How to teach Kumite

There are 4 common mistakes that every Instructor should watch for in his Kumite class:

1. Broken & disconnected distance to the opponent

2. Broken & disconnected timing

3. The attacker is missing a clear understanding of the vital attacking point and/or the defender is missing a clear understanding of the target area of his blocking technique

4. Missing mental balance

1) Broken distance to the opponent:

It is important that the student develops a feeling of the right distance (Maai) to execute an effective and successful attack. If the attacker is to far away the defender wont be forced to block. If the attacker is too close he will either be countered or run into the defender.

A broken distance in the defense means that you have moved too far away from the opponent, which makes a fast counter impossible.

2) Broken timing:

In the offense: It is obvious that every attack has its right timing. For the attacker this timing is the quick attack after the opponent moves into the trap that was set up or the moment he makes a mistake. If you miss this moment that opportunity passes by and the timing for this chance is gone, thus the timing is broken.

In the defense there is a short moment after the offenders attack that is significant and can be used to score:

In the Kumite basic exercises such as Gohon, Sanbon and Kihon Ippon Kumite the attacker stays in his final position and leaves his technique out. This helps the defender to block and to position his counter to the proper target point. During the beginner level this is acceptable and part of the learning experience. However, slowly the student now needs to be led to the next level.

At this level of training the student should practice the execution of block and counter as one sequence and the sure prediction of which vital target area the opponent does or will expose. This has to be trained up to a point where the student automatically reacts with the correct blocking technique and counter to the vital target. It is important that the student reacts with one blocking/counter sequence to a focused vital target point.

The time the attacker leaves his attack out will be shortened as he moves back into his Kamae position. This forces the defender to execute the block and counter faster and as one unit before the attacker can move back and retreat.

The retreat of the attacker needs further explanation: there is a physical retreat and a mental retreat. The physical retreat of the attacker is the move into a Kamae position and/or the step back. The mental retreat is the attacker’s decision to drop the will to attack (even if it is only for a split second) and/or his readiness to block an incoming counter, and/or his decision to launch another attack again. For a split second the attacker drops his concentration. He needs to decide between retreat, blocking of an incoming counter or launch of a new attack.

If a student has learned and understood how to execute block and counter as one unit he then needs to be led to the next level and has to learn how to use this in a tactical way for his free sparing:

An offender executes his attack fully committed. If he does not score and succeeds with his attack, he will drop his concentration as mentioned above. This mental destruction is a combination of frustration and disappointment that his attack was without any success. He then needs to physically and mentally readjust and reposition himself towards the opponent. The former attacker now faces the question, “now what?” Retreat, launch of a new attack or will there be the need for a block? This is the short window of opportunity for the defender to score while the opponent’s mind is occupied with retreating, readjusting or repositioning. This all happens within a split second.

Once this moment has passed the counter is no longer a counter and rather a new attack launched now by the former defender. A new attack however, always gives the defender the chance to readjust and block.

One could compare this situation with archery. Once you have shot your arrow, which is your attack, you will be busy reloading even if it is just for a quick second. This is the moment that you are vulnerable for an attack from your opponent. Consequently the attacker has to learn how the shorten the reload phase and keep it at a total minimum, while the defender has to learn to wait for the reloading phase to execute his own attack with lightning speed.

3) The target area:

Unfortunately many students do not have a clear idea of the exact target point they should aim for with their technique. This is something the instructor has to monitor, and if necessary persistently correct. In the offense the target is not the head, it is a specific point at the head such as the nose, the chin or the temple. This of course is true for the stomach region as well. The Solar Plexus, the sides of the rips, or kidneys are clear, vital target points. In Karate there is no target region, but only a specific defined target point.

In the defense there is a similar problem if the defender does not have a clear idea of how and where to block the attacker’s arm or leg. In general, an attack with the arm will be blocked slightly above the wrist and an attack with the leg slightly above the ankle. This is not only the best timing for a block but it is also the point where the block has its most leverage. Of course depending on the situation it may be necessary to block differently. Please also read: proper blocking and your weapons.

4) Mental balance:

Another very important point is what I would call the mental balance during Kumite: The balance between cooperation and confrontation, between hard and soft, together vs. against each other.

I have noticed that in many Dojos this balance is missing. Therefore, I want to discuss this problem further.

Partner training means practicing a certain skill, situation, application, combination and the like. Then learning how to master it and putting it into your repertoire of skills.

The first level of partner training is cooperation and working together with the partner to learn the specific skill. This has to be done in cooperation, calmly and peacefully. This is true for beginners, intermediates as well as advanced students.

Cooperation is the important word. This is how the two partners will begin to work out timing, distance and target area.

The next level is the actual Kumite faceoff. Once the two students have reached a certainty with the drill, technique or situation they then have to faceoff in a competitive way and built up a controlled aggression to challenge each other to the maximum. The cooperation now has to turn into competition. The drill moves from the idea of with each other to against each other. Both partners then try to make it as challenging as possible for the opponent. Aggression has to be built up and used in a controlled manner. Concentration and control secure safety, and ensures that no injuries occur. Only then and in this way will both partners benefit the most.

Too many times one can only see one side of partner training. Either both partners are busy with “peace talk” (as I like to call it) or both partners start off at immediate enemies and the important points such as timing, distance and target area are neglected. Meaningful partner training slowly increases in speed, aggression and competitiveness without either partner ever forgetting the important points of the drill. Here it is very important that the instructor monitors the group carefully and either slows down the two partners or pushes them to a more intense and aggressive exercise. Good instructors get their brown and black belts to a level where they themselves can decide when an exercise can or should be intensified.

Sabaki: escaping towards the side

In my opinion Sabaki is a skill that is not practiced enough. It can be a skill of significant tactical advantage. (You will find an additional subject on Sabaki in the future).

Combinations:

An important maturity process in Kumite, is leading the student from single techniques to combinations. First, the student has to be able to perform the single technique properly as well as be able to execute it on a partner judging distance, timing and target correctly. It is important that the instructor constantly pays attention to the student’s correct execution of the technique on the partner. Once the student has mastered the single technique the next step has to set in. This next step is the mastering of combinations and the correct use on the partner.

Many times even black belts limit themselves to single techniques although they actually should have the technical skills to use combinations. This is due to a lack of practice. The problem may be found in partner training.

It is important to get the student to a level where he feels confident enough to make use out of combinations in a fighting situation. If the student gets countered too many times while using combinations, he will eventually lose confidence and trust in it and will default back to using single techniques.

The instructor has to lead the student through sensible exercises (with and without a partner) in order for the student to gain the necessary confidence and feeling to execute the combination with certainty and commitment. This way the feeling for the right timing and distance can be developed and the inhibition threshold to use combinations will be lowered.

Last but not least when it comes to competition: Learn the rules!

Knowledge of the specific rules is a necessity for a safe, controlled Kumite match. It can also lead to a tactical advantage.

The important points to remember:

• No break up in the distance
• No break up in the timing
• Specific target areas
• From slow and cooperative partner training to a controlled aggressive confrontation (mental balance)
• Sabaki
• From single techniques to combinations
• Knowledge of the rules