The very first move of Karate, as taken from the first Heian or Pinan form, is a step to the side with a low block. But Karate was not designed for blocking. Yes, there are blocks in the art, and it can be adapted to blocking and striking modes, but it was not designed for blocking except by the way.

Karate was designed to guard the king of Okinawa. The Imperial bodyguards were trained to use their art in a room filled with warriors from different countries. Soldiers with different weapons and ways of fighting, while the Okinawans had to remain unarmed.

Thus, would you really block a samurai sword with a high block? Would you try to deflect a bullet with a shuto? Because these were the real weapons that the Imperial bodyguards had to confront.

Consider also that the first command a general might give his troops, if they were to attempt to kidnap the king of Okinawa, would be to restrain the bodyguards. This means that samurai would step forward and grab arms, perhaps preparatory to tying the hands of the bodyguards, or merely herding them from the room, or otherwise controlling them. And this means that the first defense of the bodyguards, as described by the first technique in the first form, would be to step in, dropping the weight and arm, thus escaping from the technique, and possibly head butting those who tried to grab them.

That's right, an escape from a grab, then a violent step forward to close with and punch and shove the samurai, or whoever the warriors were. This would cause chaos and confusion. This would allow the king to escape.

Now, take a close look at the kata. This is the only application that really seems to work. This is the start of the art that the Okinawans created had in mind.

If the samurai drew a sword, the bodyguard had to rush the samurai. This is the reason for the big steps in the form, to enable the bodyguards to get close enough to maim and destroy. This explains the moves of forms that, otherwise, don't make sense.

If a samurai attempted to close with a bodyguard and restrain him, the bodyguard had to break the grip, head butt, then push forward. This is the truth behind the first technique of karate, and this is the start of how the art was designed to work. Thinking about the movements in this manner reveals an art that is true beyond belief, but only if you can put aside the way you were taught and believe in the true art known as karate.

Al Case began his study of karate 4O++ years ago. He has been a writer and columnist for the magazines. He uses the science of Matrixing to uncover the Truth about the Martial Arts. Get his free ebook about Matrixing Technology at Monster Martial Arts.