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Published September 13th, 2025
It is the most fundamental fear in a physical confrontation: being overpowered by someone bigger, stronger, and heavier. For many, this single thought is what prevents them from feeling safe and confident in the world. It’s the reason people seek out self defense training in Miller Place in the first place.
They ask, "How can I, a person of average size and strength, possibly defend myself against a much larger attacker?" The answer is simple, yet profound: you don’t. You don't fight their fight. You don't match strength with strength. Instead, you use superior technique to make their size and strength irrelevant. This is the core principle of authentic Okinawan Kenpo.
Relying on strength is a flawed strategy because there will always be someone stronger. The key to your safety, then, is not to become stronger than every possible threat, but to learn a system that bypasses strength altogether. You must learn to fight smarter, not harder.
The first step in overcoming a size disadvantage is understanding the physics of the human body. Authentic Okinawan Kenpo is a science of motion that teaches you to use your body’s natural structure and leverage to manipulate and control an attacker’s force. Think of it this way: you cannot lift a car with your bare hands, but with a long enough lever, you can.
We teach you to:
By using proper structure and leverage, you are no longer pitting your muscles against theirs; you are pitting your knowledge of physics against their ignorance of it.
Here is the great equalizer. It does not matter how large or muscular an attacker is; their body is full of anatomical weaknesses. Nerves, pressure points, and certain soft tissue targets are just as vulnerable on a 250-pound bodybuilder as they are on a 150-pound person. This is the science of Kyusho Jitsu (pressure point striking).
This is not a mystical art. It is a deep understanding of human anatomy and the nervous system. A precise, well-aimed strike to the correct target can cause involuntary reactions like muscle dysfunction, loss of balance, or intense pain that disrupts the attacker’s ability to continue their assault.
This allows you to neutralize a threat or create an opportunity to escape without ever engaging in a prolonged test of strength. This knowledge, passed down from masters like Taika Seiyu Oyata, is a cornerstone of real world self defense.
Many real-world fights quickly devolve into a chaotic clinch or grapple. This is often where a larger person feels they have the ultimate advantage. However, this is also where the art of Tuite Jitsu (joint manipulation) shines.
The human body’s joints, the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and fingers, are inherently weak. By applying correct leverage to these small joints, you can control an opponent’s entire body. It takes very little strength to manipulate a wrist in a way that forces even the strongest person to the ground. Tuite Jitsu gives you the tools to:
This sophisticated skill set is a vital component of the karate we teach in Miller Place, ensuring you are prepared for the close-quarters reality of a real fight.
Feeling safe should not depend on how much you can bench press. True confidence comes from knowing you have the tools to protect yourself regardless of the circumstances. At Takamine Karate Dojo, we don't just teach you how to fight; we teach you the principles that make fighting fair. We empower you with the science of movement, anatomy, and leverage.
Stop letting the fear of a larger attacker dictate your life. It's time to learn how technique and knowledge can overcome any physical disadvantage.
Call Takamine Karate Dojo today at (631) 514-4099 to schedule your first class and discover your true power.
They ask, "How can I, a person of average size and strength, possibly defend myself against a much larger attacker?" The answer is simple, yet profound: you don’t. You don't fight their fight. You don't match strength with strength. Instead, you use superior technique to make their size and strength irrelevant. This is the core principle of authentic Okinawan Kenpo.
The Losing Strategy of Brute Force
In any physical contest based on pure strength, the stronger person will almost always win. This is an undeniable fact. If you try to stop a powerful shove with your own muscles, or break a strong grip by pulling away, you are playing a game you are destined to lose. Real-world violence is not a weight-class-matched sporting event. Attackers often choose victims they perceive as physically weaker for this very reason.
Relying on strength is a flawed strategy because there will always be someone stronger. The key to your safety, then, is not to become stronger than every possible threat, but to learn a system that bypasses strength altogether. You must learn to fight smarter, not harder.
Principle 1: The Power of Leverage and Structure
The first step in overcoming a size disadvantage is understanding the physics of the human body. Authentic Okinawan Kenpo is a science of motion that teaches you to use your body’s natural structure and leverage to manipulate and control an attacker’s force. Think of it this way: you cannot lift a car with your bare hands, but with a long enough lever, you can.
We teach you to:
- Use Your Skeleton: Your bone structure is incredibly strong. By learning proper posture and alignment, you can absorb and redirect an attacker’s force through your skeleton and into the ground, rather than trying to stop it with your muscles.
- Create Angles: A direct, head-on collision favors the larger person. We teach you how to move offline, creating angles that disrupt an attacker's balance and take away their structural advantages, making their forward momentum a weakness we can exploit.
By using proper structure and leverage, you are no longer pitting your muscles against theirs; you are pitting your knowledge of physics against their ignorance of it.
Targeting Anatomical Weaknesses (Kyusho Jitsu)
Here is the great equalizer. It does not matter how large or muscular an attacker is; their body is full of anatomical weaknesses. Nerves, pressure points, and certain soft tissue targets are just as vulnerable on a 250-pound bodybuilder as they are on a 150-pound person. This is the science of Kyusho Jitsu (pressure point striking).
This is not a mystical art. It is a deep understanding of human anatomy and the nervous system. A precise, well-aimed strike to the correct target can cause involuntary reactions like muscle dysfunction, loss of balance, or intense pain that disrupts the attacker’s ability to continue their assault.
This allows you to neutralize a threat or create an opportunity to escape without ever engaging in a prolonged test of strength. This knowledge, passed down from masters like Taika Seiyu Oyata, is a cornerstone of real world self defense.
Gaining Control Through Joint Manipulation (Tuite Jitsu)
Many real-world fights quickly devolve into a chaotic clinch or grapple. This is often where a larger person feels they have the ultimate advantage. However, this is also where the art of Tuite Jitsu (joint manipulation) shines.
The human body’s joints, the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and fingers, are inherently weak. By applying correct leverage to these small joints, you can control an opponent’s entire body. It takes very little strength to manipulate a wrist in a way that forces even the strongest person to the ground. Tuite Jitsu gives you the tools to:
- Escape from powerful grabs and holds.
- Control an attacker’s balance and movement.
- Subdue a threat without the need for excessive striking.
This sophisticated skill set is a vital component of the karate we teach in Miller Place, ensuring you are prepared for the close-quarters reality of a real fight.
Stop Fearing Size. Start Learning Science.
Feeling safe should not depend on how much you can bench press. True confidence comes from knowing you have the tools to protect yourself regardless of the circumstances. At Takamine Karate Dojo, we don't just teach you how to fight; we teach you the principles that make fighting fair. We empower you with the science of movement, anatomy, and leverage.
Stop letting the fear of a larger attacker dictate your life. It's time to learn how technique and knowledge can overcome any physical disadvantage.
Call Takamine Karate Dojo today at (631) 514-4099 to schedule your first class and discover your true power.