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You are here: Home / Members / Technique / Kumite / Jiyu-kumite Drills

Jiyu-kumite Drills

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Ohshima Sensei leads kumite drills during black belt practice at Melrose Dojo in 1966. His partners are Caylor Adkins, Sadaharu Honda, unidentified, and Sada again.

The following is the print supplement to JIYU KUMITE CLINIC and DOJO DRILLS INSTRUCTION with godan, Greg Scott (2 DVD set)

DRILL 1 – Punch in place

  • Allow speed to be a primary focus at times.
  • For MAETE Start with both fists turned upward in front of your body and allow punching hand to only turn over at extreme end of punch.
  • Don’t allow punching hand to drop, pull back, or adjust even the slightest bit
    prior to punching.
  • Punch out + return on exactly the same line.
  • After focus, the returning punch moves rapidly, not casual (keeps mental focus
    and allows for realistic combinations).
  • Head moves in alignment with the body. Don’t nod or pull chin up.
  • Front knee must go in slightly with each punch.
  • Also try performing punches with front foot going in with each strike, then
    returning. Back foot stationary.

DRILL 2 – Shuffling/Footwork

  • Some developed for balance and movement dynamics, some may apply to actual pre –
    attack movements.
  • Move your focus from speed, to balance, or to distance.
  • Develop ability to punch at any time as lower body performs footwork patterns.
  • When punching during a forward movement, punch ends just before front foot hits
    the ground.
  • Use a mirror (or ask opponent) to identify any unnecessary movements and
    eliminate as much as possible.
  • Arms must “float” and eliminate even slightest movements caused by lower body
    patterns.
  • Learn to shuffle forward or back immediately after a side shuffle or foot change.

DRILL 3 – Multiple Opponent Reverse Punch

  • Focus primarily on speed.
  • Both opponents use right hands for Maete and reverse punch or both use left.
  • Each Maete attacker gets into position as fast as possible to allow an attack
    immediately with (1) shuffle from a dead stop.
  • Experienced members go 100% with strict control – NO KIAI =NO KIME!
  • Never block the maete then reverse punch. The reverse punch must be
  • executed before the opponent is inside ma.
  • Reverse punch:
    • Don’t open & close fist.
    • Don’t drop fist prior to punch.
    • Contact opponent just short of full extension (contact with bent elbow = a late
      punch).
    • Punch leaves only from point on hip (fist up) and returns rapidly after contact
      on same line.

DRILL 4 “Ippon” Jiyu Kumite

  • OFFENSE:
    • Start each attack at MA distance.
    • Develop the ability to determine if defender is staying or backing out before
      you initiate your attack.
    • Focus on variations of only (1) technique at the time. i.e: Maete’s only for a
      while, then frontkick variations, then backhands , etc.
    • Control, but learn to attack 100% with no effect to your KIME (feeling)
      regardless of the opponents intent (to counter or not).
    • Key points:
      • If you thought defender was going back, but he stayed and your attack was late or
        inside MA, you lost.
      • If you thought defender was staying, but he backed out (your attack fell
        short), you lost.
  • DEFENSE
    • Start at Ma and only
      • Stay and reverse punch

      – or –

      • Back out
    • Learn to mislead the attacker so the attack is delayed or falls short.
    • Only stomach reverse punch initially till both develop keen sense of timing and
      distance (defensive upper level reverse punches generate excessive caution
      initially).
    • Key point:
      • Opponent moves, you move. If you have time to wait and see the technique, you
        most likely were not at Ma.

DRILL 5 – Multiple Jiyu Kumite Exchanges

  • Best with 4 – 7 each opposing line.
  • Not distance Jiyu Kumite. Both quickly move to Ma, take stance, begin.
  • If opponent attacks first, defend or get out. Don’t get caught “flat footed”.
  • One exchange only (focus on exchanges from Ma) then move to opposite line.
  • Swap positions in line to face different opponents, if necessary.
  • Develop offensive and defensive skills simultaneously.

DRILL 6 “Fighter in the Hole”

  • Best with groups of 4,5 or 6.
  • Pair up groups may be based on size, rank, or ability.
  • Each individual match can stop at ½ point or (2) ½ points, or to the end of each
    time period.
  • 1 minute to 1½ minute rounds are best.
  • If more than (1) group, a member starts each match and all groups together and
    times it. Each of those matches stop when required points scored or time runs
    out.
  • If any groups finish a match quickly wait till all groups have finished that
    current match, then start next match together.
  • Referees move in & out quickly & limit commands (rounds are short, not too much
    talking).
  • “Fighter in the hole” faces each member in the group. Than a new fighter is put
    “in the hole” (This will result in all members facing each other 2 times).

DRILL 7 – Bag Kumite

  • Don’t just hit the bags – strictly focus on a particular aspect.
  • Focus on speed at times (not just power).
  • Move from point A to point B (The bag/opponent) as fast as possible from ma.
  • “What tells the opponent (bag) you’re attacking at the moment” and see how many
    telegraphs you can eliminate.
  • You must contact the bag just inside Ma. Therefore watch for “short” punches and
    kicks. Don’t give in to the temptation to punch/kick at a closer distance.
  • Use the bag (swinging and still) for 1,000’s of repetitions to create well
    formed, well timed techniques – 2nd nature.
  • Learn to attack the bag without thinking (Mid – Mind).
  • Learn to attack opponents as you attack the bag:
    • Focused.
    • Uninhibited.
    • No reservations brought about by opponent’s size, rank, reputation.
    • “SEE IT”.
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Phone: 816-421-1110
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