Ne waza or Ground fighting is essential for well rounded self defense skills.

Ne waza or Ground fighting is essential in self defense.
So why are so few Karate practitioners not being taught basic Ne Waza or ground fighting skills…
When I was coming up in Goju Ryu Karate as a teen, my instructors would stress learning judo for throws and groundfighting. Ok, so the following week I started Judo too, and they were right of course, it made me a far better, more well rounded Martial Artist and Karateka

Even if the purpose of Karate is to finish an opponent with a single blow and never go to the ground. 
It's pretty bold to think no one could take you to the ground and frankly a little foolish.

Ground fighting is just what it sound like, its fighting on the ground. It involves key control postions, escapes, joint locks, chokes, strikes, sweeps, etc.. Today, most quality martial arts and self defense systems include ground fighting to some degree, and you see it effectively used in combat sports; like MMA, BJJ and Wrestling. The Military and Law enforcement always train and use in their tactical training

For a Karate, Kung Fu, self defense system, really any stand up practitioner, to remain ignorant about ground fighting is foolish. Every modern martial artist should learn basic takedowns, sweeps, falls and throws and of course ground fighting. Plus its great for your fitness level.

9 out of 10 fights go to the ground! Do the math!

Why? Because because of Ego's and low quality, unquailified instructors that don't know any better. McDojo's, Fad based gyms trying to teach self defense, etc. Most of these places are out for a quick buck and they just never learned, so why teach it. Many folks don’t even know how to fall down, let alone stand up, correctly!

I'm not trying to pick on anyone, folks just don't know about, what they don't know about! 

But, If you are ready to add some ground fighting to your toolbox, make sure you find a high quality instructor. Regrettably there are far more unqualified than qualified, do your research.

You need to learn the best ground fighting techniques for Karate, that are truely effective, not sport or rolling or stupid fancy techniques that would never work in a real situation. 

If your close to our Dojo drop in and learn some practical Ground Fighting, it will make your art even better. If you live to far away, schedule a seminar for your Dojo, you'll have a great time and learn real skills. It will be EXACTLY what you need to know about ground fighting; surviving, escaping, defending, and regaining control of the situation and either win or get the heck out of there.

You see, according to Helio Gracie the goal is not to fight on the ground, that's the worse case scenario, you didn't trip, you got knocked on your a**. From a self-defense perspective, that’s very dangerous and will only get worse if you don't know what your doing. So train with the worse case in mind, prepare in advance. Plus its exhausting if your unskilled, you may only have 30 to 60 seconds of breath before you are completely exhausted trying to fight for your life.

• The goal truly is to survive, escape, defend, and avoid being taken to the ground…
• But, if taken to ground know how to survive it
• But ideally you can stay on your feet and do Karate, run, or whatever it is you do!

Best Regards
Sensei Riedmiller