Post by fujicolt on May 14, 2012 21:49:11 GMT
SPEED WINS FIGHTS !
WHAT IS SPEED
AND
WHAT IS IT NOT?
WHAT IS SPEED
AND
WHAT IS IT NOT?
(PLEASE NOTE: When i posted this it lost a lot of the original formatting - but heyho - I hope it still makes sense HAHA!)[/i]
I doubt many would dispute it if I said ‘Speed is an essential requirement for a Martial Artist whether He/She be engaging in competition Sparring or a real live Self Defence Situation’. I assume so because it simply makes sense that developing the ability to utilise speed to maximise your chances of success in any combative situation is a ‘No Brainer’ - as a slow Martial Artist would surely fail and be overcome by his speedier opponent!
However, if one examines this premise closer it becomes obvious that it ISN’T so simple.
Unfortunately, Speed in combative exchange is often considered far too narrowly. As a result it is often only considered in the context of the factors related to the limb and body speed of the combatant. Often it is wrongly believed that the ‘Faster Punch (for example) will win the day but in actuality this is quite often not at all the case.
Whilst the ability to exert ‘physical speed’ is without doubt a hugely important requirement of the combatant, and that is in no way denied, closer scrutiny will help one to understand that physical speed alone will not make one a proficient, skilled fighter.
In fact, once certain factors are understood and then are, themselves, made individually proficient, it can be seen that physical speed is not the most important skill. In fact it actually falls down the ’Of importance’ list quite considerably.
If I may digress a while here, I would like to make you aware of a personal experience of mine that brought this point home to me very clearly:
I have been very privileged in my Karate Career to have the opportunity to train with some extraordinary Karate Instructors. All of them have had remarkable skills and thus have (and deserve) my deepest admiration for a vast variety of reasons.
However, one in particular stands very high in my admiration because he was NOT blessed with either a naturally athletic physique or the advantage of height and beneficially long limbs (he was 5’6” tall and carried the unfortunate nickname of ‘Stumpy’).
Despite this he rose to a Skill level that was quite literally awesome - in an Era when standards where very high, International Competition Bouts where brutal and weight or height categories where as rare as Rocking Horse Manure!
I, of course, refer to the late and great Steve Cattle Sensei (RIP.).
He held Regional, National and European Individual and Team Titles and had the reputation of being one of the most consistently successful Competitors ever to grace the National Shotokan or All-Style Teams and individual events – especially so when fighting in the infamous Number 5 spot on the National Team where he won the day on many occasions.
I can also, having witnessed it personally, assure you that his abilities in defending himself in real life truly violent and dangerous Self Defence situations was even higher because when released from the confinement of ‘rules’ he became even more formidable, inventive and effective.
I was deeply fortunate not only to train with Cattle Sensei in many classes and on many Courses but I we also became friends and thus socialised together (all whom knew him would, I am sure, record that he liked to Party!).
At the time I was, in the very happy situation of running a full-time Dojo within easy driving distance of his home. Therefore, as our friendship developed, he often came down and we would train together in the mornings and this brings me to the point I wish to make.
I expect that by now you are wondering why I am telling you all this?
Well in the context of this article Steve was one of the best examples I can think of to demonstrate to you that limb and body speed are in themselves (although important) not in fact the most important in fighting efficiency.
He proved to me that IF you develop skills in other ‘Speed’ related areas you can maximise your efficacy enormously!
SO back to my point – When Steve came down for our morning training sessions (he, of course always lead the content - unless I asked him to help me with a particular subject) we would practice a wide array of Kihon, Kumite and Kata content. It was amazing for me and I would, I assure you, put maximum effort in order to get the greatest benefit from this marvellous opportunity I was given. Without going into the ‘Blow by blow’ (NO pun intended!) content of those classes I can, well remember one factor that, at first, surprised me.
To my surprise I found that when we practiced Kihon, Kata or the standard pre-arranged Kumite Drills I began to realise that I could match him in speed of both limb and body movement*.
However, we always finished with a bout (sometimes a very extended bout!) of free sparring. Sometimes this would be ‘Competition Based’ in that it would be conducted within the rules then current in Tournament competition. We also practiced what I shall call ‘truly free’ sparring in that there were no rules other than that we both use maximum control! We often went flat out!
* Please remember that at the time both Steve and I were full time Professional Instructors, I ran a Full Time Gym and we were both very fit, healthy and of similar Build etc.
Which, of course, opened up a huge minefield of what I can only describe as very interesting possibilities for us to engage in.
It was within these sparring situations that I VERY quickly learned that my pride, in matching Steve in body and limb ‘Speed’, did NOT equate; in anyway, with an ability to come anywhere near matching him in anything other than basic pre-arranged Combative exchanges.
Once released from the confines of a pre-arranged exchange he could, and would, bring other skills into play that literally made it feel as if I was moving flat out and he was moving in slow motion (not literally the case but it felt like it!). I simply could not touch him and he would be that split second ahead of me all the time! In fact, I can truly state that for a very long time I couldn’t even get near to him in terms of having the ability to land a decisive blow first! Whether it be; a defensive or offensive Technique!
However, he was a gracious and kind Instructor who would then make me think deeply about what had occurred, giving me advice and information to help me learn and develop.
Steve was so talented in judging Factors such as Reaction, Timing, Distancing and Accuracy that he could ‘control’ the situation in an instant.
Notable was his ability to read what was occurring and thus place himself in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to either drive home an attack or respond to my attacks in a manner that allowed him to take full advantage of all and any openings.
This experience absolutely transformed my opinion and understanding of what Speed really IS!
I, of course, received excellent advice and instruction from Cattle Sensei as he helped me understand the tactical and strategic skills he had developed and this sent me on a journey to try and expand this knowledge even further. It was to lead me to another absolutely extraordinary Instructor and the immensely educational experience of training and sparring with him but that’s for another article!
Since that time I have had fine instruction on these factors from a range of incredible Instructors of different sizes, physiques and limb length and this has helped me to understand that although limb and body movement speed IS very important there are other consistent factors that must be given due attention if you truly wish to develop OVERALL SPEED in your Combative skills.
Please keep in mind that as well as being a very enthusiastic Karate Competitor I was, as part of my living, literally having to put myself ‘on the line’ in my security work. Therefore, if this information was wrong I could at best be seriously injured or at worst even Killed. I write this article several decades later after facing far too many VERY violent situations, with no major injury having occurred to me – so the instruction I received and the study and training since must have worked!
So trust me in this as I am, and always have been, just an average Karateka, whom was very fortunate to get some way above average Instruction and this enabled me to cope, function – whatever the term may be. Therefore so can you!
With this in mind let us then explore the factors that aid and add to your limb and body speed to enhance your combative abilities.
Once you understand these Factors you will realise that by increasing the Speed of each factor you eventually increase overall speed – which has got to be a plus!
Before doing so I would advise the following:
I have written on various aspects of this subject many times over about 3 decades, in different forms. I hope that the information given will intertwine with the info given here. I hope it will also help you know that the dual information will show that this info also stands the test of time and subsequent testing.
With a little exploration you can find these articles in old Shotokan Karate Magazines, Traditional Karate Magazines, Combat Magazines and others. I raise this to ensure you that the advice I shall give here is neither new nor ‘owned’ by my instructors or I – you will find similar info in the written history and advice text of Martial arts systems worldwide. I hope that this re-assures you that it is the right and correct information and thus should be a core element of your study.
Once it is grasped that Speed in successfully dealing with violence requires several factors to be in place; it naturally follows that knowing what those factors are is vitally important.
The initial factor, often woefully overlooked in my opinion is the speed in which you can analyse the information presented to you in a violent event (please note; That I am including Competition Karate here as being a ‘Violent event’ even if somewhat sterilised by rules etc!).
This requires quite astute and perceptive skills that not only include the instant analysis of information presented but also an ability to gain information from that presented to you and then analyse it in a manner that allows you to react correctly. This is not only an ability to ‘react’ to the actual information but also the ability to be able to gain a perceived incite from it based upon all factors including previous experience – WOW! Quite a task and you haven’t even begun to physically respond yet!
For continuity of thought lets call this ‘Useful input/Useful Usage Ability – Speed’ (Zanshin?) In other words a two factor skill:
1. The ability to receive and absorb all relevant information and;
2. The ability to instantly analyse it correctly and thus take appropriate actions to gain maximum advantage and success from that analysis.
Of particular importance in your quest to increase skills in this area is the need to realise that you have to train yourself to not only pick up information but to also understand what, amongst the avalanche of information presented to you, is useful and what is not and thus can be ignored, discarded or quite simply blanked.
First then has to be some deliberation as to how you are going to receive this information.
Initially you will quite naturally focus solely on information you receive visually – via your eyes, as they will generally (but not in all circumstances) be your dominant source of information.
However, before focusing in this source of information it would be wise to consider other ways in which a combatant can receive information that will be useful to him/her.
Sound is often overlooked, not only in the sense of for example registering your opponent take a quick inhalation of breath a split second before launching an assault but also in the sense of information that can be derived from listening very carefully to the tone, volume and content of a verbal exchange in a real life situation.
Some of these *clues and cues you will register instinctively but, after many years of dealing with this kind of aggressive situation,
*Note: Clues are the information gleaned. Cues are what it is prompting you to do!
I can absolutely confirm that not only can you fine tune this skill you can also learn to use your voice (tone, volume and content) to help you control or even defuse a situation – the infamous ‘Fighting without fighting!’.
Also, let us not forget how sound can be received from many directions and this can assist you in registering matters that may be outside of your visual or kinaesthetic range of absorption – to the sides and rear for example.
Also, be very conscious of the huge amount of information that can be received kinaesthetically - meaning you ‘Physically feel’ it. This is of particular importance for Close Quarter work and this form of information gathering can be extremely useful and surprisingly wide ranging once you understand how to use it.
If studied carefully and fully, kinaesthetic information gathering can help you to not only analyse what your opponents intended actions are but can also be hugely useful in helping you decide what to do and how to do it, in response.
With practice one can identify targets to attack, joints to lock or manipulate and even the weight distribution and balance factors in the situation that may then allow you to trip, throw or restrain your opponent without any use of visual information at all.
Returning now to your dominant source of information: Visually Perceived –
It is important to realise that actually we, initially, gather far too much Visually Perceived Information and unless we train ourselves to sieve this huge amount of ‘stuff’ it will impede us, rather than assist us, in the task of speedily and usefully responding defensively or alternately driving home an attack.
This is a VERY important point and it surprises me that the development of the skill and knowledge required to know what to be looking at in detail and what is basically peripheral imagery that is of no real use to you, is not a more common aspect of general study.
Due to this omission we will even see Dan Graded Karateka whom are that split second behind the game because they haven’t really studied what the cues and clues are and how to visually pinpoint them.
All pre-arranged Kumite Drills are important in this context, from the most simple to the very complex and therefore should be given due attention within your study programs.
Such drills allow you the opportunity to evaluate these matters and then learn what to (literally) focus your attention upon and what not to as it is of no, or much less significance. This requires an analysis of human biomechanics in order that one can understand the chain of events that are involved when an opponent launches an attack or when you launch yours.
Those with an untrained eye tend to make the mistake of either focusing their gaze too broadly (they will unconsciously wait until the whole mass of the opponents body has definitely began to move) or alternately they will focus too minutely (and often too late) and dwell upon an individual body part (the arm delivering the punch for example) and this is often too little too late!
The skill is to be able to recognise and instantly evaluate the initial, intermediate and final movements that occur when an opponent launches a particular weapon (a punch, a kick – whatever it be) and, via many rehearsals of this, imprint this ‘moving map’ into your experiential learning ‘memory bank’ in order that the assessments and calculations required can be instantaneously triggered and the correct responses to the attack, or the opening for you to deliver an attack, can be seized upon.
Let us pause for a moment and remember that at this stage we haven’t even got to the point that involves us initiating any kind of movement of our own yet - but nevertheless we are already involved in a very complex and difficult process that has to be carried out as fast as at all possible.
Remember also that in this context ‘fast’ is quite literally meaning ‘in milliseconds’. Yet despite the immensely complex nature of this initial, but vital, process many do not take the time to research it, become aware of it and thus be better able to maximise their ability in performing it! Quite an extraordinary oversight if you think about it.
E.g. if one is practising defensive procedures - with targeted study and due attention one can begin to recognise the important visual cues and clues that help us differentiate between an incoming Mae Geri as opposed to a Mawashi Geri.
At first this is simply a matter of recognising the overall body mechanics displayed by our attacker when each technique is launched at and into us. However, this generalised recognition will not maximise our ability to defend and thereafter counterattack these techniques. We have to tune in and sharpen up our ability to register what is coming.
In order to refine this we need to be aware of the ‘5 Stages of technique process’ that is the universal rule that overlays all and every technique. Once this is understood we can target our study to evaluate what is occurring during each of the 5 Stages and utilise this information to assist us in responding effectively.
Once this process of evaluation begins, we start to understand that even though the techniques themselves have distinct differences in terms of the body mechanics that can be witnessed when they are launched at you, certain commonalities occur – especially so at Stage 1: Initiation and at Stages 4 and 5: return flightpath and its transition into finish of the technique (a point when a defensive counter blow may well prove successful!).
By continually assessing the clues and cues we can come to learn that, in either kick (Mae or Mawashi Geri), the transfer of body weight onto the supporting leg must first occur as the attack is launched. As a consequence certain movements of the upper body alignment and hip positioning have to be evident as either kick is initiated. In time this recognition of the attack initiation becomes much quicker and then takes us very naturally into the next stage of our cues and clues analysis of the attack.
Often at this stage students are confused as to exactly where they should target their gaze.
This is therefore a good point for us to consider exactly how human sight actually functions and whilst doing so try and make some sense out of the unclear types of advice that are often spouted by instructors without them really understanding their intent – such as ‘Focus nowhere and thus everywhere!’ (Really?) Or ‘Look into your opponents eyes and they will broadcast his intent’ (Actually? I think not!).
The functioning of the human ability of sight is an extraordinary and wonderful gift we are blessed to possess. However, because it is something that we plainly have functioning for the vast majority of our waking lives it has become something we rarely pay any detailed attention to. For a Martial Artist this is indeed an oversight in the true sense of the word.
So, let us again pause and take a very conscious moment to actually examine, in layman’s terms, how our, by far most dominant source of information about an opponent – our visual abilities - actually work and how we can use that information to assist us to utilise this wonderful ability to best advantage in a combative situation.
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this little exercise because if I had to name what was the most common mistake that I, as a Karate Instructor for almost 4 decades, witness amongst students (of all Grades, Genders and Ages) I would have no hesitation in stating: -
‘It is the repeated failure to control the positioning of the head so that one maximises your visual ability to gather the vital information needed to execute your Karate at maximum efficiency’
I genuinely hold by that claim because time and time again I witness students failing to maximise their visually abilities due to the quite simple failure to optimise the positioning of their head to thus allow their eyes to best do their job.
All that is required is a little thought, as to exactly how the eyes most proficiently function and thereafter ensure that you are constantly facilitating that potential by correct positioning of your head – simple! (Well: You would think so but woefully neglected IMHO!).
Time and again one will see Karateka with their head twisted slightly to the side or slightly forward and they are totally oblivious to the simple fact that even these slight deviations in head positioning can have a profound effect upon the eyes ability to focus or read depth etc.
Fundamentally, the Human Sight function is a binocular process that performs most proficiently if both eyes are pointing directly at the centre of the image one is trying to focus (both visually and mentally) upon. (In actuality it is a little more complicated than this due to their respective positioning in your skull etc but I am sure you get my point).
This simple process will, in return, give you clearer focus, better depth perception, a wider plane of peripheral vision and as a result the best opportunity to gain information of quite literally life or death importance.
Yet despite this one will constantly see Karateka failing to position their head, and thus their eyes, in the best possible position to facilitate this. The expression ‘Keep your eye on the ball’ springs to mind and emphasises the fact that the need to use your visual abilities to maximum effect is an aspect of most dynamic activities.
There is however a simple little trick that will aid you in correcting this common fault.
If one looks at the structure of the human face it can be seen that sitting neatly and equidistantly between the eyes is your nose. Therefore, if you use your imagination and envisage that a laser beam is being transmitted in an exact straight line from the tip of your nose and you always position your head so that the thin red Laser Beam would always hit a point at the centre of the intended target of your gaze, you will find that your eyes are positioned such as to gain maximum bifocal success.
Try this little exercise to demonstrate the point.
1. Move your chair back until you are approximately 2 metres away from your computer screen.
2. Sit up straight and point the imaginary Laser Beam (that is projecting out in a ‘laser straight’ manner from the tip of your nose) at the exact centre of your computer screen and keep it there.
3. Now without allowing the beam to deviate from that central point on the screen notice how you have gained best focus on the centre of the screen but can also use your peripheral vision to pick up visual information from a quite wide area to your right, left and down and to a more limited extent upwards (this upper limitation is due to the design of your skull and the protruding Eyebrow Ridge above the eyes!).
4. Now move your nose approximately 3 cm to your right by making a slight readjustment of the positioning of your head. Notice that, although your head has only moved a very small way, the central focus of your gaze has moved considerably.
5. Now, without moving your head back again – look at the centre of the screen. You will have to readjust the position of your eyes and this will diminish various factors relating to the efficiency of your focus, peripheral imaging, depth perception etc. All of this has an impact on your ability to analyse sight perceived information. Test it – try to gather information as acutely as you could when the laser beam hit dead centre – not so easy and the more the head loses alignment the worst it will become.
Now, I now some may even feel patronised by the numbered information given above but the truth is many Karateka never even consider it and I have witnessed this again and again for years.
This problem is, of course seen often in beginners but why is it still so prevalent amongst more senior grades that apparently do not grasp the importance of the central focal point of their gaze.
Often they will make the mistake of looking down towards the opponents’ incoming legs in an effort to gain information and through this misplacement of their main source of information, the eyes, they walk straight into the trap this makes. Anyway I am hopeful you have grasped my point!
If we then return to the point about the required transition of bodyweight onto the supporting leg in order to make a kick - we can then come to realise that certain other movements of your opponents body must then occur when he/she begins Stage 2: outward Flightpath of the technique.
Forward transition of the Torso and hips, the chambering of the Kick relevant to their differing Stage 2 processes, the initiation, or lack thereof, of a rotation of the body, the placement and positioning of the arms etc – the list is long but practice helps with future perception and recognition of these movements. All of these clues and cues can then be part of our analytical processes that will aid our response.
Importantly, with practice one comes to learn where to focus your gaze as a result of you coming to understand what aspects of your opponents’ movements are ‘instructive’ to you and what is superficial or even irrelevant?
Another aspect of such attention to even the most minute of details that is often overlooked is the benefits to be gained in respect of learning how not to ‘Broadcast’ an intended technique that you choose to launch.
For example I would suggest that all Dan Grades should – via practice – learn to launch almost all kicking techniques via a Stage 2 process that in essence remains the same for 2/3rds of the outward motion irrelevant of the final deployment of the leg and accompanying hip and body movements to facilitate the delivery of a specific Kick.
That is to say eventually one should, for example, be able to launch Mae Geri, Yoko Geri, Mawashi Geri, and Gyaku Mawashi Geri from an identical first 2/3rds of Stage 2 (Outward Flightpath).
This is in order that the knee and initial hip and body movements remain identical as the knee travels centrally until; by skilful use of the hips and supporting leg and foot, one launches a chosen technique – Yoko Geri for example.
By doing so one is able to minimise your opponents’ ability to evaluate your actions and thus you slow down his reaction accuracy and response time. A very useful by-product of systemised and systematic detailed study of ‘Awareness Ability –Speed’ I am hopeful you would agree.
The most important outcome of this kind of detailed study and training is the fact that it then begins a domino effect in your training that permits you to take this information and work on what the requirements of the next stage of a combative exchange are.
That is to say – you can now work on what you must do once you have made this initially almost instantaneous (and remember it must be as fast as you can possibly make it) analysis. Now we are in the realm of your physical responses to the situation.
At this time we can begin to examine different aspects of your responses such as spatial awareness, blocking or evasive tactics, footwork, stance selection, your choice of defensive technique and target, accuracy and the all important timing of it all etc.
Once again this is where pre-arranged Kumite drills can be very useful as they allow you to experiment and develop responses that over time become part of an instinctive process of:
‘Action – Analysis – Reflexive decision – Response
rather than the far too slow and deliberate
‘Action - Analysis – Contemplative Thought – Decision – Response’
process that unfamiliarity will require you to fall into.
I do not wish to be misunderstood here and therefore want to be clear that I am NOT suggesting that you must develop a process that (for example) follows a preset:
‘If opponent does A. (Mae Geri) you always respond with B. (Gedan Barrai, Gyaku Tsuki)’.
No! Not at all, but if one practices a wide variety of possible responses to given situations, over time one will become increasingly skilled in choosing appropriate responses without conscious contemplative decision making processes being involved.
As experience and skills grow it is essential to make the preset Kumite Drills more and more complex until they transit through the Semi Free and on into fully free exchanges with little or no prearranged aspects.
DO NOT fall into the trap of thinking that you only have time to practice Gohon, Ippon and Jyu Ippon Kumite to get students through a grading. By being imaginative, thinking about what is needed, and then devising a wide variety of Yakusoku Kumite Drills you will enhance your students skills to the point that the basic formats become simple.
Do not misunderstand – just because a Kumite Drill has 47 moves in it does NOT make it advanced! Target the study so that even with simple, in the physical sense, moves - the tactics and strategies that underpin the exercise are advanced and useful in reality.
Important within all of this is the need to pace the speed and intensity of the drills so that, eventually, full speed, total commitment, aggression and even danger become involved to help you best rehearse the reality of a live situation. Remember:
‘Never be afraid of going slowly; only of standing still’
Give the students the chance to sequentially understand the purpose of the Drill, practice it until they understand what is required to achieve that aim and then gradually increase the speed until it becomes as ‘real’ as possible.
Some things to consider:
· Physical speed is a huge advantage BUT being the physically fastest DOES NOT automatically equate to winning the Battle/Fight or Contest.
· Before ANY physical exchanges take place many complicated evaluation and decision making procedures must, in an instant, take place and failing to understand this, rehearse it and develop relevant skills WILL leave you slower in terms of your ability to quickly and efficiently deal with combative exchanges. Put simply we need to be able to recognise what is happening, whilst it is happening and then instantaneously respond!
· In terms of developing the required skills you must realise that ALL helpful and sustained development will only come to fruit as a result of two distinct but intertwined processes:
1. Study – Even if you vigorously (but blindly) practice an activity, such as Karate, you will never really gain proficiency in it until you know and understand:
· What you are doing,
· When you should do it,
· Why you should do it and;
· How you should do it.
It is vital that you study Karate as well as practice/train in Karate.
2. Train – there are unfortunately, in all endeavours, those that ‘Talk the talk’ and those that ‘Walk the Walk’. The Secret is to have abilities in both areas. Understand the science of what you are doing. DO NOT fail to look outside of Karate to become familiar with the latest Sports Science information in relation to what you are doing, how you should be doing it and why. This must be so when you are training/practising your Karate.
Then apply this diligently into your 100% efforts whilst actually training. When this is coupled with sound advice from experienced Karate Instructors (We are fortunate to have many now - both Japanese and just about every other nationality) and information from your Study and research (we are also fortunate to have a vast amount of study and research resources now – Books, Tapes, DVD’s, the T’Internet etc) you can maximise both your Talk and Walk abilities.
As a result your Training/Practice efforts will be optimised and this, of course leads to Skill developments that will ensure that you become faster and faster physically – in terms of body and limb movement BUT more importantly you will become faster and faster at dealing successfully with a violent combative situation!
Some food for thought:
· Through study and GOOD advice learn and then understand the correct Biomechanics of how your body is actually design to move. It is an absolute waste of time practicing a movement that is wrong!
· Never throw a technique out there, be it an Attack or Defensive manoeuvre, in the vague hope that it will be successful. You can witness this a great deal with Students as they get into panic mode so throw stuff out there ‘Hoping it will work!’. It is, I know, difficult to accept that WE ALL, at times do this but it is wrong and wasteful. Learn to be composed and in control and only trigger techniques when you actually have valid reason – rather than a mere ‘hope it works’ reasoning.
· In both physical and mental (even emotional) terms you must learn to relax and have no tension involved before you make a decision or launch a physical activity (Technique). Reality and ALL the research show this to be so.
· Be realistic – it is immensely difficult to remain calm and reasoned under the stress of dealing with a truly violent situation! Therefore this ‘skill’ is actually far more important than any physical skill can ever be. (I have witnessed this, people who have shown exceptional physical power and aggression when hitting a Punch Bag and then have absolutely folded when faced with a violent opponent.
· But, to be fair, I have often also seen those less physically proficient whom have been stunningly good in real, very dangerous, situations because they where mentally more prepared!
· Remember that your Perception and analysis speed can be increased by repeatedly exposing yourself to situations that require instant analysis whilst under pressure. In essence Kumite Drills are mock confrontations that require you to quickly analyse what demands to be responded to (and how) and what is useless information (and why?).
· Kumite Drills (Basic, intermediate and advanced formats) teaches you what an attack looks like the milliseconds before it happens and also what an opening for your attack looks like and how to seize upon such opportunities.
· Robust Kumite also teaches you to be ‘In the zone’. That means you must be relaxed but alert and responsive. You must develop these skills fully because with out them you will never initiate the correct and required physical actions. You cannot respond to a developing situation if you do not realize it is developing!
· Although diligent training to increase your ability in relation to physical speed is a vitally important aspect of your Karate development remember that it is in essence totally useless if your reaction speeds – the ability to instantaneously know when to launch an attack or a defensive manoeuvre – are not also given due attention and thus improved.
I can well imagine you finishing this article with the thought – ‘OK Steve, I get it but why haven’t you told me exactly where, on my opponent, I should focus my gaze in order to maximise my ability to not only gain useful info but also gain it as soon as I can?’
Well – it is such a complex but at the same time simple Procedure/Process that it deserves another article.
Enjoy!
.