Studying Serial Killers as a Sensei: Why It Matters in Self-Defence

When most people think of Karate, they think of stances, strikes, kata, and sparring. They picture discipline, tradition, and the physical art. And yes, that’s all part of it — but for me, Karate has always been about something deeper. It’s about survival. It’s about protecting yourself and others when life puts you in the worst possible situation.

That’s why, as unusual as it may sound, I study serial killers.

Not because I admire them. Not because I want to glorify their crimes. But because they represent the darkest and most extreme examples of predatory behaviour. And if my mission as a Sensei is to prepare people for danger, then I have a responsibility to learn from the worst predators the world has ever seen.

Ted Bundy didn’t look like a monster — he looked like the man next door. He used charm, intelligence, and fake injuries to trick people into lowering their guard. John Wayne Gacy hid behind a mask of friendliness and community trust. Ian Brady and Myra Hindley used the disguise of a “normal couple” to lure children. Peter Sutcliffe targeted women who were alone and vulnerable. Harold Shipman had total trust because he was a doctor. Each of them used psychology, manipulation, and deception as much as violence.

And that’s the lesson.Karate can teach you how to punch, kick, and throw. But what use is a perfect punch if you don’t see the danger coming? What use is kata if you don’t understand how real predators operate? Self-defence begins before the fight — in recognising the tricks, manipulations, and patterns that predators use to get close in the first place.

By studying these killers, I extract lessons for my students. Bundy’s charm teaches us never to override our instincts just to be polite. Sutcliffe’s targeting shows us the importance of awareness when walking alone at night. The Moors Murders remind us that women can be used to build false trust. Shipman shows the danger of blind trust in authority. These are not abstract lessons — they are real, practical reminders of how violence hides in plain sight.

This is what makes my approach to Karate different. I don’t just teach blocks, strikes, and drills. I teach awareness. I teach psychology. I teach my students to see through deception and to act with clarity when others would freeze. That’s why I’ve created codes like A.A.E.E.L. and B.R.A.V.E. — because real-world self-defence is about more than fighting. It’s about recognising danger early, resisting manipulation, and knowing when and how to act.

Karate is not just about combat. It is about life protection. Studying serial killers may seem dark, but it ensures that my teaching is real, relevant, and designed for the threats that actually exist in the world today.

That is what self-defence is truly about.

By Sensei Liam MusiakFounder of Voracious Karate