Kumite Tips for beginners by beginners

[Tettsui]

I wanted to start a thread about the obvious techniques in kumite that make a huge difference to beginners but are often forgot (and never taught) by experienced fighters because it's such common sense.

So this is a thread for beginners (or Senpais) to say anything they've learned that really improved their kumite fighting. (Senpai's please jump in if the techniques need some correction) No matter how obvious sounding it is, someone else may have never realized that subtle point.

My tip is: step in at an angle instead of straight in when attacking
I used to often get mae geris and yoko geris when attacking and I couldn't figure out why. I thought it was my timing. When I found out this simple tip, the mae geris reduced 90%.

OSU!!!

[Olrac]

osu,
my tip:
Don't look at the eyes or the legs.
Look at the plexus, then you can see all body movements and you will be able to react a little bit faster.
Good luck
osu

[Shokei Marcsui]

Throw more than 1 or 2 techniques at a time. Aim for 3+ techs..

Oi tsuki >> Gyaku tsuki >> <insert geri here>

[seienchin]

My tip is especially for smaller people fighting bigger opponents (but big people, you can use it too...I won't mind)

The tip is - get in, hit, get out again. This is building on the idea of not just throwing a single technique - but in your mind, link moving yourself as part of the combination. Step into range - hit - step back out before you can be hit yourself.

I see a lot of small people trying to fight as tho they can stand and slug it like a heavyweight..forget it. You'll just get hurt

[Shokei Marcsui]

Originally Posted by seienchin

I see a lot of small people trying to fight as tho they can stand and slug it like a heavyweight..forget it. You'll just get hurt

I learned this the hard way ... Fighting sempai that is 6'2 and same build as I. I'm short, but not skinny. I'm built like a bulldog, but with a much prettier face

On the same not the seinchin is on with moving in and out...

KEEP YOUR HANDS UP! Protect your head at all costs.. and your ribs. When you move in.. hands up. Move out.. hands up.

I've been pushed out by big people or sprung out and have been caught a couple of times with a long legged Jodan Mawashi Geri. If you do not have your hands up it's lights out. Or Wazari.

[blackshield]

learn to read your opponent - throw 'testers' to see how your opponent reacts to certain shots eg... throw a few jab cross thigh kick combos, if your opponent seems to drop his guard when he recieves a hard thigh kick then next time throw jab cross jodan mawashi... you get the idea...

[vapor]

Make a conscious effort to NOT back-up.

Your body will want to go into reverse, especially if your opponent is coming at you strong and hard.

Movement, as mentioned above is key---just don't do too much of it backing up!

vapor

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by Tettsui

My tip is: step in at an angle instead of straight in when attacking
I used to often get mae geris and yoko geris when attacking and I couldn't figure out why. I thought it was my timing. When I found out this simple tip, the mae geris reduced 90%.

Very true. since we (well most of us, Im not including the enshin and ashihara guys who focus on sabaki in this) almost always train linear -all the way from kihon to padwork, we do tend to go in straight forward.

Someone, it may have been Sosai -at the very least it was one of the legends, said (slightly paraphrased) that if you go straight in head-to head, and is of the same size and skill as the opponent, you have a 50/50 chance to win. If you step around him and come in at a 90 degree angle (preferably on the outside of his leading leg) you have a 75% chance, and if you manage to move around to attack his back you got 100% chance to win. If you are smaller your chance in a head to head is even lower than 50/50.
-ofcourse a opponent of similar skill will do his best not to allow you to get in at a angle and do his best to get that angle on you.

The head to head straight forward moving fighting style should never be the first option, it should be the last option when your opponent do not allow you to go to the his blind spot.
Most beginners (and way too many experienced ones) still go head to head, never even trying to get the angle on his opponent. Move around him. attack from the sides, never let him attack you from the side.


Also, always keep your feet and body in motion, even if it just a little. starting a movement from motionless is much slower than changing speed and direction of a ongoing movement. just dont move too much. The typical bouncing footwork of tkd dont work when you are allowed to sweep and lowkick.

Dont tense up in your guard (this include not to keep your fist tightly clenched). Many beginners close their fist and force their arms to tension as tight as possible. A tense muscle is a slow muscle (and it will get you tired much faster). Keep loose and in motions. If you need to block, tense up as late as possible, and then loosen up immediately afterwards.

blocks are good, but if he continues to punch/kick something WILL get through sooner or later. dont let him have the initiative, that never work in the long run. Block the initial attack if you have to, then TAKE the initiative, move in and attack yourself (or in competition, clinch up so that you are broken apart and restarted). Attack is usually the best defense.

Breath. Many beginners stop breathing when they attack (often the same people that tense up when they fight), as you may understand that limits the effect (and duration) of the attack somewhat. Breath out as your techniques connects, FIND times to breath in.

NEVER, ever, block lowkicks with your hands or arms. Block lowkicks with legblocks. Blocking lowkicks with arms/hands are a good way to break them

Edit: adding to vapors advice not to back up. If you HAVE to back up, never do it in a straight line. do it off to a side. that will force him to change attack direction on the fly, and with a bit of luck, break his forward momentum. If you move straigh backward, and he follows, it is very hard to stop.

[Marc]

I did take me a while to adapt to fighting in a circle. But it is definitely more effective and surprising to most competitors.

[supergroup7]

Value your time in the dojo, especially when you work on basics. It is the repetition of simple movements that will be the building blocks of future, more complex actions. Make sure that you build a strong foundation.

[Spirit]

I'll say the two thing that has stuck with me over the years from jukyu to now is.

Working the front leg for All kicks.

Alway Train with someone with more knowledge (higher skills) than you, the more you are challenged the faster you will come to understand and be able to apply

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by Olrac

osu,
my tip:
Don't look at the eyes or the legs.
Look at the plexus, then you can see all body movements and you will be able to react a little bit faster.

The eyes are the windows to all movements/thoughts, and with your peripheral vision you can see the rest of the body while viewing the subconscious mind through the eyes.

This is how we teach the placement of your eyes in kumite.

Though I realize that their are many views (no pun intended) on this subject...just a different perspective on the eye placement in kumite.

[seienchin]

Osu Jap-Man - I was taught and have always done/taught the same. I also think that part of winning the battle of spirit is to be able to look them in the eye!

[Satori]

I agree with jap man and seienchin. I've always looked at the chest because I knew there wouldn't be strikes from the head, but my Sensei taught me that you can see the whole body with your peripheral vision anyway, but by looking at the face you can see "inside" them.

If they're about to attack then their head must move, so you're not losing out by looking at the face instead of the chest. Additionally, I've observed that there isn't a noticable difference between how I perceive movement with my peripheral vision when the movement originates close to where I'm looking or far away. That is, it seems to be that I can see equally well everywhere at the same time (other than where I'm focused of course).

If you look at the chest you will also have a tendancy to drop your head, opening the possibility for knees or easier high kicks for your opponent.

My extra tip would be to always keep your elbows tucked in. Your centreline is most important, so make sure your guard always protects it by closing your elbows in and keeping your fists by your head. Never alter this guard!

[Olrac]

Originally Posted by jap man

The eyes are the windows to all movements/thoughts, and with your peripheral vision you can see the rest of the body while viewing the subconscious mind through the eyes.

This is how we teach the placement of your eyes in kumite.

Though I realize that their are many views (no pun intended) on this subject...just a different perspective on the eye placement in kumite.

Osu Japman-san
looking at the plexus instead of the eyes works for me.
It's something you can try out during kumite.
For some it'll work, for other it doesn't.

[Tettsui]

Here's another basic thing I learned recently:

Watch your opponent's weight distribution

The best time to throw a gedan is when you're opponent is shifting their weight to the leg you want to attack. Also you can tell if they are going to do a mai geri or ushiro mawashi with the subtle changes.

[nzproud]

For example, you can intentionally shift to right then low kick(middle kick) when your opponent chases you(shifts to right).

[koji112091]

I believe it was Mas Oyama who said that the momentum of battle should always be foreward. So even if you are at the edge of the ring don't back up. See if you can make it all the way to the parking lot. lol

Something I have heard to fake the opponent . Such as acting as you are going to throw a left to his chest but you are about to kick him with your right foot to the timple.etc
I'm not so sure about this. It might work for a little bit but if your opponent catches on you will be wating valuable time on worthless tricks.
OSU!

[Satori]

Originally Posted by koji112091

I believe it was Mas Oyama who said that the momentum of battle should always be foreward. So even if you are at the edge of the ring don't back up. See if you can make it all the way to the parking lot. lol

Oyama was a big, strong man. He could afford to always go forward because there would have been barely a person alive capable of going toe to toe with him. Although this strength is desirable, most people don't have it, and if they don't have it then they can't employ the same tactics as someone who does.

Originally Posted by koji112091

I'm not so sure about this. It might work for a little bit but if your opponent catches on you will be wating valuable time on worthless tricks.
OSU!

Unless you've only got one trick that you do over and over again, your opponent cannot catch on. You keep mixing it up. Sometimes you feign, sometimes you commit. If your opponent doesn't know whether a feign or hit is comming they'll have to defend just in case.