Kakedameshi, and why karateka should do it

[Wastelander]

On 1/31/2025 at 8:09 PM, bushido_man96 said:

Thanks for the reminder of this from the other thread!  It was good to revisit.

I like the idea of starting with the connections.  My BJJ coach is always talking about establishing connections, usually at two points, in order to break balance and set up takedowns or clinches.

One thing I did notice is the lack of respect for the strikes in the sessions.  The focus falls to the joint locking and takedowns, and I saw a few strikes that were simulated to the face that was there no reaction to.  I don't know if this is something that is more effective in the harder version of the drill, but it was something I noticed.

I can see lots of value in doing this drill while cross-training with other styles, especially grapplers.

Thanks! Points of contact are huge when you're at close range, so it makes perfect sense that you'd have experienced that in BJJ. I know I did in Judo. The lack of respect for the strikes in my example videos is mainly because we were going light, and keeping it playful. When you ramp up the intensity, and start making a bit of impact to the face, it changes the dynamic, for sure.

[bushido_man96]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification.  I do see the value in the training, and it is worth incorporating into our training.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I enjoy doing it with my Adults Classes; so they can be comfortable doing it early on. Whilst I tend to introduce it in my Junior Advanced Class, as it takes a lot more control in my opinion than your normal sparring. 

For me, I am definitely a close range fighter so this is my preferred way of teaching how to fight. 

A lot of students I've fought over the years struggle with this range of fighting, because they've only ever been taught the more "tag' version of sparring. 

Sparring for me is more about communication at a distance, and ending it close in. Thats where I believe BJJ works great for pressure testing, because you have no chance of escape it is deal with your threat then get away. 

[sensei8]

Close range fighting IS Shindokan!! Close range fighting takes a lot of nerve because not many are comfortable with being nose to nose with their opponents/attacker.

Watch a MA tournament. What do you see a lot of?? You see a lot of backing up/away from an advancing opponent/attacker. Why?? Their afraid!! Why?? They’ve not matured in their techniques yet. 

It takes time to feel very comfortable in close range fighting.

[bushido_man96]

What most people don't realize is how close-in self-defense actually takes place.  It'd be nice to keep it at kicking range, but that just isn't the case most times.