Sunday, February 04, 2007

More thoughts on Karate Kumite tournament fighting...

Use the Google search this site for the article your looking for...

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



Kumite Drills # 1/Kumite Drills # 2/Kumite Drills # 3




You know, preparing for a Kumite match is to say the least, complicated...

...and what I'm learning about it, is that one needs experience and a good instructor.

I recently had my first ever Kumite test match and believe me it was quite an eye opener...

Although it was one of the funnest things I have ever done, so many things went wrong.

It was if I had found myself in a fog facing an opponent who seemed afraid of the street thug that I was turning into, after all, it was suppose to be a fun test match.

Suddenly I was in a fight for my life and my punches started zeroing in on my opponents head, who was by now in total shock, as hitting to the head was only allowed if there was total control and light contact.

I lost total control of myself and was attacking my opponent like Rocky Balboa...

After the stoppage of the match and regaining my senses, I had to go over to my opponent and apologize for my bewildering behavior...

I still don't know what happened to me...

At the end of the evening when my Sensei was handing out participation medals, he had only one word for me, "control"...

...How did I lose control so easily...I'll be talking with my Sensei about that one next time I see him at the Dojo...

Anyway I did some searching on the internet and came across some really good information on preparing for a Kumite match at a tournament, its at

G.Scott on Kumite

Check it out, there's some really good information in there and some stuff that I'm going to be trying myself...

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

Saturday, February 03, 2007

On becoming a Karate/Martial Arts Champion

Use the Google search this site for the article your looking for...

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



Kumite Drills # 1/Kumite Drills # 2/Kumite Drills # 3


Want to be a Karate or Martial art Champion? Then you had better start now…

Like any sport, the athlete’s age and experience, determines his ability to become a champion…

…so for all you 30 year olds and older farts who haven’t been training all your lives in the martial arts, well I’m afraid you’ve missed the boat. I should know, I’m 49 and have only been doing Karate for about 4 years.

That’s ok though, it’s still fun to enter small time recreational tournaments put on by your association and see what you can do, besides it’s really fun.

Up until lately, the world of competitive tournament karate and martial arts hasn’t had much of a following outside of Japan and Europe.

With the recent fights in the UFC and in particular the Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz match, a much wider audience, has shown their interest in putting down serious money to watch quality athletes pound it out in what is being perceived as a legitimate sporting event, and rightly so.

The new interest will fuel bigger monetary prizes and lucrative advertising contracts, giving impetus to athletes whose grueling training and dedication rarely ever, except perhaps on an Olympic scale, was actually worth the commitment.

The determination and training that these athletes have to go through is nothing short of superhuman in scale, but the monetary rewards and recognition has always been lacking.

The success of the UFC will have other tournament styles and martial arts associations pulled along behind them, creating more opportunities for martial artists of all styles, to make lucrative salaries and be given more venues to showcase their skills.

So, if you’re young and think that making money and fame on the tournament circuit might be something for you, then you’ll have to develop amongst other things, two very important qualities.

They are a competitive spirit or attitude and relentless dedication to training…

…both of which are huge sacrifices to make for a young person.

But then again, to be crowned champion and handed a 6 figure paycheck, that’s not so bad either…

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