm back with your wrist almost
cupping your ear. You have
successfully thwarted the overhead
punch with your wrist. You then seize your foe's upper sleeve and yank
downward. Follow thru with a left smash to the face or solar plexus. (See
Fig. 75)
Sweep Defense Against a Back Handed Jab

Here is a relatively easy defense that

requires a minimum of energy. Your
enemy tries to strike you with a back
handed fist; you quickly sweep aside
the blow with your palm or wrist. He's
thrown off balance, and you're ready
to throw him for a loop. (See Fig. 76)

Sweep Down Defense Against Blow to Groin

Your opponent tries to strike you in the

stomach or groin. The correct defense
is the Sweep Down Block. Similar to
the Sweep Defense mentioned
previously except that the opponent's
hand is pressed or swept downward
and away. (See Fig. 77)
Scoop Defense Against a Leg Attack

You face your foe. He sends a leg

thrust toward your groin. You use the
Scoop Defense to stop it. Briefly, you
scoop the leg in mid-air and jerk it up,
away from the target. The enemy is
thrown off balance. (See Fig. 78)

Sleeve Defense Against a General Attack

In Karate you must take every fair

advantage at your disposal. The
Sleeve Defense is simple but an
effective blocking technique. Seize
your adversary's coat lapel, sleeve, tie,
shirt, etc. and divert the full force of his
thrust, thereby helping to throw him off
balance. (See Fig. 79)
Punch Defense Against a General Attack

In the Punch Defense you kill two

birds with one stone. You defend
against your opponent's blow and you
reciprocate with an attack yourself.
With one movement you ward off the
punch with the outside part of your
arm, and smack your foe on the jaw
bone. (See Fig. 80)

Heel of Palm Defense Against Sneak Attack

Here you use the heel of your palm to

block a sneak attack from a heel.
Usually the sudden attack is directed
to your face or solar plexus. Shift your
palm from the side, downward or
upward—but stop the blow! (See Fig.
81)6.
 Karate Blocking
and Counter Attack
In the previous chapter we described many Karate defensive moves to
repel an attack. Now we shall go a step further. We shall now describe not
only blocking techniques but retaliatory action. Remember always to aim
for the pressure points and nerve focal centers of your opponent's face and
body and legs. (At the end of this book you will find com-plete diagrams
showing 68 pressure targets and focal centers on the human body—from
the top of the head right down to the toes!) These are his "weaker spots."
Continue with various counter strokes until your opponent surrenders.

Low Right Counter Attack

Your opponent attacks with his left hand low. You

parry with your right hand and slash down and
counterattack with your arm or elbow tip to his
nose. (See Fig. 82)
1-2 Counter Attack

You face a crafty opponent. He attempts a

combination attack with a 1-2 of high left and low
right strokes. You counter with an upward slash
with your left hand and a low slash with the right
hand. Then you counterattack with a good swift
kick to your opponent's shin or a powerful slam on
his foot. (See Fig 83)

High Left Counter Attack

Your assailant sends a high blow to the left side of

your face. You parry with the outer edge of your
left hand and counter with a knuckle jab to his
adam's apple or stomach. (See Fig. 84)
Knee Kick Counter Attack

Your competitor sends a swift knee kick toward your

groin. You defend yourself with the palm of your left
hand. You protect your vital area and push the knee
across your body. Then you counter with a move
behind your opponent. Grab his ear or hair and yank
downward. Then give him a swift kick into the back of
his knee. (See Fig. 85)

Foot Kick Counter Attack

Your combatant tries to kick you with his foot. You

defend by raising your leg up and kicking forward,
thereby deflecting his kick. You counter attack with
combinations of knife hand slashes to the face and
knuckle jabs to the groin. (See Fig. 86)
Hand Crush Counter Attack

Your rival squeezes your hand like an ice crusher.

You dig into his hand with center knuckle and follow
thru by twisting his thumb back or slashing at his
body. (See Fig. 87)

Double Hand Counter Attack

Your opponent tries to overpower you by grabbing

both of your hands. You counter attack by kicking
into his legs with the side of your shoe and bring up
both your hands, forcing your opponent's thumbs
back. (See Fig. 88)
Poking Counter Attack
You've met the poker. He's the poker-faced wise
guy who likes to poke you in the chest while
driving home a point. You can cure him of his bad
habit by grabbing his hand in both of yours and
squeezing to your chest; then step back with one
foot and bend over to force your opponent's hand
back at the wrist. This is extremely painful to him.
(See Fig. 89-A, 89-B)
Pushing Counter Attack

Second cousin to the Poker is the Pusher. He

likes to push his way around, especially your
chest. How to handle him? Clamp both hands on
his hand and squeeze to your chest. Then step
back with one foot and lower your body. Then
bring up your knee quickly and smash it into your
opponent's face. This undoubtedly will cure Mr.
Pusher of his nasty habit. (See Fig. 90)

One Hand Counter Attack

Your opponent grabs one of your hands with both of his. You defend
yourself by kicking into his knee or thigh with the edge of your foot. This will
distract him. Make a fist with your free hand and wallop him on the chin.
(See Fig. 91, 92)
Back of Head Counter Attack

Your antagonist sneaks up behind you. Gets arm lock around your neck.
You defend with knuckle jabs and stabs to his ribs. At the same time kick
with your legs and side of knee. Loosen his grip and pull head away.
Counter attack by pulling his hair and striking other pressure points. (See
Fig. 93, 94)
Waist Squeeze Counter Attack

Your opponent grabs you around the waist. You

defend by smashing your head back into
opponent's mouth & nose. For good measure,
kick back with foot to your assailant's shin. Hand
slash at his side and also twist your body to force
your elbow under his jaw. Then apply other body
weapons. (See Fig. 95)

Arms Pinned Counter Attack

Your opponent comes up from behind and pins

your arms and body. Quickly you counter by
snapping your head back, smashing his nose and
mouth. Bring hands together and push elbows up
and dig them into his body. (See Fig. 96)
Front Hair Counter Attack

Your assailant grabs a lock of your hair and

starts pulling. You counter by squeezing his
wrist, thereby stopping the hair pulling. Then
you knuckle jab his ribs and kick his shins.
(See Fig. 97)

Rear Hair Counter Attack

Your opponent tip-toes behind you and grabs

your hair. To stop the hair pulling throw both
your hands above your head and grab his
hand. Follow thru with repeated smashes of
the foot to opponent's shin or down hard on his
instep. That will be the last time this ingrate will
get into your hair! (See Fig. 98)
One Hand vs. One Hand Counter Attack

Your foe grabs your right hand with his right

hand. Give him a knife slash across the throat
with your left hand. As his head snaps back pull
your hand away and follow thru with blows at
opponent's nerve centers and pressure points.
(See Fig. 99)

Head Lock Counter Attack

Your opponent rushes you and gets a head lock from the front. The first
thing to do is ease the pain, so you tug on his shirt sleeve and pull it down.
With your other free hand you smash into his stomach, kick with knee into
groin. As opponent's grip loosens, you free yourself and retaliate with a
knife hand attack to the throat. (See Fig. 100,101)
Coat Lapel Counter Attack

Your opponent yanks on your coat lapel and is about to deliver a blow with
his other hand. Step back away from the intended punch, slash hand down-
ward on opponent's forearm. This will force him to relinquish his lapel grip.
Then give him a two-finger thrust to the eyes or knuckle jab to the Adam's
apple. (See Fig. 102, 103)
Front Choke Counter Attack

Your opponent begins to choke you. He's up close and his arms are best.
You slash down on his nerve centers in the forearms. This will release the
choke. Now retaliate with combination of slashes and kicks to render him
helpless. (See Fig. 104, 105)
Extended Front Choke Counter Attack

Another variation of the front choke is when an opponent attempts to choke

you and still keep his distance. His arms are straight out. You grasp each of
his arms or his sleeve and pull in toward you to help relieve the pressure;
then smash his groin with an upward thrust of the knee. Continue smashing
away at vital nerve centers. (See Fig. 106, 107)

Solar Plexus Counter Attack

Your assailant attempts to punch you in the

stomach. You step in and thwart the blow with a
downward block; then counter attack with a knee
into his solar plexus. (See Fig. 108)
 Karate Defenses Against Street Attacks

The crime rate has risen rapidly in the past few years—and many penal
experts predict it will continue to soar! In New York City alone last year
more than 108,000 felonies and 153,000 misdemeanors were committed.
Multiply those gigantic figures by the crimes in thousands of other towns
and cities of America and you have a shocking overall picture. And what is
even more frightening is that thousands of other attacks are never entered
on the police blotter. These attacks occur every minute of the day by street
gangs on unsuspecting citizens. Hoodlums, punks, and juvenile
delinquents are on the loose, terrorizing innocent men, women and
children. These street ruffians annoy, molest and browbeat. They respect
only the Iron Fist. Naturally, the average American does not walk around
with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn't spend his spare hours in a gym with
the boxing gloves on. And yet in today's "dog eat dog" society, he must
learn how to defend himself against the roaming roughnecks. And Karate is
the answer! Yes, Karate, the super judo of the 20th Century! Best of all, you
don't have to lift weights to practice Karate. No bar bells, no stiff and
rigorous exercises at the gym are needed. Size and weight are not the
primary factors in overcoming your attacker. In Karate you need fear no
man! Even a 200 lb. brute can be overpowered ... If YOU know how to use
his own weight and size against him! Let us now demonstrate the proper
defense against street attacks: 1. You are walking down a dark street. A
man creeps up behind you. He grabs your right hand, pulls and twists it
from behind in an attempt to get a strangle-hold on you. HOW TO
DEFEND: Swing the foot opposite the hand being held and attack his face
with smashing blows. (See Fig. 109, 110, 111)
2. You're standing still on a street corner. A wise guy walks close behind
you. Perhaps you had a few disagreeing words with him last week. Now he
wants to get "even" with you. He suddenly pulls your right hand back and
with the same motion pushes your shoulder forward. HOW TO DEFEND:
Don't hesitate a moment. Give him the mule kick from the rear—and right to
his solar plexus. He will loosen his grip and then you really go to work on
him. (See Fig. 112, 113)
3. Two men sneak up behind you. Each grabs a hand, pulls it back and
pushes your shoulders for-ward. HOW TO DEFEND: Attack one opponent
with a rear mule kick. Attack second opponent with elbow blow to ribs. Free
your self and run for safety. (See Fig. 114, 115 116)

A man goes berserk and tries to attack you with a knife. He attempts to
strike you from an overhead position. HOW TO DEFEND: As he
plunges down, you leap off at a 45° angle, land on your left foot and kick
with your right foot at the maniac's knee. This will throw him off stride.
Follow thru with any of your Karate weapons. (See Fig. 117, 118)
5. A maniac tries to knife you in the stomach. HOW TO DEFEND: Fall
forward to the floor diagonally and throw a roundhouse kick to the nut's
groin with your right foot. This will make him double up with pain. With the
same leg you thrust at the man's knee joint, throw him to the ground and
disarm him. (See Fig. 119, 120)

6. A punk, reeking of liquor, tries to whack you with a back hand blow from
across his body. HOW TO DEFEND: Step in with your right foot and slash
at his forearm with your right hand. Disarm him and strike at any nerve
center. (See Fig. 121, 122)
7. A seedy looking, beady-eyed tramp tries to hold you up with a knife. He
surprises you and holds the weapon against your stomach. HOW TO
DEFEND: Make a motion with your right hand to distract his attention; then
slash down with the left. If possible grab the tramp's wrist. Turn your body
away from the knife and smash him in the Adam's apple. (See Fig. 123,
124)

8. A wild teenager tries to club you on the top of the head. HOW TO
DEFEND: Move quickly with your left hand and push against the elbow
joint of the attacking arm; then move in fast and counter attack with the
elbow with smashes to the face and kicks to the groin. (See Fig. 125, 126)
9. An opponent tries to club you with a round-house swing. HOW TO
DEFEND: Block the blow with a knife hand defense against his forearm
and with your righthand deliver a stinging, smashing knife blow to your
opponent's neck. (See Fig. 127, 128)

10. A man attempts to attack you with a back-handed swing of the club.
HOW TO DEFEND: Lean to the side to dodge the attack and then counter
with a sweeping roundhouse kick to the solar plexus or groin. (See Fig.
129, 130)
11. Man attempts a backhanded smash to your stomach with a club, stick
or baseball bat. HOW TO DEFEND: Fall forward diagonally and deliver a
roundhouse kick to the stomach. (See Fig. 131, 132)

12. Man attempts to strike you to the head

with a long pole or broom stick. HOW TO
DEFEND: Step to the side quickly to dodge
the blow. Your opponent will bring his arm
back to try and hit you again. This time
deliver a well aimed kick with your foot to
his arm pits—this will sap his strength. At
the same time, throw a punch to his face.
(See Fig. 133)
13. Man attempts to smash you on the head with a long rod. HOW TO
DEFEND: Step inside and thwart the blow with your left hand; this will
throw the man off balance temporarily. Follow thru with a smashing punch
to the face. (See Fig. 134, 135)

14. Man attempts to smash your legs with a long pole. HOW TO DEFEND:
Jump up to dodge the blow. At the same time, send a swift kick to your
foe's face; then punch away at him. (See Fig. 136, 137)
15. A man has a long pole and tries to jab at your face and chest with it.
HOW TO DEFEND: Quickly dodge to the inside, grasp pole with both
hands, then quickly deliver a kick to opponent's solar plexus. (See Fig.
138, 139)

An assailant presses a pistol into your back. HOW TO DEFEND: Try to

distract his attention with a slight, innocent movement of your hand; hen
quick-as-a-flash, step back & slash downward against his gun hand.
Smash away until drops gun. (See Fig. 140, 141)
17. An opponent holds a pistol against the back of your head. HOW TO
DEFEND: Distract his attention with nonchalant movement of the hand,
then quickly step back and slash across your rear, striking his wrist or
forearm. Turn body away from the gun and smash opponent with Karate
blows until he crumbles. (See Fig. 142, 143)

18. Opponent presses gun against your stomach. HOW TO DEFEND:

Slash downward on opponent's gun hand. Follow thru by grasping arm and
twisting it, forcing opponent to drop pistol. Then deliver repeated Karate
blows. (See Fig. 144,145)
19. Opponent holds a gun at the side of his hips about a foot away from
you. HOW TO DEFEND: Distract his attention with your hand. As he looks
up, slash left hand down and across, grab gun; deliver punch to Adam's
apple with right hand. (See Fig. 146, 147)

A WORD OF CAUTION: Unless you have mastered every phase of Karate,

do not attempt to defend yourself against a pistol or knife threat. The
intention here is to show you the proper Karate defense, but not to
encourage an amateur to take a foolish risk in a moment of extreme
danger.
 Karate Self-Defense
Especially for Women
In Colony, Oklahoma an attractive 21-year-old wife of a basketball coach
was brutally slain with a baseball bat... In a popular resort town near San
Francisco, a young woman was found murdered in a little cottage off the
shore.... In a plush Kentucky country club, two female attendants surprised
a burglar and were bludgeoned to death. In Akron, Ohio a slim, happy,
carefree waitress was strangled to death while walking home from work....
In Queens, N. Y. a doctor's receptionist was bound, robbed and gagged by
a teen-age thug.... In Kansas City, Missouri a pretty 17-year-old high school
coed was accosted by a fresh youth and, when she resisted his advances,
was terribly beaten.

How often have you read newspaper stories as the above? These are true
stories. Brutal, savage attacks on women have reached an all-time high—
and there seems to be no end in sight. As you read these words,
somewhere in your state, perhaps in your own town—yes, even within a
mile radius of where you are now sitting—a woman is being as-
saulted! That's the ugly truth, dear reader. But what match can a slim 115-
lb. girl be against a 6-ft, 200 lb. brute?

You might say that there is no defense for the poor, frightened woman?
You are wrong! Karate knows no gender. Male and female can learn the
rudiments and defensive principles of Karate equally well. Yes, if a female
knows Karate, she can defend herself against any roughneck. Every Ameri-
can female, including your wife, mother or sister, should equip herself with
Karate knowledge. It may save them trouble some day ... or night. It is
worth more than any life insurance! And the premiums cost practically
nothing—you spend just a few minutes of your time each day for a
specified period. But once the knowledge has been grasped, once the
strokes have been learned, the female Karate specialist can put them to
good practice for a lifetime!

The following illustrations indicate some of the more common attacks that
women can defend against with Karate counter strokes:

1. An assailant tries to paw and touch your body.

HOW TO DEFEND: Don't draw away. Step closer to
him, but stamp on his foot hard. At the same time
shove his chin back forcefully with the palm of hand
counter attack. (See Fig. 148)

2. You're sitting in a movie theatre. The man next to you

begins to feel your leg. HOW TO DEFEND: Jab your
elbow sharply into his side.

Another defense. Gently hold and lift his hand. He will

think you are responding to his advances. Then using
both your hands, yank his thumb back as far as
possible. (See Fig. 149,150)
3. An attacker grabs your wrist. HOW TO DE-FEND: Raise the captured
arm as high as you can and follow thru with a knee kick to his groin. (See
Fig. 151, 152)

4. You're standing on a street corner waiting for a bus. It's a dark, foggy
night. A man sneaks up behind you and puts his arms around your chest.
HOW TO DEFEND: Grab his left wrist with your left hand and jab your right
elbow into his ribs. If possible also try to stamp on his feet with your heel.
(See Fig. 153,154)
5. Man tries to embrace you, pulls you close to his body.
HOW TO DEFEND: Give him two-finger attack to his eyes.
With your left hand, apply the knife slash to his neck. Step
on his feet. (See Fig. 155)

6. Man tries to kiss you in back of the neck. HOW TO

DEFEND: Snap head back fast and apply elbow thrust to
the rear toward his ribs. (See Fig. 156)

7. Man tries to put hand around your waist. HOW TO

DEFEND: Deliver a sharp side blow with your elbow.
Follow thru with a knife slash to the neck. (Sec Fig. 157)
8. Man tries to pull you close to him. He yanks
your arm toward his body. HOW TO DEFEND:
Move in but deliver swift kick to his groin or
genitals. (See Fig. 158)
 Karate Training Equipment

If you want to master Karate, you must develop the latent strength in your
fingers, knuckles, hands, hand edges, feet, elbow, toes, etc. These parts of
your body are your weapons. Unlike the weapons of the soldier or
policeman, the Karate weapons cannot be purchased at a gunsmith. They
are not ready-made. You yourself must forge them on the anvil of practice,
training and self-discipline. To attain the highest degree of proficiency in the
art of Karate, you must practice diligently day by day. Remember the words
of a famous inventor. When asked the secret of his success, he replied,
"1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". So too with Karate. Practice
practice, PRACTICE! And practice will make perfect!

To help you speed your way to perfection faster and easier, it is suggested
that you use the following pieces of equipment.

Karate Sand and Gravel Box

You can construct a Karate Sand and

Gravel Box or use any old wooden
box in the cellar. At the beginning, you
should fill the box with rice. To help
strengthen your fingertips, thrust your
hand into the box about 20 times daily.
Use both hands. After a while, remove
the rice and fill it with dirt. Then as
your hand becomes callused, remove
the dirt and fill it with gravel. After
constant training the striking points will
become less and less sensitive. (See
Fig. 159)
Karate Cement Blocks

If there is any construction job in the

works in your neighborhood, walk over
to the superintendent and ask him
politely for one or two chipped cement
blocks. Explain that you'd like to
practice Karate with the help of the
blocks, and that you'd gladly report
any hoodlums loitering around his job
as a reciprocity for his kindness.

Set up the cement blocks in your

backyard or basement. At first they
should be covered with a thick
blanket. Pound away with the side of your hand, with your elbow and with
your fist. Do this about 15 times a day. After a short period, remove a layer
of the blanket; then remove the entire blanket (See Fig. 160)
Karate Striking Pole

You can build your own Karate Striking Pole. It should

stand about 6 feet high with Karate straw pads,
padded towels, or old pillows placed at three heights
—shin height, stomach height, face height. The
striking pole is an ideal -way to get the "feel" of Karate
techniques. Also it will help you toughen and harden
the skin of your knuckles, elbows and feet. You can
practice all the striking methods previous described.
(See Fig. 161-A and 161-B)
Karate Moving Ball Target

The purpose of this target is to

sharpen the ac-curacy of your kicking.
You attach a small ball at the end of a
rope & hang it from the ceiling.
Practice various Karate kicks and
hand blows on the small ball. Try to
raise or lower the ball. The theory
behind this is simple. If you can strike
a small mov-ing object, then you will
find it easier to strike a larger object.
(See Fig. 162,163)
Karate Heavy Bag

You probably have an old laundry bag at home.

Fill it with old rags, straw, excelsior and pack it
tight. Suspend it from a rope. You now have a
good punching bag to practice various Karate
movements. (See Fig. 164)

Karate Fortifier

One of the best ways to strengthen the muscles

of your hands, wrists and forearms is by using
your Karate Fortifier daily. You will develop a
strong, vise-like grip in a matter of weeks—if you
practice on the Fortifier 10 minutes a day. The
Fortifier may be purchased at any sporting goods
store for about $1.98. (See Fig. 164-A)
Karate Practice Dummy

This is a life-size lithographed dummy with the major

pressure targets and focal nerve centers printed right
on it. Mount it on the wall or back of a door. Practice
striking the pressure points on your 6-ft. "opponent".
The life-size manikin may be pur-chased for $1.00 to
$1.49 at many medical supply houses. If none is
available, send $1 plus 25¢ to cover mailing costs to
Kimberly-Jones Corporation, 80 Montgomery Street,
New York, N. Y. (See Fig. 164-B)

Karate Practice Clothes

Don't throw away those old clothes! You can put them to
good use when practicing Karate. Use them as your
own "official" Karate Practice Uniform. Old, lightweight
shirt and loose trousers are ideal. A sash belt completes the uniform. It is
suggested you wear a jock-strap for added protection when practicing with
a friend. (See Fig. 182, 183, 184)
 Calisthenics

An integral part of Karate training is Calisthenics.

It is essential that the student conduct a 15-
minute warm-up or limbering up exercises to
strengthen and loosen his muscles. You should
loosen the body, indulge in neck twisting, arm
stretching, back stretching, leg swinging, leg
stretching, leg spreading, trunk twisting, etc. A few
illustrations are shown below. (See Fig. 165, 166,
167, 168, 169)
This is Leg-Lifting. Place hands against a wall,
lean your body forward and quickly lift the knee
as high as you can. After steady practice you will
be able to lift it right to your upper chest! (See
Fig. 170, 171)
Other Forms of Calisthenics

As many of you know, rope skipping is not just

for little girls. Professional boxers in every
weight divi-sion—from the lightweight division
right up to the heavyweight division—practice
rope skipping be-fore each training session. Try
one jump and when you have gained
confidence and perfection, attempt two jumps
per revolution. (See Fig. 172)

Punching the bag is an excellent way to

sharpen your reflexes, get more steam into your
overhead punches. Keep slugging away
according to the cor-rect principles of Karate.
Practice the one-knuckle, middle knuckle, knife
hand, back of hand, clenched fist strokes.
Dance around the bag. Strike from awkward
positions. (See Fig. 173)
To develop and strengthen the muscles which are
so important in executing Karate techniques and
motions, it is wise to practice these advanced
calisthenics. Push-ups will help strengthen the
legs and arms. You should be able to do 15 or 25
push-ups a day. Push-Ups are one of the basic
muscle strengthening exercises practiced by the
United States Marines, by tough Commando
troops, by F.B.I, men and police trainees
everywhere. Push-Ups, too, should be practiced
by the Karate Man in Training every day! It's the
ideal exercise for the chest, arms, stomach, back,
ankles, wrists! (See Fig. 185, 186, 187, 188, 189)
Another good limbering-up exercise is called Rabbit-
Hopping. And, as the name implies, you hop around
the room like a rabbit. It sounds easy but once you try
it, you'll wonder how rabbits do it so gracefully! But
don't despair! Keep trying it and you'll master it as
well as Bugs Bunny. This exercise strengthens
muscles used in jumping and kicking. Hop a few feet
each day; then increase the distance until you can
rabbit-hop about 75 feet! (See Fig. 190, 191, 192,
193)
 Another good limbering-up exercise consists of
throwing your right straight out—as if you were
punching a bag. This helps give you proper leverage.
Try it a few times when warming up. (See Fig. 194)

Try marching around the room like a wooden soldier. This helps improve
your knee thrusts. (See Fig. 195)

If you've ever visited New York City, you've undoubtedly seen and admired
the precision dancing and leg kicking of the world-famous Rockettes on the
stage of the Radio City Music Hall. You should try kicking your leg up too.
This is an excellent exercise for strengthening leg muscles. (See Fig. 196)
 Breathing Exercises
If you're an average human being, you may be alive but you are not
breathing . . . correctly, that is. Americans take breathing for granted, but
did you know it is really an important exercise. Proper breathing habits
stimulate heart action, increase the circulation, drain the carbon dioxide
from the blood, and make for better, more active muscular coordination. But
alas, so many of us indulge in shallow breathing, mouth breathing and
some of us —in a moment of intense concentration—even for-get to
breathe!

In Karate you need the maximum physical and psychological strength at a

critical moment. Often you are surprised by an opponent; he has you at a
slight disadvantage. You become excited, flushed; you miss a heartbeat;
gasp for breath! That is when your Karate Breathing Exercises will come to
your rescue. These exercises, when properly per-formed, will train your
body to operate at peak ef-ficiency even in a moment of extreme danger!
Even if you are caught unaware, caught short of breath, you will be able to
defend yourself successfully.

Proper Posture

The most important prerequisite to proper breathing has nothing to do with

the respiratory system at all. It's proper posture! If your shoulders slump
for-ward . . . your neck droops . . . your stomach bulges ... if your spine
curves as you walk and your back looks like the letter "S", then brother,
ATTEN-TION! You can learn all the Karate techniques and principles, but
without proper posture you can never perform correct breathing exercises.
Resolve now to stand erect, back straight, head up, shoulders back. Now
we shall describe the most popular breathing positions.
Standing Positions

Stand straight, arms at your side, abdomen relaxed, head up. Exhale
completely. Then wait a second. Now inhale. Hold the breath a second,
then exhale. This is the basic breathing exercise. It teaches you control of
the breathing muscles and the proper filling of your lungs.
Another exercise in the standing position is ac-complished in the following
manner: Clasp your hands behind your neck. As you exhale you raise your
hands high up the back as far as possible and extend downward,
straightening the arms as you inhale. Do this a number of times.

Still a third exercise is done the following way: First, raise your arms high
above your head. Bend forward and touch your toes as you exhale. Return
to the original position as you inhale. This breathing exercises really
empties the lungs of impurities.

A fourth method of breathing exercise while standing is this: Stand erect.

Place your arms straight ahead of you, and on the level with your
shoulders. As you inhale you bring the hands back to the shoulders. Bend
your elbows but be sure they are on the level with your shoulders. Force
your elbows well back. This method helps expand your upper front chest.

A fifth method is jokingly called, "rocking the boat" exercise. After you
exhale, you bend the body to the right side and raise the left arm straight
up as you inhale; then lower the arm and return to the original rigid position
as you exhale. Then bend your body to the left, raise the right arm as you
breathe in, and return to the original erect position as you exhale. This
method helps raise the lower ribs.
Sitting Positions

The proper basic sitting position is as follows: Sit erect, keep your head up,
hands resting on your hips, abdomen relaxed.

The first exercise: Close the left nostril by press-ing your forefinger on it.
Then breathe in and breathe out thru your right nostril. Reverse the
procedure. Place your finger on the right nostril with one hand; inhale and
exhale thru the left nostril. Do this about 10 times. Notice how your
nostrils feel clear afterwards.

A second breathing exercise that can be performed while sitting is called

the "slow motion" exercise. Here you breathe as you normally would, but
when you inhale and exhale you do it at a very s-l-o-w pace. The "slow
motion" method teaches you proper breath control.

Remember the story of the 3 Little Pigs? Well, keep that children's tale in
mind when performing this exercise. First exhale. Then breathe in slowly
and long. Now with the mouth wide open exhale in one great puff! Push the
air out like the big bad wolf blowing the straw house down!
Supine Position

The basic position: Lie flat on your back, stretch out your legs as far as you
can. Keep the arms at your side. Just lie relaxed.

The first method: Place your right or left hand on your stomach, palm flat.
Inhale as much as you can until the hand sinks well down. Then as you
exhale push the hand up as much as you can al-most as if you are pushing
the air out. This exercise teaches you control of the diaphragm.

Another exercise in the supine position Raise the head and shoulders and
stretch forward with the arms, almost as if you are about to get up. But
return to the supine position as you inhale and raise the arms straight up.
Do this several times.

Third breathing exercise while lying on your back: Breathe in slowly but
don't let the chest ex-pand; try to draw it in while you are inhaling. This
helps expand the ribs.

The Prolonged Yoga Breath

Have you ever seen an experienced swimmer dive into a pool? You wait for
him to come up but he doesn't. Then you hear a voice. It's your friend
calling to you from the other end of the pool. He swam the entire length
underwater. That re-quires good breath retention, good strong lungs, good
breath control.
Here is how to develop the prolonged Yoga breath. Stand up erect, inhale
slowly. Then hold the breath for as long as you can without causing strain
or undue discomfort. Then exhale, but in rapid, forceful style thru the
mouth. In fact, the air should gush out. The more air you draw into the
lungs the more oxygen you receive and the longer you can hold your
breath. When you exhale, you are clearing your lungs quickly, thus
permitting an immediate inhalation. Repeat this exercise every day, but
hold your breath longer each time. This exercise is excellent for underwater
swimming, but also useful in any encounter with an opponent in Karate
maneuvers.
 Diet

"You are what you eat" a famous doctor once said. And he was so right.
Eat well. Eat an abundance of high protein foods. Keep away from too
much sugar, starches, fats. Take plenty of liquids. Avoid intemperate drinks,
creamy rich pastries, fried foods, etc. Remember that your body needs the
proper amount and variety of vitamins. Vitamin deficiency often causes
rundown conditions, makes you susceptible to colds and illness. A
sufficiency of vitamin intake is one of natures great safeguards against the
premature aging process. Science has shown that vitamin deficiency robs
you of vigor and energy. Let us quickly review some of the vitamins that are
so important to the human body and list some foods containing these
health-building vita-mins.

Vitamin A

An early symptom of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Many motorists

who find it difficult to drive at night may be suffering from vitamin A
deficiency Some times brittle, scaly skin indicates deficiency of vitamin A.
You can get enough vitamin A in foods such as spinach, carrots, broccoli,
oysters, peaches, chard, apples, cherries, lemons, oranges, prunes, peas,
squash, asparagus, string beans, but-ter, eggs and cheese.

Vitamin B

A deficiency of vitamin B may lead to nervous conditions, poor appetite and

malnutrition in chil-dren. You can get enough vitamin B in such foods as
follows:

Vitamin B1, B2 and Niacin—beef liver and kidneys, fowl, brains, green
leafy vegetables, broccoli, corn, peppers, spinach, onions.
Vitamin B1 alone—ham, pork, beef hearts, brown rice, nuts.

Niacin alone (Niacin was originally called vitamin G and is another vitamin
in the B complex)—pea-nuts, pig liver, salmon, kidneys.

Vitamin C

Have you ever seen a person with bleeding gums or a person who feels
depressed and tired all the time? He may lack enough vitamin C.
Symptoms of vita-min-C deficiency appear as swollen gums, sallow
complexion, lack of pep. Foods containing vitamin-C—citrus fruits, Brussels
sprouts, tomatoes, liver, bananas, etc.

Vitamin D

Everybody knows how important vitamin D is to proper bone function. A

lack of vitamin D may cause soft and weak bones that might easily break or
fracture in tough sports competition, or in defending yourself against an
assailant. You can get plenty of vitamin D from sunshine, milk, fish, egg
yolks, fish liver oils, butter, cream.

Fuel for the Human Machine

Just as an automobile needs gasoline to run, the human machine needs

energy to operate. The foods fed into the body provide the energy to run
the human machine. In addition to furnishing the fuel or human energy,
food has another major purpose. It is used for the growth and repair of
tissues. Chemical analysis of foods contain carbohydrates, fats, proteins,
minerals and water. Carbohydrates consist of starches and sugars. They
are the chief source of human energy. Sugars are digested fast and provide
quick pep and energy. Ex-GI's of the second World War will remember that
chocolate bars were always included in their K and C rations —for quick
pick-up energy!
Starches are found in bread, potatoes, cakes, macaroni. They certainly
satisfy hunger pangs fast. But these foods don't contain enough vitamins,
and a diet exclusively of starchy foods leads to over-weight and should be
shunned by people not en-gaged in heavy work. The proteins are used
primarily for the repair and growth of tissues. Eat foods with high protein
content—milk, fish, eggs, lean meats.

Calories

Any overweight person knows the full meaning of calories. You have often
heard the expression, "Sorry it’s not for me—I'm counting my calories".
It seems that at one time or another all of us count calories. And why not?
The caloric content of the foods determine our weight. If a man who holds a
sedentary job and. perhaps needs only 2500 calories each day eats "like a
horse" and takes in 6000 calories, he is storing 3500 calories in his body —
and that means fat. Naturally, when you work, play, walk, even sit and
sleep, you are using up energy, and the unit for measuring the amount of
energy you release is the calorie. Depending on the amount of physical
work a man does, he needs from 2,000 to 4,500 calories a day. Using this
as a guide, let us show you the approximate number of calories in average
servings of everyday foods. With this list before you, you can "count
calories" too if you are watching your weight. Remember, if you get too fat,
you cannot perform the Karate techni-ques, parries and blows in an
efficient manner.

Breads

Slice of white bread.... 75 calories

Slice of whole wheat bread 70 calories
Cup of corn flakes 115 calories
Bowl of oatmeal 120 calories
Graham cracker 40 calories
Saltine cracker 17 Calories
Dairy Products

1 square of butter .......................... 77 calories

1 square of margarine... 100 calories
1 egg 75 calories
1 8 oz. glass of milk....................... 1 65 calories

Vegetables

5 pieces of asparagus 10 calories

½ cup of cooked cabbage 30 calories
1 cup of raw cabbage . 20 calories
1 carrot raw 25 calories
1 ear of corn about 6 inches 125 calories
1 boiled or baked potato, med 80 calories
1 sweet potato, large .. 245 calories
1 fresh tomato, medium 25 calories
1 medium onion 10 calories
1 cup cooked string beans 80 calories
1 cup cooked spinach ................... 50 calories

Meats and Fish

1 medium pork chop... 250 calories

1 large beef sirloin steak 350 calories
1 broiled lamb chop.... 175 calories
1 can red salmon about a cup 140 calories
5 raw oysters 50 calories
½ breast of chicken.......................... 200 calories

Nuts
1 tablespoon peanut butter 90 calories
1 chocolate almond ...... 75 calories
1 roasted peanuts (15 nuts) 75 calories
6 pecans 100 calories

Desserts

1 chocolate layer cake, 1 iced piece 350 calories

1 piece of apple pie ......................... 400 calories
1 piece of lemon meringue 340 calories
1 oatmeal cookie 125 calories
1 doughnut 180 calories
1 cup cake, iced 275 calories
1 piece of sponge cake 150 calories
 Karate and Good Health

When you have reached this point in our book you have already learned a
great deal about self-defense thru Karate. You may never need to use any
of the strokes and maneuvers to defend yourself against surprise attack.
After all, a mastery of Karate tactics is only insurance in such emergencies
and your study and practice of it is certainly worth your while. But there is a
dividend—a bonus value that goes beyond its purely defensive role. By
practicing Karate you also contribute to good health.

Karate involves many body movements, which while not strenuous or

fatiguing, nevertheless tend to build muscular tone and also limber up the
body in general. Like other forms of exercise, Karate also stimulates the
circulation, causing oxygen-rich blood to reach all body organs. It is a well
known fact that this exercise makes for general well-being.

Science now knows that the physically active person is less prone to
infection. He actually catches less colds and builds up body resistance to
many disease. He enjoy more vigor, more vitality. He looks younger and
feels younger. He is more alert and has that gleam of youth in his eyes and
complexion. It goes without saying that a person is more attractive to the
opposite sex and is usually more successful in business when he looks and
acts young.

When you are healthy you are actually younger. Many men of 30 are
actually older, naturally speak-ing, that some active men of 50 or more. A
person leading an inactive, sedentary life has far less life expectancy,
whereas an active, physically powerful man prolongs his life expectancy, all
other things being equal. But most important of all, he enjoys better health,
greater agility and extends that feeling of youthful energy right into the
twilight years of his life.
Certainly this is a bonus feature well worth while in your practice of Karate.
But it can only be achieved if you practice the art. Karate can also be an
excellent sport that will bring you much pleasure in the years to come.
Naturally the Code of Courtesy applies here with greater force than in
meting out blows to an enemy. Care must always be exercised not to
cripple an antagonist. Performing Karate among friends can be a very
rewarding experience. Some of the maneuvers bring such lightning results
as to cause amazement even among the most blase person. It certainly
wins admiration and a Karate man's reputation has a way of spread-ing.
Women, especially, admire and respect a Karate expert, whether he's tall
and muscular or small and puny. They look upon him as they would a war
hero. But there is a satisfaction even greater —it is that inner feeling of
security and strength that you'll have for the rest of your life.

Gone are the feelings of inadequacy. No longer need you face humiliation.
Your manhood is con-firmed to yourself. You actually win new confidence in
yourself and this can well be translated to other endeavors, whether social
or business.

Naturally, to become proficient in Karate you must devote yourself to it.

Merely reading this book will not make you an expert. You must practice,
practice, practice! Refer to this volume time and again. After a while you will
find that you actually have mastered most of the strokes and tactics. As you
can see by now, Karate is not difficult at all. You can actually memorize the
various maneuvers in weeks, and you can really make use of them in little
or no time. We have deliberately bound this Karate course in compact
handbook size to make it easier for you to take with you everywhere. A big,
clumsy book might collect dust on the bookshelf because it is impractical to
study from. But in this compact portable size, you can take your book with
you everywhere—just slip it into your pocket.

There's a vast difference in being a rank amateur and an expert. What you
want to be is up to you. Let us say, however, that the time you devote to
this centuries-old art will pay you back ten fold in added protection, extra-
energy, fuller enjoyment of life.

If you approach Karate as though it were a mere chore, your progress will
be slowed. But if you take as a sport—as an enjoyable pastime—it will turn
out to be not work but fun. And your progress will be greater. Yes, you must
love the art, stay with it, make it a fun-hobby. Then will you be amazed how
advanced you can become—even in 3 or 4 short months!
PRESSURE TARGETS & VITAL NERVE CENTERS

THE HEAD AND NECK

FRONT VIEW

(See Fig. 174)

PRESSURE TARGETS & VITAL NERVE CENTERS

THE HEAD AND NECK

BACK VIEW

(See Fig. 175)

(Fig. 176)
(Fig. 177)
(Fig. 178)
(See Fig. 179)
 The Ten Commandments
of Good Health and Long Life
1. Thou shalt prefer protein foods that are the staff of life, the
rebuilders of cells and tissue and regenerators of the organic
processes.

2. Thou shalt avoid starches and fats for they shorten life and rob
thee of vigor and vitality.

3. Thou shalt curtail the demons of intemperate drink and smoke.

4. Thou shalt be active in the sport of thy choice, resolving to

devote time to physical activity every day of the week, including
the Sabbath day.

5. Thou shalt exercise and strengthen thy lungs that purify thy
blood with nature's elixir—oxygen.

6. Thou shalt conquer worry, arch enemy of body and mind.

7. Thou shalt partake of vitamins in foods or in pill form for they

are the spark of life.

8. Thou shalt visit thy physician and dentist twice a year and abide
by their counsel.

9. Thou shalt give thy body rest thru sleep and relaxation so that
nature may repair the day's strain and stress.

10. Thou shalt do everything in moderation, eat, drink, work and

love.