Does karate work

Answer 1

Yes, karate works. The bigger question is, does karate work for xxxx?

Self defense - Yes, karate works for self-defense. But it does not work if you take two lessons or only study for a couple months, it is not going to be very effective. It requires a great deal of study to use it effectively.

Health and Exercise - Yes, karate works for improving fitness.

Becoming a better person? Yes, it makes one a better citizen.

Answer 2

Yes, but it takes years of practice before it can be applied practically. i.e. Unless someone spars a lot, in a practical situation, the techniques won't be applied properly. They strikes be more powerful than someone who has never trained before, but it's not like in the movies where a black belt is an overwhelming advantage.

Answer 3

It depends on the student, not the art.