Kyokushin’s Knockdown fighting ain’t realistic cause they don’t punch to the head

Kyokushin's Knockdown fighting ain't realistic cause they don't punch to the head. I have heard and read this a lot (especially on you tube), mostly from practitioners of semi or non contact styles of fighting a lot of which I greatly admire for their speed and timing but who are general missing the most important aspect, this is full contact.

I will explain why I feel knockdown is not only more realistic and more beneficial as a way of preparing you for a real life confrontation as well as being the most challenging form of 'tournament fighting' but first would like to clarify something. Just because we don't punch to the head in tournaments DOES NOT MEAN WE DON'T TRAIN WITH STRIKES TO THE HEAD. Our kihon is full of head strikes with elbows, closed fists, sword hand strikes palm strikes, finger jabs, etc, etc and off the mat and out of the dojo I know what I would use as he most effective point of attack - the head.

Now to Knockdown fighting, let me ask you this, if I take away your ability to jab, hook or cross punch to the head what would you do? Not sure what else works? A knockdown fighter wins through attrition, cunning and an ability to knockdown (not always out) an opponent without the use of the most obvious weapons, the aim is too grind your opponent down, working on their body, arms and legs with full contact bare fist, elbow, knee and leg attacks, especially the thighs and solar plexus or kidneys until you are so tired you drop to the ground or you drop your guard and BANG a kick or knee strike to the head and you're down.

Sounds simple, and it is - the most effective forms of any fighting always should be - the challenge is to; a) be able to deliver strong techniques with accuracy and timing, b) take a pounding - cause full contact without gloves or shin guards is very, very wearing.

The second aspect to my argument is simple, bare fist striking to the face is illegal in most counties around the world - if we wanted to strike to the head we'd have to wear gloves and lose the true impact of knockdown fighting - It would just become kickboxing with everybody concentrating on head punches. I highly regard kick & Thai boxers as great athletes but these are sports and sports alone, Knockdown fighting is part of a complete martial art, Kyokushin, with highly developed kihon and kata to develop the practitioner into a fully rounded martial artist.

My last point is that any form of full contact fighting strengthens both the body and mind so that should you be faced with a 'real' threat it is not so daunting and you are able to control the adrenaline rush towards your own attack rather than frozen by the fear or shock of being hit.