Knockdown Karate Question

[Drew]

I've been watching some knock down karate matches and I was wondering: Why, when a competitor knocks another dude down or out, do they so often do a down block? Style? Is it required? Whats the deal?

[Dobbersky]

It's meant to be a finishing technique or a final strike to prevent the opponent from getting back up. Although its done in air its a natural instinct to do so they always complete their combinations. OSU

[Harkon72]

I'm sure it's more than a salutation. In Shukokai we perform a Shuto Tsuke or knifehand thrust to finish a combination. It's more than a block or strike, it's the style's signature.

[Drew]

I see, thanks.

[Kuma]

It's mostly for scoring purposes. By knocking an opponent down via a technique and then demonstrating you would finish them off on the ground you get a half point.

[evergrey]

Yes, it is symbolic of taking them out for sure with a final strike.

There are some tournaments where the actual final strike is required to score a full knockdown. I suppose it was more common decades ago to actually execute the final strike: my sensei taught me to always actually finish it off with a final strike. He was out of the game for about 23 years, and my lineage was really "old school" before that as well.

[darksoul]

In my style we will actually perform the final strike, but I've seen many pure Japanese styles that do that "salute" block.

[Harkon72]

With a takedown or knockdown in Ippon Jui Kumite, you usually need to score a final strike with your opponent on the ground to score the full Ippon.

[Reaper6]

We just knock them down.

[yamesu]

Its a low block (gedan barai) followed by a chambered reverse punch (gyaku tsuki).

I was taught (around 20 years ago) that this is to signify that you could finish the opponent off after taking them down, and also helps to drill not stopping into ones mind (its a tournament, so you do stop, but in actual fighting, keep going until you're sure the threat is gone/over).

Osu.