The practice of martial arts is not intended to be anything more or less than the actual practice of an art of killing or maiming someone. These arts are not intended to make you feel good or make you happy go lucky. They are intended to mold you both mentally and physically into someone who, if provided the apropriate stimuli, are goin to try and hurt you in an unfriendly manner. As an extension of this we REQUIRE that the practitioner exercise proper restraint and discipline so that we, as teachers, can introduce you to these techniques and be reasonably certain that you won't go out in the street and jump some average jo. The practitioners I work and train with avoid fighting unless the consequences of not fighting are dire. We have each sworn an oath to only use these techniques in defense of ourselves, our honor, and the personal safety and honor of those around us. We take this very seriously. So next time you non martial artists out there decide to take it upon yourself to tell ME what karate, the art I have a 2nd degree black belt in, is all about, then how about you shut up and let the guy who knows whats up tell it like it is. We aren't criminals, but put us in a fight and Im not looking to disable unless I can do so without any significant increase in risk to my safety. We teach the discipline and respect and nonviolence because they are neccessary but that is not the essence of the art. The essence of karate, in a nutshell, is one strike, one kill. There is no higher achievement than that. There are no accolades greater than mastery of that principle. If that essence is anything else then the art becomes misguided and is reduced to little more than a pre school with pretty aerobics and gymnastics.