Hi All!

Does anyone having any tips for good kumite? Techniques you use yourself in your sparring?

My kumite is probably the weakest part of my karate, and something I really need to work on, so any tips would be appreciated.

No smart comments, Matt!!

Ermm, where to start...........

Keep your guard up! Also, keep your hands moving - it keeps your opponent fom getting a lucky punch in.
Don't stand still - ever! ( I learnt this from sparring Matt )

Don't rely on a couple of good techniques - They'll work a couple of times, then your opponents will learn how to counteract them.

Develop and utilise a good "Karate face"

And relax! Easier said than done, I know! If you're tense, you're not going to be able to move as fast.

And don't let your opponent scare you!

Hi Mel


Sure. Loads of them. Will they work for you? You'd have to try that for yourself to find out. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Some people like to bounce around and will tell you that you need to bounce. That really doesn't suit me, I'm not a ball.


The link in my sig will tell you where to find me


Mick

I think I need help too!
I pretty much do everything you're not meant to do.

But possibly the biggest thing on that list is not to be intimidated. (Easy to say, just not to do. )

Kumite is fun! Trust people to have control, and try your utmost to keep yours.

Hi Mel,

Why exactly are you bad at kumite? Knowing nothing about your fitness or skill level, I can only suugest you try moving your feet more.

Try sparring with your back foot up on the toes, and the foot pointed forwards (a lot of people point the foot at 45 degrees for some reason). This increases drive and makes your footwork faster (footwork is essential).

If opponents are intimidating you, drop down into a deep stance as you strike.

I dont understand why you think you are bad at it!
That was pretty intense sparring we did and you really made me work hard.

Kumite Tip

The main idea in kumite is learning how to destroy the peson you are sparring. I mean this in the intuitive sense. Without destroying the person you are otherwise playing a game of tag. You should destroy them at all cost even if there is a possibility you may be tagged in the process. Think of nothing but delivering the decisive blow/kick. Think nothing of the possibility that you may be injured. Be empty in your attack and defense and your spirit and instincts will react with speed, power and appropriate timing. If your main attitude is not to be victorious (in a sense) then there is no reason to be practicing kumite.

JC

Hi JC,

I hope you are joking If not

Boz

Yes and no

No because the wrong impression in what I am saying will lead to the development of egoism and a faceless sense of worth from a false sense in goals that relate to "winning".

But also yes, because there is a great difference between practicing a sportsperson and practicig as a martialist.

The only plausible separation of the two inferences is that in todays society, individuals do not defend themselves, courts do.

I'd hope people read what I say and try to understand what it means. If not, read it again until they do

JC

Thanks for the advice guys... I will try some it out next time I am sparring.

Matt, thanks for the compliment about my sparring. I guess I just feel that sparring is the weakest link in my karate and I guess I think too much about what to do next, and what is going to happen next that I forget to relax and try and enjoy the experience.

Just another idea Mel - from someone who hates sparring - you could always hang around for the Kitsune Kan class on a Wednesday night and practice by beating up Matt and Mick!
I nearly enjoyed sparring last week - being in an "I hate males" mood helped , along with sparring people who actually want to learn and teach, and not just "spar".

I find it is very hard to give any advice in writing, and especially without seeing. People say "stay on the balls of your feet" but that doesn't help if you already are. Or "bounce" but that doesn't help if you already do, or can't. "Have the back heel up so you can drive forward" doesn't help if you can't seem to move out the way when someone comes charging in. Apart from there are better ways of moving in anyway.

What I think is usually needed is some specific drills and exercises, and these are far easier to convey hands-on than in writing.


Mick

Embrace what you hate, try a few differnt combos and if they dont work so what, do better next time.

Bruce Lee said ' Fighting cant be taught'

I know some people may have a black belt 7 dan etc but unless your MIND set is one of fight or flight you will get killed every time. Your opponent might be willing to chew your ears off, bite your balls and stomp on your innards so how do you stop that!!

In other words use dojo sparring as a means test for your ability face the oppenent and ask them to do things you are not use to, for example high round kicks.

If you want to read further on the topic look up Geoff Thompson' Animal Day'
perhaps the best MA guide on PRACTICALLY marttial art application.

Mel,

One of the better ways I've found to improve my kumite is to work with your partner in the dojo. What I mean is to find a technique that you have trouble defending against and ask them to use that on you. Start slowly and increase the speed. If there is an offensive technique you feel is a little weak, same idea. Tell them you want to practice it slow at first and then faster. It gives you a chance to develop muscle memory - so the moves can become automatic to some degree.

If you can do this with a higher grade it works great, they can offer some practical advice, and if sparring with a lower grade, then you can control the exercise.

I usually try to avoid dojo sparring becoming a bit of a bash fest - just trying to score points. I really try to use it for a chance to perfect some of my more suspect techniques.

I was recently told that I need to improve my footwork.

"You can kick and punch, but you need to be able to get in and out too"

Fair enough, but....

How does one work on that?
I've got the lower stance happening, but I always move my feet in the same way, and feel like I can't be dynamic about how I move.

Hi Goyle,
Was it your instructor that told you this? Shouldn't they be held accountable if your footwork needs improving? One works on footwork as instructed to at training.. are you unable to follow directions? Lower stance is bad for footwork. You need to be light on your feet and in a more natural higher stance to enable mobility. What are you being taught? Have you asked your instructor for advice or do you pay him and get your advice from the forum? Seriously, what are you learning?

Boz

This was told to me by my RM yesterday.
He teaches my tournament class, and whilst admitting that my overall sparring has improved since joining the team (one of my reasons for trying out), my footwork is letting me down.

We do drills, but I'm not particularly good at then, and end up tripping myself up at times.
Understanding does no neccessary = ability.

He has given me a little advice, but it was only in a 2 minute chat after class, so I was looking for oppinions from other people on this forum.
Then I will try and put everything together.

It doesn't help that I have 2 left feet, and 2 others that dont know what they are doing...

Only thing I can think of to say is what you've heard (and said ) a billion times before in different places. Relax and dont try to concentrate too much on it, you do that and then you're likely to end up concentrating so hard on your feet that your guard drops and you dont see the knock out coming your way.

Personally I've found the bouncing thing to be helpful, but only recently and not full on "leaping up in the air" bouncing, just enough so I dont just stand there. And only when I was relaxed enough that I didnt wear myself out after thirty seconds. Also found that there were times when I was so busy thinking (worrying?) about my feet that I was unprepared for every single attack that came at me. Even really obvious kicks where I had about five seconds to see what they were planning on doing, the majority would get through. Those that didnt usually left me unbalanced and unable to stop a second strike after that.

I really think it's a personal thing though, what works for me might not work so good for you. I'd be happy to try and work on it with you before TT training on Sunday but not sure exactly how much help I can be

Hi Goyle,
I have no answer to your reply

Boz

The drills are good for developing th leg muscles, but your footmork is more of a mental thing. Most people say your footwork is bad when you don't move at all and/or shuffle towards your opponent.

By footwork your RM probably just wants you to move around more, as much as your strength and stamina will allow.

Without sparring you I can't really know your weak points, not like I'm an expert or anyhting.

Well, apparently I always move in exactly the same way, and am extrememly easy to read.

I understand the relax thing, I just can't do it!!!!!

I dont seem to be able to evade attacks, and always end up being pummelled.
My lack of co-ordination certinately doesn't help..

Do you really understand it? It is very hard to relax if are not comfortable with the way you spar, and you don't seem to be.

It is very hard to be comfortable with the way you spar if it is not the right way for you. The problem here lies with instructors not knowing this. They get to about green belt then stay there even though their belt colour changes. This is why many of them say things like "what you need to do is..." instead of teaching sparring tactics and techniques.


Mick

Hmm, well apparently I used to be an impressive sparrer when I was a yellow belt, but as other people got better, I possibly became more intimadated or something?



I think I do.
The theory sounds good to me - relaxed muscles make it easy to react, tensed up muscles make movement more difficult, etc, etc, etc.

The five year break I had from karate/sparring probally didn't do me any good either... and I've never been the most outgoing person....

Oh well... Cie la vie!

Guilty here.

I often think people mistake "good" footwork for "fast" footwork.

They are not the same thing, and there are threads here or somewhere else about it.

In the tournament sense I understand that there is some nebulous requirement for "getting in and out fast", but the mystical "I got in and out with a clean technique and strong kiai while you stood there like an albatross" are pretty rare.

More often than not, the participant who reads the opponent better, anticipates correctly and moves decisively and smoothly has "good" footwork. As bradt said, drills are for leg strength!

These days I move slower than ever, but I think I'm getting better.

(Oh no, I may be the only one who thinks I'm getting better ...)

*Blink* How does an albatross stand?

Does that not imply that points tournaments are in fact bad for sparring or real self defence practice?

I would imagine so. In point sparring, you're learning how to not hit someone when you fight them. If you have to fight for real, and have it instilled in your mind that you have to get the technique in and out fast and not hit the person either, it might not end up great.

But that's only for real life situations. I guess point sparring is good for refining technique and speed. And the ability to yell loudly, otherwise no point.

I know personally that if I applied my method for sparring at NAS in a real fight, it would be suicidal.

But I still get trophies... go figure .

I don't think point sparring would cause you not to hit someone in a real fight, but it affects the way you act. There is an emphasis on staying away from attacks and getting yours in.

Big Difference is in a real fight some sensei won't step in and shout "yame!" after you hit them in the stomach, that punch aimed at yor head won't be disregarded .

And in a real fight you might choose to let a strike in and wear it to gain an advantage to better your own attack...

in point sparring that 'worn attack' is counted towards their score and your counter attack is worth diddly...

So, true...I threw a front kick at a sensei at he moved into it and deflected it with his STOMACH but twisting his body then unleashed a reverse punch at me, using the hips to push the punch straight through my guard.

(mind you I was still amazed at how pathetic my kick looked, like a bullet bouncing off armor).

If he did that in a bout I'd probably get the point, even though the kick was quite obviously ineffective, whether I was aiming to hit him or not.


Mind you point sparring has its definite advantages, such as heightened awareness of your opponent, feeling of confrontation, adrenalin rish ("combat high"), etc. These things you can't get from kata or basics.

Hi Mel

There is one thing that can make a huge difference to your kumite, I know this for a fact because it worked for me and it works for everyone I tell this. At gkr they teach you to look at your opponents chest or throat. Their reason for this is you can see the opponents whole body including the feet, which is true.

Since I have left gkr I have been taught to look at the opponents eyes. When you do this you can still see the opponents feet, but more importantly you can see what they are going to do next. 9 times out of 10 your opponent will look to where they are going to strike, if they are going to kick you in the guts they will look down towards your guts, if they are going to attempt a leg sweep they will look towards your feet. Often if they are going to come rushing in with a huge combo there face will screw up. This has made a massive difference to my kumite. Since I have learnt this I have fought some gkr people who used to blitz me but now its the other way around. Give it a go it really does work. Your instructor will try to tell you thet its disrespectful to look into your opponents eye but that is a load of B.S. I don't know where they get their ideas from.

Also another simple point, never kick with a kicker and never punch with a puncher.
eg A couple of months ago I had 3rd dan from Burridge tkd come and train with me, so naturally I thought this guy is going to have great kicks. So I just got in so close that he couldnt lift his legs to kick then started throwing close range techniques such as elbows and short punches then leg swept him to the ground and locked him up. He was stunned he didnt know what to do.

Likewise if Im fighting a person who likes to punch I will stay out of his range and start kicking.

rocket.

Thanks I will sure to try these techniques next time I am sparring (which will probably be tonight)

Also try this as well.

a lot of gkr people fight very square and front on. There reason for this is that they have all their weapons available, which is fair enough I guess. But this presents a huge target for your opponent. We fight with our upper body on about a 45 degree angle, you will find if you do this and you keep your hands in a good guard possition, it is actually bloody hard to get hit.

rocket

I'd have to say one of the biggest reasons (in my opinion) people lose kumite bouts is because they BELIEVE they're going to lose. I know I often look at my competitor (say, a Nidan) and inside my head I just think "Well, I'll lose, obviously". And then there are times when I'm about to spar a yellow belt, and I just KNOW I'm going to win. Sounds cocky, I know, but that's how it happens. I find it hard to positively self-talk, so it's hard to change my gut instinct when stepping into a ring.

So, Skye's numero uno tip for sparring: Believe you can win. Nay, KNOW it.

I seem to do well against higher grades. I think "chances are I'm going to lose, so I just go in there, and see what I can achieve against them.
I have more trouble sparring people around my level, especially in the 6th to 4th kyu division at tournaments.

Maybe I'm just *special*

your exactly right, if your doing shiai kumite (point sparring). But in the dojo it should'nt be about winning. At our club we work together to learn from each other, that way everybody has fun and nobody gets turned off kumite.

rocket

You absolutely right, too many people I train with spar in the dojo the way they do in a points bout, and you can't learn anything really, because they are behaving in this manner. Nothing gets communicated about overextending or actually doing PROPER technique! It seems everybody in GKR is a freestyle martial artist when it scomes to sparring.

That's just my ramble, I'm having issues with trying to use all of my basics in sparring.

Thanks for your feedback on kumite rocket...

i know it was aimed at mel but since it's free advice i used it and hey.... it works

works well too...

Beginning to feel a little more confident in sparring. maybe one day i'll feel some what good about it...

Thanks again rocket

Do you sit around a camp fire, and sing "Kum by Yah" as well?

hi Susan

Yeah thats the problem with kumite there are very few people who actually know how to teach it on a gradient scale,so that it isnt off putting. From what I remember at gkr you get your yellow belt buy some sparring gear and go for it. No wonder people get scared off, especially when their opponent has an attitude of I must win this bout. You wouldnt believe what our first step to kumite is, we partner the kids up in seisa facing each other, they must sit there and just look into each others eyes, not staring, just looking. When they can do this for a length of time without laughing or pulling stupid faces or looking away, they can then move onto the next step.

That is actually grading requirement in the junior syllabus, people think its crazy, but I can tell you if they can learn to look somebody in the eye and keep their face nuetral they make way better fighters. YOu'll have to come to my dojo one day to check these kids out, they will blow your mind.

There is several other steps in between the confronting drill and actually padding up and going for it. Some of them have been training for 2 years before they do jyu kumite. But when they do it they know exactly what they are doing and better still they have big cheeky grins on their faces while they are doing it.

Rocket

P.S. I'm glad my pointers worked for you, hopefully I,ll be able to help you some more sometime

THAT'S BRILLIANT!

You know, what is often viewed as teaching techniques for children are also just as effective for adults.

Hi bradt

Yeah you can definately apply this to adults, I actually find that the kids do it better than adults, The record at my dojo is 10 mins of this for the kids without smiling or flinching or looking away. The parents are amazed that their kids have so much focus.

I would explain all the other steps to teaching kumite, but its just too hard to put into words. The best way is for me to show you in person or at a class sometime, you'll be blown away at how much improvement you can make in someones kumite after just one lesson.

rocket

I have been taught to look at the opponents eyes. When you do this you can still see the opponents feet, but more importantly you can see what they are going to do next. 9 times out of 10 your opponent will look to where they are going to strike,
rocket.

Gday Rocket, i was churning thru some old stuff and i came across this post.
back in the olden days when i was boxing we were always taught to watch the eyes because the opponent will look where he is punching, and to turn on an angle as it gives you extra reach with the jab to keep your opponent at a distance, and you are showing less of a target. i just have toi put it into practice now.
I read a book by Kieth Code, a motorcycle racer and trainer, and he has a chapter about peripheral vision. i will try and find it for you.

Yeah it definitely helps when you look into their eyes, it gives you that extra split second to react to whatever they are throwing at you.

rocket

Goyle how are you getting on now?
Footwork is something we have been working hard on, particularly angles of entry and retreat, we are trying to use the float, sink, swallow, spit, emphasis.
Mick has an article on his website about footwork!! thats very good.When we went to seni 05(big m/arts show) the boxer Herrol Graham took a shine to Sam and me(gonna tell you all about that on our website, but at the mo we are having trouble with it, and may have to start all over again ?), he said the best thing for footwork is skipping, and it has helped us be more mobile, also when we practice at home sam and i put our belts on the floor in an x, then with one of us attacking one defending, the attacker is not allowed to attack or retreat from the same section, hope you know what i mean.Over time it is helping us get away from the straight linear attack and retreat, and be careful you dont make the mistake of thinking the pulsing people do is an up and down motion(i have seen this lol) , im waffling sorry.
Vicki
x

Thanks for your interest, Vicki

I think I'm sloooooooowly improving in the footwork department.... it's just a really difficult area for me, as I'm not the kind of person that moves super quickly.
I'm working on counter attacks, and pick offs at the moment... I guess I'll see how I go with them..

Hi Goyle

I can give you a pointer on counter attacks. You might already know this trick but I'm pretty sure some of you out there will find this info handy.

Because the style of kumite gkr does is mainly point sparring it is very easy to set them up to counter the opponents counter. ABout 90% of counter attacks in point sparring are a reverse punch, so if you do a single punch or front kick or whatever you like 9 times out of 10 the opponent will come back with a reverse punch. So knowing this you then block the reverse punch and counter to them with whatever you like, a reverse punch usually works the best though.

This may not work all the time or on everybody, but give it ago I find it works most times I do it.

I watched some videos recently of my tournament days and I used to always counter with a reverse punch, if my opponents had known this they would have blitzed me.

I was taught this by 14 times akf national kumite champion and he uses it all the time.

rocket

Thanks Vicki, though the article I wrote is only simple stuff really. It's just one way to start.

The most basic of sparring tactics is the block-then-counter. A minor extension of this is to draw your opponent out, especially if they are in the block-then-counter stage. Some people are taught to always throw out an attack after blocking an attack or attack combination, and if it becomes a habit then it is possible to capitalise on it. But they could also use the same principle to lure you in and trap you when you're throwing your feint. So there becomes layers to it.

There are as many tactics as there are people trying to teach other people how to spar. The first problem is that nobody can teach you how to spar. The next is that most people don't realise this. You have to learn how to spar, the best you can hope for is someone who can help you develop that skill without telling you how to do it... if that makes any sense.


Mick