Playwright Edward Albee, in one of his first works, The Zoo Story, says since his character, Jerry, Sometimes it takes you a oversize accommodation out of your way, to come back a short distance, correctly.

No kidding!

Hundreds of times since I read, acted in, and directed that play, Ive come back to ponder the wisdom in these words.

Recently, Ive been reflecting on my eight-year journey to achieving the rank, Shodan, Black Belt, in Kenpo Karate.

How regularly gain you sign a kata turmoil and think, 'What on Earth could this be about?" Times change and so does the nature of karate. We are better off working with kata movements in a modern context than trying to guess the original intention of the technique. So why not do a little research and experimentation of our own?

The term bunkai means to break down and study.

When it comes to your particular protection, the method you group to study, the wise you train, and the person who teaches you, all determine how well, and even IF, you will be successful in a real-world self-defense encounter. When seeking out a defensive tactics program, you must remember that you're not shopping for a piece of furniture where, if it doesn't work out for you, you can take it back.

A self-defense situation is also very different from the safety of a karate tournament.

Real-world self-defense is a markedly unfaltering matter. And clock you can have a combination of fun during practice sessions, you must remember that you are not training for a sport or tournament match, where the only thing on the line is a shiny trophy or a new martial art belt.

The following set of principles should be considered and taken to heart. They should be burned into your memory and made a part of your practice and study. And, they should be used as a guide to make sure that the program you're studying and the person you've chosen to teach you how to not die in a real-world situation, is right for the job.

Consider each of these principles very carefully. Because missing even one of them could spell disaster.

1. In a self-defense situation, you WILL get hurt

2. You are your own first-line of self-defense

3. The Police can't protect you - they won't even show up until the attack is over

4. You WILL be the underdog - attackers don't pick targets they think will win

5. It will happen when you LEAST expect it

6. You must stay in the moment - FOCUS!

7. Contrary to what mom and dad taught you,