favourite sparring attacks

[KarateEd]

bushido_man96,

I know your style very well. We have some stout fellows in my school and if they move in close they can hammer us smaller guys with punches. Only problem is I like to get in close when I spar, ergo, I have been hammered by a lot of punches!

Topic related content: When I was of a lower rank I used to enjoy goading people into sidestepping so as to be partially facing my back and then hit 'em with a spinning back kick. Doesn't work so well on the experienced upper ranks.

Ed

[Ottman]

I don't know if I'll ever have a 'signature move' (too predictable for my taste) but I do like to allow my opponent to attack away while I remain relatively still.

I use my balance and tend to move slightly into their attack to make them feel like I'm walking into the strike, but when they hit me with it, I'm usually in good enough position so that my blocks hurt their legs and arms a lot more than the strike hurts me. I end up attacking their strike, rather than attacking them, (so as to take away their weapons). The more powerful the strike coming at me, the better, as my opponents rarely realize that I've trained my balance enough to take full strikes even while standing on one foot. They think they're about to nail me hard, but instead end up stumbling off balance and hurting themselves on my blocks. This makes them gun-shy about attacking again and they tend to move into a more defensive, backing off strategy, which I take full advantage of. All it takes is the basics. If you know your stances well enough, train your balance to perfection (or as near as you can get it) and block firmly and with proper technique (making sure your body and center of gravity are positioned fully behind each block) then this is actually quite easy. Now it doesn't matter who is stronger, quicker, etc. It's whoever has the best positioning, and understands how to force their own center of balance into a situation that will disrupt the opponent's attack that wins.

(Although if worse comes to worse, defensive side kicks and twist kick turn kick (off the same leg) are pretty good attacks to keep in reserve. I do really like to throw the twist/turn combo, setting my leg down as deliberately off balance as possible afterwards, and then nailing my opponent with the defensive side as he tries to slide back into range and counter.)

[bushido_man96]

bushido_man96,

I know your style very well. We have some stout fellows in my school and if they move in close they can hammer us smaller guys with punches. Only problem is I like to get in close when I spar, ergo, I have been hammered by a lot of punches!

Ed

Hehe, thanks, Ed.

I can kind of relate to your post as well, Ottman. I have been known to block with my elbows at times....that really makes them think twice about kicking!

[bushido_man96]

I like ushiro geri. It's actually pretty difficult to block, so if the person doesn't have good "tai sabaki" then you can crack them good!

Apart from that, a lunging gyakuzuki is a pretty fair bet.

What are the English equivalents of these terms? Just curious...my Japanese isn't up to snuff. I know some of the terms, but these throw me off.

Thanks in advance!

[ps1]

I enjoy using a front sweep followed by reverse punch and lunge punch.

I also like to time my opponents reverse punch and catch them with a counter reverse punch as they try to punch. (This one took alot of practice and finding the right angle).

[Ottman]

Hey guys,

Can someone explain the concept of 'lunge' punches and kicks? I would expect a lunge to be the last thing I'd want to do to attack. You aren't actually lunging are you?

Thanks

[Ottman]

I can kind of relate to your post as well, Ottman. I have been known to block with my elbows at times....that really makes them think twice about kicking!

Ooh. Don't you get your funny bone twanged at times? I've accidentally 'blocked' (er, gotten hit) in the elbow right on that spot and my arm falls right down and just dangles in the breeze for a few seconds. Gotta present my other side and hold out until it comes back to normal.

(As I'm now thinking about it, I guess if you're using elbow strikes to block, that would be pretty effective. In fact, I think I'll try that. Thanks B-man)

[DancingSteve]

Catching up on this thread

Ushiro Geri is spinning back kick.

Gyaku Zuki is reverse punch...usually following a block.

Tai Sabaki is just simply moving out of the way.

Lunge Punch is normally the generic term in Shotokan for a stepping in punch same leg, same hand.

Now to continute the actual topic.

My work lately has been a lot with Kawashi, or switching. Basically..staying low and as the opponent moves in, bring your front leg back to meet your rear leg, then explode forward with an attack. Whether it be uraken-uchi (back fist), mae-geri(front kick), kekomi (side thrust thrown from the front of course), or simply just driving forward with a flurry of punches.

I have also been working diligently on using 'line'. Which essentially means shifting into an attack line that is not directly accessible by your opponent but allows you a clear attack to them. ITKF fighting has been for so long very linear and you can see the really good fighters have always been utilizing 'line' to counter this. Im hoping it works out. I'll let you know

[Fish]

I've been working on Kawashi too. I found a good exercise in one of Loren Cunningham's books that has you perform 4 punches as you switch. It's a good one for upping hand speed and blitzing your opponent.

Curiously, although I'm one of tallest in my class, I don't favour kicks so much. At the moment, I'm trying to get my sweeps going.

[DancingSteve]

Work on this with your sweeps. Instead of the age old...swing your back leg around to sweep your opponents front leg.

As your opponent moves in...or even as your chasing him. Lunge (theres that word again)..drive forward so your on their 'outside'. Essentially your almost beside them..your right leg is hooked under their right lead leg and then its just a matter of taking them over your knee.

Watch those old videos of Elwyn Hall, he could sweep a horse.