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
"Consider your opponent's hands and legs as you would sharp swords."
A lot of the martial art's techniques and styles, have evolved from historical sword fighting warfare.
In fact, I believe, if it weren't for the invention of hand guns and rifles, swords of all sizes would still be king...
...whether or not a society of sword wielding citizens would be less violent than today's gun toting one, I'm not sure...
...but it certainly wouldn't be as easy to rob or kill someone, as any coward on the street can do today.
Skill and honor has been replaced by the simple act of pointing and shooting...
...an act requiring as much skill and honor as a 10 year child possesses.
I believe, the gun has given power to the insane and uncaring elements of society...
...the very last group of people that we would want to be empowering.
Getting back to Funakoshi's principle...
...your going to have a keener sense of awareness of an attacker, if he is wielding a knife or sword.
You might have 1 or at the most 2 opportunities to finish off your attacker, so you've got to be focused and be able to deliver a fatal blow to a vulnerable area.
So, why not use that extra awareness when facing all of your opponents?
Spar and fight in Kumite as if you have just one chance, one opportunity to survive.
Not only will it cut out all the extraneous stuff but it will develop your spirit for bravery...
...you won't have time to retreat from a knife or sword attack, you must fearlessly advance towards those sharp points, deftly moving within centimeters of them to launch your own laser focused attack.
If you practice and develop that kind of attitude and concentration, you'll be very well prepared when you have to exercise those skills in a real life and death situation.
RJF
