| :: Kumite':: |
A Traditional Karate Kumite |
SPARRING
1) Reliable Stance. Elbows must be in front to cut down on your vulnerability and to strengthen your
arm techniques. Stance can't be too long because that opens up shots to your legs and reduces
mobility. Hands must be held high to protect the face, away from the body to give you time to block,
and both arms and both legs must pose a threat to your opponent. Leaning over diminishes your
power and invites grabs and throws.
2) Lighting Strikes. A blindingly fast jab can win half your points by setting up knockouts, if you're
willing to follow it up. Practice in front of a mirror, then with a partner, throwing one technique from a
fair range and seeing how predictable you are. Power will have to come from balance, stance and
focus, rather from a laborious windup.
3) The Read. If you can spot, then rationally respond to the telegraphs or premovements of your foe,
you're halfway there. Try getting an inch out of range for his punch and landing a kick. Try catching
that kick or jamming it and knocking her off balance.
4) The Test. Try a few forward steps or fakes and watch your foe's posture. Chances are he's got
something in mind, and you'll see what these tricks are by seeing him shift his weight.
5) Elicit a Counterattack. Begin a charge forward, draw a counterattack, and swiftly retreat. Often the
counterattack is a kick--make your foe throw it, then use it to facilitate a throw, a weakening of her
stance, a move to his undefended rear. Sometimes a fake is all that's needed.
6) Low kicks. Try these to break stances or halt attacks--ball of the foot front kick on the thigh, a
powerful roundhouse to the thigh, a well-timed sweep at the front calf, which works great if you can
get your opponent shrinking away from you, and the short sidekick or sokuto geri to the low abdomen.
It should fold the body if successful, perhaps dropping the head into punching range.
7) Hook punch. Can be real hard to block if delivered with a flurry of linear punches and body shots.
Try to deliver one after setting up a good angle of attack, perhaps after a first technique forces your
opponent to draw the mirror-image arm to the center. Try this with a ridge hand or shuto too.
8) Combinations. Your first technique might never get in, but your third might. Practice throwing four
in a row. Use moves to make openings--for instance, a closing roundhouse kick can tie up the hands
while you punch to the head
1) Reliable Stance. Elbows must be in front to cut down on your vulnerability and to strengthen your
arm techniques. Stance can't be too long because that opens up shots to your legs and reduces
mobility. Hands must be held high to protect the face, away from the body to give you time to block,
and both arms and both legs must pose a threat to your opponent. Leaning over diminishes your
power and invites grabs and throws.
2) Lighting Strikes. A blindingly fast jab can win half your points by setting up knockouts, if you're
willing to follow it up. Practice in front of a mirror, then with a partner, throwing one technique from a
fair range and seeing how predictable you are. Power will have to come from balance, stance and
focus, rather from a laborious windup.
3) The Read. If you can spot, then rationally respond to the telegraphs or premovements of your foe,
you're halfway there. Try getting an inch out of range for his punch and landing a kick. Try catching
that kick or jamming it and knocking her off balance.
4) The Test. Try a few forward steps or fakes and watch your foe's posture. Chances are he's got
something in mind, and you'll see what these tricks are by seeing him shift his weight.
5) Elicit a Counterattack. Begin a charge forward, draw a counterattack, and swiftly retreat. Often the
counterattack is a kick--make your foe throw it, then use it to facilitate a throw, a weakening of her
stance, a move to his undefended rear. Sometimes a fake is all that's needed.
6) Low kicks. Try these to break stances or halt attacks--ball of the foot front kick on the thigh, a
powerful roundhouse to the thigh, a well-timed sweep at the front calf, which works great if you can
get your opponent shrinking away from you, and the short sidekick or sokuto geri to the low abdomen.
It should fold the body if successful, perhaps dropping the head into punching range.
7) Hook punch. Can be real hard to block if delivered with a flurry of linear punches and body shots.
Try to deliver one after setting up a good angle of attack, perhaps after a first technique forces your
opponent to draw the mirror-image arm to the center. Try this with a ridge hand or shuto too.
8) Combinations. Your first technique might never get in, but your third might. Practice throwing four
in a row. Use moves to make openings--for instance, a closing roundhouse kick can tie up the hands
while you punch to the head
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