Stance
Arms Arm pits should not be exposed, any exposure of the arm pit would lead to exposure of the rib cage. (vital scoring area) Head, elbow, shoulder, and front knee should all point forward along a straight line. Head position, lead hand, should cover area between head and shoulder. (fluctuating) Rear hand positioning should fluctuate between rear shoulder and torso to be able to cover target area. Offensive Posture Defensive Posture Leg Work Avoidance Abilities 1. Side step with lead, adjusting with rear leg to 50/50, simultaneously executing counter. 2. Side step with rear leg to inside of opponents guard simultaneous executing counter. 3. Center shifting can be effective against limited opponents, side stepping is much more effective. 4. Back shifting only when shifting one step back and then executing counter, anything more than one step can lead to opponent over powering or running down. 5. Weight distribution when avoiding should be 50/50 or when side stepping to the inside or the outside. 6. Time laps between avoidance and counter should almost simultaneous. 7. Countering when moving backward is only effective when both feet are planted while executing counter. Anything more than one step is taking a risk of being over powered. Countering while moving backwards most times is ineffective and powerless. Side stepping and countering tends to be more effective. 8. Too much time between advantage and fallow up usually leads to being countered first. This should be done almost simultaneously. 9. Reading an attack should should be done focusing on your opponent mid-section (hip and torso). Focusing on the feet or eyes is incorrect, because a smart opponent will fake or break rhythm with eyes or feet. This element of surprise can lead to your opponent effectively closing distance against you. 10. Avoidance where none is needed usually is a wasted movement and can tell your opponent what type of fighter you are.... side stepper, back peddler, counter puncher, counter kicker, etc... 11. Avoidance when should have initiated attack usually is an indication of inexperience or not wanting to engage-or a defenseless attitude. 12. Avoidance repertoire should consist of the following: Side stepping to the outside of guard, or the inside, parrying the technique and countering, slipping a technique and getting on the inside successfully with out getting counter, counter simultaneously while opponent is attacking. Side stepping, slipping, parrying are usually more effective than back stepping. Neck / Head Areas 1. Neck leading body is a telegraph. 2. Too much facial stress before initiating movement leads to a telegraph. 3. Inability to hold head/chin in alignment leads to poor focus of the techniques usually leads to technique slipping off or missing. 4. Question is unclear. Blinking can be a telegraph, this can lead to a technique missing or slipping off, can be a sign of fear, all of this leads to a weak technique. 5. Head when executing a technique should not turn, head shoulder remain straight forward chin angled slightly downward or level being protected by the lead shoulder when executing counter or attack. 6. Jaw should be locked in by a proper molded mouth piece in order to avoid any injury. Mouth should never be open. Teeth should not be clenched tightly or relaxed. Athlete should be breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. 7. Avoidance of a technique should not be done with the head movement in proper defense. Body shifting is more effective. Combination of Techniques: 1. One technique should flow into the next without hesitation or telegraph. For example: a letter without a word. 2. There should be no set repertoire of combinations. A skilled fighter should have many combinations, however when engaging in a kumite match a competitor will usually use their 3 or 4 most effective ones. A competitor with a set number repertoire is very limited and predictable. 3. Question is unclear. 4. The ability to change a combination, attack after one is initiated is very important. The fighter must be able to read that the initiated attack will be ineffective and adjust to change midstream to a more effective one. This shows versatility. This is imperative for success and must almost be done simultaneously. 5. One or two hip movements for two techniques may vary due to the techniques being executed. Anything more than that will be wasted movement or a telegraph for the next technique. 6. A fighter cannot close distance while stationary, therefore, a combination cannot be delivered to an opponent while stationary, unless it is a defensive move. 7. The first part of a combination should always be done as a valid attack or with intention. 8. Time lapse between a foot sweep and counter will allow your opponent to counter you. A sweep and counter should be explosive and show no time lapse between moves. The same applies for a kick and counter. 9. This is almost the same, an unsuccessful sweep should be followed up immediately with a technique. If this is not done, one takes a good chance of being countered. 10. One should not be mentally finished with an attack until they hear the referee's command of "Yame". The intention should be go through your opponent. 11. Desired result of a combination may vary: it could be to off balance an opponent, to successfully complete an intended combination, to score a point, to counter, to charge or run down. A desire to maliciously hurt or injure an opponent shows a weakness and lack of control of emotion. A smart fighter will out skill an opponent who cannot control emotions. a) The purpose of unbalancing an opponent is a distract while successfully executing a combination. b) A combination attack should have opponent focused on first technique and unaware of the second and third technique to come. c) "Running down" opponent is usually an attempt or bombard opponent with techniques in an attempt to catch up on points or successfully closing distance against an opponent with a defenseless attitude. Transition 1. Back leg to center, center placement to finish is a poor transitional concept of closing distance. A better more effective way to close distance is lead foot to initiate movement back leg driving forward to continue the closing distance from point A to B, continuing from point C to D and so on. To close distance as stated in the question will prove to limit an athlete's transition also making the transition slow and allowing one to be countered very easily. 2. Transition balance should remain 50/50. Anything more or less will slow down transition and execution. 3. Repertoire of transition should not be limited to just forward,just back, to left, or to the right. A fighter should be able to move in transition when appropriate at any given situation. If not then one is very limited and predictable and easily off balanced. 4. Crossing feet in a transition stage is incorrect, rising up and down, transition in the air, transition on one foot. a) Lifting up prior to transition is a telegraph and readable. b) Shifting to correct balance prior to transition is a telegraph and indication of initiating attack. c) Legs not centered through transition will limit the distance and the speed and flow of closing distance. Recovery to correct stance after transition must be done in order to set up for the next technique. d) Combinations limited by transitional error will limit the length of closing distance, will limit what can be delivered off the lead side, and the rear side. This will also enable successful defense and offense and also recovery.
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