[Karate in Japanese means "Empty Handed". Kara, meaning 'empty' + te, meaning 'hand']
Karate as self defense, is one of the most dynamic of all martial arts. The trained karateka is able to coordinate his mind and body perfectly, thereby allowing him to unleash tremendous physical power at will. Therefore it is not the possession of great physical strength that make a strong karateka but the ability to coordinate both mind and body. Upon developing this ability, even the smallest person finds that he has within himself the power to deliver a devastating blow to any would - be attacker.

RISK follows the SKIF system of training as taught to Many by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa.

• Various kinds of inferiorities due to lack of height, physical appearance, abnormal body movements and other kinds of inabilities.
• Incompetence due to lethargy, laziness, sleep disorders, lack of concentration and will-power, slow mind and body reflexes, etc.
• Fear of physically big or strong people (thus giving them a reason to bully you or take advantage of your silence.

• Tones the body, quickens reflexes and builds stamina, sharpens the mind and develops concentration. (It is a physical fitness exercise that bestows better health as a bonus.)
• By anybody (be it a child or an adult) develops good character, self-esteem, self-confidence, perseverance, self-defense, self-respect, and respect for others, resulting in better grades and increased self-discipline, social skills, health and personal growth.
• Develops coordination and agility which can be used to excel in other sports activities.
• Karate tends to wipe out the differences of size, weight, height, and reach. The possessor of the skill gains tremendous self-confidence and the ability to walk without fear. Skill and knowledge are in themselves sufficient to subdue any aggressor no matter how strong or vicious. You learn to be mentally cool and alert in the face of danger, you begin to experience a self-restraint which comes only with supreme self-confidence.

• Do not be mislead by seeing fancy stunts or demonstrations, given by many schools because true karate is very different from what you get to see at such demonstrations.
• Try to visit as many schools (dojo) as many times as you can and try to observe as much as possible with respect to discipline, regularity of classes, standards of teaching, capability of the instructor to practically demonstrate and elaborately explain the application and effectiveness of various techniques and the frequency of demonstrations given by him during a class.
• Do not be mislead by people who say that they could give you a Black Belt within a year or two, because "Belts don't have a meaning if you don't have the authentic standard they represent." (A Fact all karate instructors know (but hide) is that 'It would take more than a year or two for a normal person to achieve the standard of a Black Belt').
• Never be attracted by offers that promise to grade new belts every three months (without judging if you are ready for it or not).
• Even disciplined, honest and consistent efforts at learning authentic karate may take you more than a decade to gain some extent of perfection in all the techniques applied in karate.
• For true, dedicated and genuine karateka (practitioners of karate), Karate is a life long companion.