ARMY EXPERTS AND YOUNG WOMEN AND CHILDREN DEMONSTRATING KARATE.




Initials RMG/VS/JH/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN SOUTH VIETNAM, THE ART OF UNARMED COMBAT HAS BECOME IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF MAY ORDINARY PEOPLE. AN EXAMPLE OF THE GROWING INTEREST IN UNARMED SELF DEFENCE WAS THE HUGE CROWD THAT ATTENDED A SOUTH KOREAN ARMY DEMONSTRATION OF KARATE AT SAIGON UNIVERSITY.

VIETNAMESE STUDENTS JOINED THE ARMY EXPERTS IN THE DEMONSTRATION.

SMASHING A FOOT-HIGH PILE OF TILES WITH A SINGLE BLOW OF THE FIST LOOKS SIMPLE ENOUGH........BUT IT IS ONLY AFTER MONTHS, AND SOMETIMES YEARS, OF PAINFUL HAND HAMMERING THAT IT BECOMES POSSIBLE.

KARATE CALLS FOR LIGHTNING SWIFT MOVES OF THE BODY, HANDS AND FEET TO VULNERABLE POINTS ON THE OPPONENT. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE ABOUT THE DEADLIEST FORMS OF UNARMED FIGHTING. IN PRACTICE....AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN ANYTHING ELSE.....THE BLOWS DO NOT ACTUALLY LAND. A LANDED BLOW COULD MEAN SUDDEN DEATH.

KARATE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN SOUTH VIETNAM ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO BY SOUTH KOREAN ARMY EXPERTS - AS PART OF THE KOREAN ASSISTANCE TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAUSE. THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE TROOPS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED AND NOW SAIGON "CLINICS" HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHING TO TEACH CIVILIANS AS WELL.