to Keep in Mind When You Train with Others (Kumite)
When you confront others, keep your mind open. Present yourself profoundly as if you can engulf the other. Prepare yourself so you can throw your waza in a moment. That is the basic of kamae (preparing). To prepare yourself mentally, remember the truth of fudo-shin.
Managing Your Body
There is a saying about kumite. Receive internally then externally. Control yourself then absorb attacks internally. Techniques of managing your body should be safe and effective.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Practice
1. Always practice with passion. When you lack concentration and passion, you invite injuries.
2. When you learn waza, try to learn everything to keep the balance.
3. Developing your mental state is more important than learning skills.
Basics of Breathing When You Practice
1. During practice, close your mouth and breathe through your nose.
2. When you collect your breathing, inhale through your nose and exhale with your mouth using your tanden (powerhouse).
3. After intensive training, you must not stop suddenly. Keep moving your body mildly until your breathing settles down.
Tricking your Opponent
Tricking your opponent makes him want to guess your next movement. Deceive him and put him into an off-balanced situation.
Once the first movement is ordered in the brain, the brain can’t go to the next movement until the first action is stopped. If that delay is 50 millimeters per second, a basketball would travel 35 centimeters.
Training Waza Depending on your Height
1. Short people are good at in-close fighting. Train waza for in-close fighting. Build up your offense and defense skills.
2. Tall people can attack from farther away. Train waza that can reach far. Build up your defense skill.
3. Powerful people should learn waza that has forward power. Strengthen your defense.
Everyone should learn waza that covers their weaknesses.
How to Take the Initial Turn of Attacking
Take the initial turn of attack before the opponent composes himself for the fight.
1. Attack before his preparation position is ready.
2. Attack before he is mentally ready.
Iki-oi
The Basics of the Ready Position (Kamae)
You always want to break down your opponent’s kamae. You always want to keep a kamae that is difficult to attack.
Kamae should be focused on the center of the body. It is said that the ultimate ready position is in the center.
The waza of karate needs momentum. It is not good to have tension in your shoulders. Keep your back straight, keep circulating your energy, keep the position so waza can reach well and you can increase the speed of reaching. The ready position should be strong for offense and defense.
Ready position can be categorized into four groups:
The Natural Preparation
In order to complete the natural preparation, keep your mind free of thought while you sustain an intense drive within you. When your body is in offensive mode, your mind is in defensive mode. Keep your mind in offensive mode while your body is in defensive mode.
The Ready Position of Circle Form (Enso)
Grip your hand lightly as if your hands are blooming flowers. Keep your arms’ end lower than the shoulder. When you reach your hands out, your elbow should be rounded as if you are drawing a circle. The idea is that you almost extend over your arms. Your heart should enfold the opponents. Put your energy into your powerhouse.
The Ready Position of Inducement (Yu-in)
The ready position of inducement is a preparation form to induce the opponent to attack. There are upper kamae and lower kamae. For upper kamae, open your middle and lower body and invite the other’s attack there. For lower kamae, leave your face unguarded and wait for the other to attack your face. Invite the expected attack and attack him back.
The Preparation of Emptiness or No-Self (Muga)
The preparation of emptiness leads the opponent to throw his strongest waza so you can aim him afterwards.
* Reveal everything to your opponent and sustain the state of emptiness. There should be no doubt. The opponent can detect your doubt and you will lose your rhythm.
* By revealing everything, you will make him believe that he can win. He will then attack with his strongest waza. You can ward off the waza and take control over him.
* This can be effective with the opponent whom you can’t beat normally. Put him off guard by making him believe it is an easy match. You can then lead the match and win.
* The preparation of emptiness is effective when you are about to die.
The Basics of Distance between You and the Opponent (Maai)
Maai is a space between you and the opponent where you each seek the next move. Keep maai changing in the opponent’s eyes. It is necessary to control maai with an empty mind. One who can control the space of maai can manage good conditions to win. Carrying out conditioned stamina, skills, and mental training is necessary.
How to take control of the ideal space between you and the opponent (maai).
With novice opponents, step in and practice your defensive skills. With opponents of your level, take one step in and be ready to get into the opponent’s territory. With unknown opponents, choose to fight from a greater distance. Keep the distance so you can observe the opponent’s movement. Once you see a chance, immediately attack.
Chapter 4
How to Take Maximum Advantage of your Waza
If you think too much before you set off your waza, it doesn’t reach well; it gives your opponent a chance to attack back.
When you set off your waza, avoid confronting your opponent from the front as much as you can. Change the angle and attack.
When you attack, you shouldn’t expect to beat the opponent with only one waza. When you concentrate too much on a single waza, your energy will shrink and the next continuous waza will not come along.
When the opponent wards off your blow and starts counter-attacking, overwhelm him with your energy.
