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Kobo ichi (attack and defense are the same) defines the waza or techniques that comprise many marital arts. As told by martial artist Dave Lowry, “Kobo ichi is a traditional karate blocking where attack and defense are the same. It is the essence of uke waza (blocking techniques) and is in direct contrast to the idea of “one block; two, counter.” It then goes on to inform us by a story about the use of uke waza whereby an adversary is not only blocked from his attack but the results of the block actually destroys the adversary’s balance and that adversary’s ability to continue that attack. Kobo ichi or uke waza are more about the circular application of a technique. It becomes through the atomistic of practice of blocking and countering until they become one, i.e., where the block and counter become one application. It becomes a simultaneous application of technique.
Note: The above paragraph is the accepted explanation for the concept of kobo-ichi. It is derived from the methods of teaching karate and martial arts but is not as correct today as it was back in earlier history of the discipline. Kobo-ichi is still valid but explaining it today is - different.
Kobo-ichi is still about the concepts of attack and defense being the same but it is not about techniques themselves but about the multiple methodologies used in self-defense, i.e., “Impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression.” If we apply fundamental principles through the application of multiple defense methodologies then we truly have achieved kobo-ichi, i.e., no attack or defense but a balanced application of methods that achieve the goal of defense.
As the original author states regarding kobo-ichi: Kobo ichi therefore in the strict and narrow use as a sub-principle is a block that is meant to bring the adversary off balance, it is about simultaneously applying considerable pain and damage, i.e., within the proper level of force allowed, and also pull that adversary into range in the event another counter is required. As can be seen in the following it is alluded to as a separate yet singular application where actually that is simplistic in its presentation. The student must understand that similar to the break down of all principles it is actually the end goal to blend all of them as equally as possible to apply them efficiently and effectively if the physical act is required in any given situation of self-defense.
This particular sub-principles covers defensive and offensive application of methodologies where in actual self-defense it is often not about what defensive or offensive methods is either applicable or appropriate but what goal is appropriate and applicable to each situation, each moment of conflict and/or violence.
It also fails to take into consideration that any defensive strategy must include complete avoidance or at the minimum deescalation goals. In a nutshell the only 100% effective defensive and offensive methodology is the one where you are not there to be involved in either a conflict or a violent encounter or both.
Kobo-ichi is about creating a physiokinetic, physical, answer to the question of when violence is involved. By itself, it promotes the use of the physical when there are other options that must take precedence in conflict and violence.
The discussion also mentions offensive advantages and defensive advantages where one either or applies either a defense or offense but never mentions when to act and when to not-act and very important when to stop-act, i.e., a go, a no-go and a stop action to remain within the self-defense circle thus avoiding not only the physical but if the physical is not avoided then avoid the ramifications, i.e., legal, civil and psychological/medical.
It is not actually about being equal offensive and defensive but a balance of all that encompasses either combatives or self-defense. Instead every word, deed or action must achieve the goal of avoidance first, deescalation second or the physical act necessary to stop violence third. Even this is not all inclusive of what one needs to know, understand and apply in self-defense.
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