Karate Sparring

[Pauline Winters]

Karate sparring, known as kumite, is one of the most important
segments of karate training, along with kata and kihon. It is a sort
of exercise performed between at least two karate practitioners, using
the techniques learned from the kihon and kata.
Contrary to the popular belief, the main purpose of karate sparring is
to expose or show off a practitioner's technique. The term "technique"
here not only refers to the physical techniques involved in the art of
karate, but to the understanding of the fundamental and advanced
concepts of the art, such as timing and distancing, as well. Given
this idea, it is clear that unlike the other forms of fighting, karate
sparring aims not to defeat, unless it is a tournament match, or
injure the opponent. Karate sparring rather aims to develop and
improve your karate skills and at the same time helping your opponent
or your partner improve his or her own skills.
There is much to karate sparring than its being a developing and
learning tool. It is a test of wills. Karate sparring allows the
students to develop and enhance elements like control, distance, form,
focus, eye intensity, reflexes, awareness, timing and coordination.
And, as what most karate sparring experts have commonly noted, what
makes karate sparring best is that it teaches the students how to
apply the basic techniques and elements of the art, stances, and even
the hip motions in a dynamic situation.
There are a number of possible variations in the practice of kumite or
sparring. However, although it covers a vast rage of activities, the
art can be broken down into two basic variations where one of the
participants remains stationary, and where both remain moving.
In the traditional form of karate, there is what they call as Gohon
Kumite, which is often identified as the first type of karate sparring
for the beginners. In this type, the defender steps back each time,
blocking the five attacks and performing a counterattack after the
fifth block. The second type, however, looks nothing like the gohon
kumite. It is known as Jiyu Kumite or free sparring, which is
practiced by the more advanced karate sparring practitioners. This
second variation is said to appear far closer to how the art would
look if used in a real fight. This is due to the fact that in free
sparring or jiyu kumite, the use of certain stances is not required.
In kumite or sparring, punches and kicks are the basic techniques.
These techniques are generally considered in competitions to kill the
opponent. However, since it is very difficult to find anyone willing
to spar against you, or a sparring partner, to improve your technique,
what most of the karate sparring students do is that they aim to
deliver strikes with the maximum speed and power possible. The
strikes, however, must be stopped at the moment of contact so to
protect the opponent from any possible injury. In karate sparring,
this is what actually improves the control you have over your
strikes.

Win Any Fight in Under 3 Minutes: http://selfdefensef.blogspot.com/#