**NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDY SECTION** - YOUR HELP NEEDED

[Tom O'Brien]

I have not yet seen the articles he wrote for TSW yet but I will look for them because I think he has some very important information pertaining to physiology and karate. The book I have was published in 1985 but there was also an earlier version that I actually copied and gave to my Senpai. At that time Dr. Brian Adams was a martial arts instructor with his own school for 25 years. He began his training when he was 18 yrs. old. He was majoring in psychology at Pasadena City College, California. To better understand the philosophies of oriental culture he studied karate. Recognized as an expert in the field of martial injuries, he has taught his programs at several universities and to the staff of California State hospitals. Mr.' Adams has also served as an 'expert witness' in criminal and Grand Jury hearings that dealt with martial art type assaults and injuries. Now where are those other articles?
Thanks,
Tom

[Tom O'Brien]

I checked out the other article - good stuff.

Thanks,
Tom

[growe]

Hi All,
By complete bizarre coincidence I found 'Deadly Karate Blows' in my loft at the weekend and decided to pull it out and read it again after about 20 years. I'm browsing through the site today and find a thread about the book! It was first published in 1968 as 'The Medical Implications of Karate Blows' and was originally used as part of a thesis requirement for Mr Adams black-belt promotion in the Kenpo Karate association run by Ed Parker. Perhaps worth a book review on the site?
One question I would ask is this: regardless of size, if you really had to try and stop someone, which bit of the body is the easiest to attack with the most significant impact? Having read many threads in the forum discussing karate and whether or not it works for SD the info might be useful!
Regards,
Gareth

[Tom O'Brien]

The book was actually originally published in 1968. The book claims to have been 3 yrs. in the making along with the assistance of a 'team' of medical experts. The author had 25 yrs. of karate experience back in 1968. It was encouraged by Sensei Ed Parker of the International Kenpo Karate Association and was originally used as part of the requirement for black belt. The original book had demonstrations by two men in karate dogis. The more recent edition has two men wearing pants but no jackets. There are 26 chapters or parts - 24 striking areas and the last two are about shock and principals of first aid and pain reduction. Some examples are striking the temple, eye, throat, ribs, groin, spleen and kidneys etc. In each example there are pictures and diagrams of the organs, tendons, nerves and muscles involved. There is also an explanation of what could or might happen under the worst circumstances. looks like growe and I agree on the basic thesis.
Thanks,
Tom

[growe]

Absolutely Tom, you've filled in a bit more info than I did.
I'm re-reading it all again, from a related medical background (I'm a pharmacist) what he's written all sounds possible albeit that he does outline worst case scenarios which I suspect would happen only if the technique was done with perfect speed, form, timing and power, something that not many of us can achieve on a regular basis.
I think being able to tap into his substantial experience in martial arts injuries will be really interesting and useful for preventing injury in class as much as learning about how to inflict it. Looking forward to the articles.
Regards
Gareth

[kensei]

Absolutely Tom, you've filled in a bit more info than I did.
I'm re-reading it all again, from a related medical background (I'm a pharmacist) what he's written all sounds possible albeit that he does outline worst case scenarios which I suspect would happen only if the technique was done with perfect speed, form, timing and power, something that not many of us can achieve on a regular basis.
I think being able to tap into his substantial experience in martial arts injuries will be really interesting and useful for preventing injury in class as much as learning about how to inflict it. Looking forward to the articles.
Regards
Gareth

I agree Gareth.
He also did not outline underlying pathologies or outline some of the less common "unique" injuries and emergencies that may come up that are idopathic and...well "unique". But all and all it is a fun little book. I have had a copy before but must have had it sold on me at some point in a garage sale or something.

James

[Shaun]

Perhaps worth a book review on the site?

Hi Gareth,

Yeah we do have a book review of it in our schedule Material, it's just we have so much material in the file it takes time for it to get published. Will be up in the next couple of months though.

Have you read our section dedicated to Brian Adams' writing here on TSW and the work he's done with us?

[growe]

Hi Shaun,
My first reply didn't seem to go so I'll try again!
Yes I have read and enjoyed the articles on the site. His story about the incident in the JKD class reminded me of an incident that I read about. Apparently at a World Champs (WUKO as was I think) a guy had his spleen ruptured by a chudan punch. The point of the article was to highlight that even though this was a supposedly 'non-contact' style of fighting you still get hit from time-to-time. Their issue was that the guy should have been conditioned for this level of competition to take a punch. Their has been a few threads about conditioning on the forum and whilst it is not everything it certainly helps to limit injury in some cases.
Being in a medically related profession I'm interested in this stuff as I get a lot of requests for treatment of sports-related injuries. However, I'm sure most readers will be interested in the forthcoming articles as they relate directly to what we train in. In these litigatious times, definitions of 'reasonable force' have been had on the forum and it's a bit of a grey area so any validated info is welcome.
Look forward to raeding more, regards,
Gareth

[Tom O'Brien]

I would like to see a follow up book that covers things like foot stomps, take downs and what would happen to your hand if you punch the wrong part of the body like the top of the head or an elbow.
Thanks,
Tom