Timing...it's all about awareness and opportunity...

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We can all become proficient when it comes to punching, blocking and kicking.

What takes practice, is the "timing" of our punches, blocks and kicks.

Without proper timing, like a baseball batter, you'll never hit the ball or your target with any kind of effectiveness.

It all begins with awareness and in particular awareness of your opponent and your environment...

...in the dojo, with both karate-ka focusing on sparring, there are no outside influences to distract one another, so what do you do you ask?, well you create your own distractions

You learn by feinting and then observing if your opponent falls for them or not, but most likely they will, the "first" time. Consequently, if they don't fall for the feint, you step in like your feinting with the exact same timing and drive your fist or kick to the target.

Don't try to "think" about timing and opportunity... just execute...

...your attack of the target area should always follow your feint in a single heart beat.

If your timing was correct and you successfully scored a hit on the target, immediately follow it up with a combination and then retreat as quickly as you attacked...

...it's a mistake to momentarily pause and admire your cleverness at scoring a point...

...because in that split second of gloating, if your opponent is aware enough to see your lapse of concentration and take advantage of it, all your effort will have been wasted.

There is no real defense for feints, because the human body is reactive...you see a punch coming to your head and you cover high or you cover low for what looks like a kick...

...but there is a strategy you can use to keep the mind of your opponent busy...and that is giving and taking away targets for him to attack.

...more on that later.

Don't forget to check out the exciting books and dvd's on Karate, Martial Arts, Zen, Weapons, Nutrition and Health from the Indulgent Samurai Store...

RJF

Rhythm...and no, you don't have to be a dancer.

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Rhythm is an element that must be incorporated within the movements of a particular Martial Art.

In Kumite, it's best described as an internal beat that a person times his/her movements to.

Examples might be a 3 beat block, punch, and step away rhythm and when your opponent chases you, deliver another 3 beat combination of punches, kicks and blocks.

If your opponent doesn't realize that you've trapped them into your rhythm they'll soon be picking themselves up off the ground...

Consequently, while creating your own rhythm, you must try to break the rhythm of your opponent.

Rhythm in Kumite is not always as evident as in Kata, where an advanced Karate-ka can display powerful and beautifully rhythmical movements.

Rhythm is the glue that binds the elements of correct application of strength at the right time, the control of speed and transitions of the body from technique to technique.

Rhythm, develop it and see the improvement in your Kata and Kumite...

Don't forget to check out the exciting books and dvd's on Karate, Martial Arts, Zen, Weapons, Nutrition and Health from the Indulgent Samurai Store...


RJF