Note from your webmaster:
The Kumite, or sparring, competition is always designed with safety as the first priority. The youngest students were permitted no contact at all in a ‘copycat’ competition, whilst the older and more advanced students were allowed free sparring with controlled contact to the torso. The emphasis was on good technique, in a format designed to produce good fighting strategies for later, more physical, karate competition.
Kumite Competition 2007
The 1st kyus demonstrate gyakuzuki...
...hook kick...
...and roundhouse kick.
‘Copycat’ means that opponents of different...
...size and ability can compete safely.
Technique...
range, and style are all noted by the judges.
It’s a big hurdle to learn to engage an opponent.
With experience,
you can see the techniques...
...begin to become effective.
The more experienced students...
...are expect to show control...
...at a genuine fighting distance.
When actually making contact,
it’s important to maintain posture and balance.
Knee lift is important...
...because it’s difficult to lift a straight leg.
It’s easier to lift the knee first,
...then extend the lower leg.
The gyakuzuki or opposite punch
is the standard hand technique in competition.
The roundhouse kick...
...or mawashigeri...
...is the most used leg technique.
The majority of techniques shown...
...are strikes because...
...it’s quicker to counterstrike...
...than to block and strike.
Competitors bounce...
to give them more reliable grip...
...at the moment they choose to strike.
