Karate doesn't turn you into superwoman. Don't walk along isolated routes alone

Violent crime at an all-time high in the UK

Government statistics released in July 2004, reveal that although general crime levels in the UK have continued to fall steadily over the last decade, recorded violent crimes have risen by about 2% in the year to April 2004. They have, for the first time ever, topped 1 million per year in the UK. That equates to about one reported incident for every 52 people in the population.

Now, I'll be the first person to tell you how much I hate scare-stories and hype designed to frighten potential customers into buying something; be it gas-masks, bomb-shelters, flood insurance or karate. However, when you consider that the recorded crimes^% form only a tiny fraction of the total number of violent crimes, it makes it quite likely that every single person in the UK will eventually encounter, or become a victim of a violent crime in their lifetime.*.

	Teach your kids about the dangers of stranger abduction

By joining GKR and learning karate, you've taken an excellent practical step towards ensuring that you do not become a powerless victim in a violent incident. But you need to do more - it's no good joining a karate club, then only training once a month. Nor is there any point in turning up two or three times a week, then training half-heartedly, or not paying attention. You need to learn the skills that can protect you in a self-defence situation, and you need to practice them. Go home and practice with your kids, teach your granny, talk to your wife - share your knowledge. The more often you repeat what you know, the more it becomes a part of you.

Try to avoid violence, but have a game-plan and be ready if violence finds you Tournaments are a great way to build confidence and practical combat experience.

But there's more to it than that: you need to have a game-plan for life. You need to be aware of the potential trouble-spots and avoid them, and you need to think for your kids too.

In the news at the moment is a 16-year old boy who says he accidentally killed a 14-year old school adversary who was rude about his mother! The boy took a knife into school to scare the other kid , but the younger boy behaved unpredictably. Instead of backing off like he was supposed to, he stepped forward, inadvertently impaling himself through the heart.

If the killer's's parents had been more aware, they might have stopped him leaving the house with a knife, or told him that words weren't worth killing for...

If the victim had been better trained, he might not have tackled the knife in that way...

If the older boy knew karate, perhaps he wouldn't have had something to prove...

So many possibilities, but now a young life has ended prematurely.

So how are YOU going to deal with potential violence in your life? Are you going to keep drinking at a bar where people get glassed regularly? Are you going to continue to walk home along an isolate route late at night? Will you allow your children to play unsupervised far from sight, or chat innocently to strangers?

And if violence does come looking for you, what then? Will you cower, or retreat, or impale yourself over a macho point of honour, or will you talk your way out of trouble, whilst preparing your body for action?

Karate won't make you faster than a speeding bullet, but it will give you options. All you have to do is train regularly - ideally two or three times a week - work hard, and think smart, then you can reduce your chances of becoming another statistic.



Get Home Office advice on avoiding various forms of crime here

Visit the Crime Statistics web site here

% Recorded crimes comprise crimes which have been reported, and crimes which police attend independently.

*Crimes of violence are defined by the Home Office as Robberies, Violence against the person, and Sexual offences.