Luna

Well here's a link to video clip of a Savate fight. I know it's VERY LOW quality but you can get some kind of an idea how the savate guys fight. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/michel.lavoine/Chpt_FRANCE_JoeL_97.wmv It's a shame that savate is quite unknown art because in my opinion it looks pretty effective...

Thanks ninjanurse for your explanation! However, I'm still puzzled about learning two types of techniques, effective and non-effective. I just don't see the point in learning all these knife hand etc strikes and then learning totally different techniques for sparring. Well maybe karate isn't for me, I think i'll try something more practical and straighforward like Muay thai, savate etc.. Thanks anyway!

Hi everybody! I've thought about starting karate (probably some "hard" style like kyokushin) but there's one thing that puzzles me. If i'm correct(?) for example in kyokushin there are two different sets of techniques. The basic techniques (kihon) and the sparring techniques. In sparring you punch like boxers and the punches in kihon are more "traditional". What I mean with this is that you for example hold your other hand in hip while punching etc (which sounds stupid to me). So what's the point in learning two different sets of techniques? Wouldn't it be simple to learn just one set? Also what's the point in learning to punch "tradionally" while not covering your head like boxers? These "tradional" techniques sound like a waste of time but is there a real point in learning them? Or am I totally misunderstood here?