Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Here's my disclaimer...I've only been taking Karate Kumite for a couple of years and not even on a regular basis.
So, what I am relating about Kumite Tips is my direct experience as a Karate-Ka, one who has only recently embarked on the path or the way...
The Kumite stories are about my direct observations and lessons learned...some the hard way...
"Kime" in Karate is about Focus...building and delivering all of ones kinetic energy to a particular target.
Now, that kind of focus of intent and energy is only devastatingly effective if your opponent happens to be a Makawara board...or is inexperienced enough to simply stand there and let you tee off on them.
After taking a few solid shots to the body, the Karate-Ka learns his first lesson...
...and consequently discovers his best defensive weapon...that being movement.
It's so simple and naturally an integral part of basic Karate and Kumite that it hardly ranks as a Kumite Tip, it should really be classified as a rule...
...as an example, when attacked... move...block, trap and attack...
Just like everything else in Karate, there are deeper levels of understanding associated with the fine tuning of techniques and this is true of movement.
As an example, when I first started sparring with my sensei, I lunged in with a lunge punch...only to realize a split second later that Sensei's fist was firmily planted on my jaw and he was nowhere near my punch because he had deftly side stepped me...
...an experienced Kumite opponent is always ready to counter-punch you, not only to where his mind tells him the target area "is", but also to where the target "will" be, a fraction of a second later if the attacker changes the technique...
...they seem to have the ability through experience, to give themselves an infinitesimal amount of space to choose either punch option 1 or option 2 and be able to deliver it with Kime to that exact spot...
My Sensei knew without thinking exactly where my head was "going" to be while executing my lunge punch...
Consequently here is the beginners Second Kumite Tip...
...always use your other hand (the non-punching hand) to protect your jaw while lunging in with a lunge, reverse, or straight punch...
...unlike the basics where your opposite hand pulls back to the hip, it's new role becomes that of a guard.
Kumite is like a chess match where moves are countered and those moves are countered...
...like chess the Karate-Ka can only learn and excel, by sparring with an experienced opponent.
One important point for the beginner is this...you are much more vulnerable while initiating an attack against your opponent than defending and waiting to counter his/her attack.
I'll discuss feigning an attack to get your opponent to open up at a later time, it comes under the subject of strategy.
Kumite, especially freestyle, will take the Karate-Ka years to master if ever.
It should be part and parcel with the development of solid basics, and correctly performed techniques in Kata.
Put all three of those together and you'll be a well rounded martial artist.
RJF
