November 3rd, 2014

From Sensei Kevin L. Reymond
Denshi - Shihan
Ueshiro Downtown Shorin Ryu Karate Dojo

Onegai-shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, and Fellow Deshi

 

On Kumite

Hanshi referred to Shoshin Nagmine's , The Essence of Okinawan Karate - Do a number of times over the course of the Annual Black Belt work out held last week. He specifically, referenced Chapter VI, "On Kumite" as one of the most important and one that he reads often. This past week I made it a point to sit quietly and read Chapter VI again.

As Hanshi would say, I found the contents filled with "gold". I encourage everyone to not only read the chapter again this week but also make it a point to bring it's concepts to your next class. The following section has been excerpted from the chapter as I found it of particular interest and worthy of highlight in this TOTW.

" Motobuu, my sensei, used to preach against "dead kumite". Therefore, I deliberately developed kumite, seriously considering the following seven essentials:

1. To develop techniques to enable us to defend and attack simultaneously.
2. To develop techniques to enable us to defend and attack simultaneously using both hands.
3. To develop techniques to enable us to defend and attack simultaneously with both hands and feet.
4. To develop techniques to enable us to shift the body to the attacking position reflexively and naturally in order to always keep besides the opponent and avoid facing him.
5. To develop techniques to enable us to defend and attack by means of shifting the body and approaching the opponent from the side or the front, with definite determination to find some way of beating the opponent, in critical situations.
6. To develop swift, reflexive nerves or senses which enable us to kick the opponent when he catches us or when we catch him.
7. To develop techniques to enable us to attack the opponent by kick or blow, reflexively, after we have suppressed his movement without losing our grasp on him."

Regardless of whether we are practicing kata, pre arranged kumite, warm ups or daily tasks,we should do so with proper mental attitude so as to avoid "dead kumite".

Arigato
Sensei Kevin L. Reymond
Denshi - Shihan
Ueshiro Downtown Shorin Ryu Karate Dojo
Under the direction of Hanshi Robert Scaglione