THE BEGINNER'S ANXIETY

At very first, a fighter may suddenly strike with nervous tension. Selfdoubt creeps in and the negative thought cloud the mind-will I get hurt? Can I win the match? How will I know what techniques to use when? Will I make fool of myself? But every great competition fighters has asked him those very questions. When a fighter actually gets on to the mat, the self doubts seem to vanish and mind concentrates upon the job at the hand. There is a saying in Japanese “the longest way round is the shortest way to home”. If you hurry in training you will not make progress beyond a certain limit because it is impossible for you to change or apply techniques freely in a given situation without acquiring many techniques. 

HOW TO FIGHT IN A TOURNAMENT

  Fighting in a tournament will give much confidence to the karate students as it is the only place to prove there skills. Before the fight begins in a tournament it is extremely important that the fighters express respect for each other and for the officials judging them. A positive mental attitude is needed by each fighter. To score at the appropriate target areas. To win the match the contestant must score a full point of eight. For safety the fighters should wear fist protections (gloves); groin guards etc.

KUMITE – FREE SPARRING

Karate –do means the “the way of empty hands” which literally means that a karate student can defend himself with the skilled application of his bare hand and feet as killing weapons in a systematic way. One of the main purposes of karate training is to enable he student to use the techniques he has learned in either self defense or active competition. The self defense side of the art is perhaps self explanatory. Competition simulates real combat, only with the rules and regulations.
  In world karate federation the free sparring kumite match is held under strict rules. Any action that might harm an opponent is forbidden .Although the kicks and punches are released with great intent, the actual strikes fall just short of the target areas. Judging such a fast-paced event requires great skill and it is necessary to have highly qualified referees and judges and evaluate each technique and award scoring points. Although the standardized set rules has been formulated by the world karate do federation which is followed by the karate associations of all affiliated countries.

HOW TO PRACTICE KATA

It is said that in the old days each kata was practiced by itself thoroughly for three years. There is a Japanese saying “one kata in three years”; this emphasizes the fact that it is more important to master one kata correctly than to learn many katas insufficiently. It is useless to exercise mechanically without understanding the meaning of kata.
  It takes great discipline and hours and hours of practice to perfect just one kata and many beginners soon lose interest. The kata is a test of personal endurance and the dedicated practitioner will overcome the boredom stage to look deeper into its hidden meaning. He will not only develop the lightning reactions and instructions that are hallmark of karate champions, but will follow the path of karate-do to lead a better life.

KATA IN KARATE

Kata in karate means the art of combining in a sequence of moves all the attacking and blocking techniques of karate in a rational and highly skilled and refined manner. It was designed by the old masters to allow for the aesthetic development of the practitioner. It teaches the correct stances and breathing and it emphasizes co-ordination and timing. Its series of choreographed fighting movements includes all the techniques required to deal with almost any situation and it allows the student to display his competence of art to its maximum. The founder of modern karate Gichin Funakoshi regarded the karate kata as “the soul of karate”