Gichin Funakoshi is generally regarded as the Father of Modern Karate.

Among his contributions is a list of 20 core beliefs that every karateka should subscribe to.

At the very top is this one: There is no first strike in karate.

The idea is that karate is about self-defense, primarily, and only secondarily is it a fighting art.

Funakoshi didnt want to spawn generations of bullies. I think it is right to say he wanted to sire gentle men and women, people of refinement; in a word, civilized folks, and not just more barbarians.

Before unleashing fury and destructiveness a person must be sure it is the right thing to do, that he isnt making a mistake, and that he has exhausted better ways of reducing conflict.

But what if you KNOW someone is coming for you or your family or your nation? What, then?

Can you strike, peremptorily?

Funakoshi is silent about this, at least from the reading of him that Ive done so far.

But a story comes to mind.

I was exhausted one late afternoon after having flown to Houston, probably for the 40th time in as many weeks, so by the time I reached the rent a car counter at the outskirts of the airport, I was in a terrible mood.

They didnt have the make and model I had reserved, a convertible as I recall, and being used to getting everything I wanted on the road, I blew a gasket.

The manager felt I was being verbally abusive, and I told him, more or less, when I needed his opinion Id give it to him.

He asked me to step outside to Settle this" with him, and I recall saying something to the effect that Id be delighted.

I hadnt been in a fistfight since high school, and I was probably 25% more massive than this guy, so his choosing me off was almost comedic.

We stood face to face, with about two feet separating us, and I could tell he was waiting for me to make the first move.

But I came to my senses after having weighed the idea of defending a lawsuit or worse, a criminal charge in court.

Also, I heard a little voice inside say, Dont make the first move! and I heeded it.

Anyway, I think I grumbled, This isnt worth it, and he told me to never darken their doorstep again.

Many moons later, after studying karate, I learned about Funakoshis aphorism: There is no first strike in karate.

And a few things came to mind:

(1) I was pleased I de-escalated and walked away. Its one of the only ways to win a fight.

(2) I always wondered if this guy had karate training, and he was forbearing because of Funakoshis philosophy.

(3) I did act rudely, and things hit a flash point because of me.

In any case, I lived to not fight again, and so did he, presumably.

Fighting should always be the last resort, and only when we have no other choice. And as far as that question I raised above, I think we should be so attuned to our potential enemies that we can see the stirrings of hostility in them before they ever become an overt threat to us.

By doing so, we can avoid difficulties before they become unavoidable.

Moreover, we should always be aware of how were coming across, and restrain ourselves and struggle to be polite, especially when were convinced we have the right to act otherwise.