(If you haven't read Parts 1 or 2, click here)
In last month's article we continued our discussion on the 6 criteria required to score a point in karate tournament according to the WKF rules. We defined criteria #2 (sporting attitude) and #3 (vigorous application) and looked at ways to maximize each in order for us to be awarded points.
Today we've arrived at one of the most important of the six criteria...
CRITERIA #4 - ZANSHIN (AWARENESS)
Whether it's on the street or on the competition floor, zanshin is an absolute must in order to stay out of harm's way. Zanshin, or "awareness" in English, is defined in the WKF rules as follows...
| Awareness (ZANSHIN) is that criterion most often missed when a score is assessed. It is the state of continued commitment in which the contestant maintains total concentration, observation, and awareness of the opponent's potentiality to counter-attack. He does not turn his face away during delivery of the technique, and remains facing the opponent afterwards. |
Notice that the rules state "Awareness is the criterion most often missed". Remember that ALL 6 criteria must be present for a point to be awarded. So if you're lacking zanshin, you don't get the point.
So many times at karate tournament a competitor will close their eyes when punching, shy away when blocking and countering, or turn their back after they score thinking they've already got the point. These are all examples of poor awareness and your point should not be awarded.
Remember to maintain eye contact and keep your hands up until AFTER you hear YAME! If you don't hear the referee, then most likely the point wasn't awarded and you shouldn't look to them for verification - this is another example of poor zanshin, and is very common in children. If you teach kids reinforce this point over and over - eyes on your opponent at all times!
The referee will call YAME again if you didn't hear it the first time. The bottom line is this... keep your eyes on your opponent, ears open and hands up! Pretty simple really isn't it? So why do so many people miss it? Eagerness to get the point and overconfidence in their technique can lead people to drop their hands, turn away after a technique or look to the referee for approval...thus, losing their zanshin -- and their point!
A good visual image to reinforce zanshin (particularly helpful when teaching kids) is to imagine a spherical force field surrounding your body to the full reach of your arms in every direction. That's YOUR zone. Protect it at all times and be aware of everything coming in it!
CRITERIA #5 - PROPER TIMING
To paraphrase Sensei Antonio Oliva, who is often referred to as the world's foremost tactical coach, "In order to score a point you must be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right technique."
Makes perfect sense doesn't it? Without correct timing the effect of the technique is greatly diminished. And the WKF rules back this up with criteria #5 - proper timing.
| Good Timing means delivering a technique when it will have the greatest potential effect. |
So when does a karate technique have the greatest potential effect? There are 2 factors that influence the timing - your movement and your opponent's movement.
Consider if you will the following examples. For simplicity we'll assume one person is attacking with reverse punch and ACTUALLY MAKES CONTACT. All other criteria are good. The other person is the target. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of each of the players while the circle refers to a stationary target.
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As you can see from the table above, points should not be awarded when the attacker is moving away from the target, or when the target is moving away from the attacker. Study the above table and determine why points should be paid in the other cases.
CRITERIA #6 - CORRECT DISTANCE
| Correct Distance similarly means delivering a technique at the precise distance where it will have the greatest potential effect. Thus if the technique is delivered on an opponent who is rapidly moving away, the potential effect of that blow is reduced. |
New competitors often miss this important point. They might have all other criteria correct but when they make contact with reverse punch at an ineffective distance for example, it doesn't get paid and frustration results.
The reason is often that their opponent is too close to them, not permitting full extension of the technique - cramming the attacker. Similarly as their opponent moves away the attacker might find themselves overstretched trying to make contact but barely touching. Again distance (and timing) are missing from the equation.
So how do we solve these problems? If we look to Sensei Oliva's advice we see it basically comes down to footwork and focus...
| You must be in the right place (distance), at the right time (timing), doing the right technique (focus). |
Pretty simple isn't it?
So to maximize each of the six criteria we must practice (and teach) everything that we've established so far. I can't be there to watch you and coach you, but there are things you can do to ensure that you (and your students) are trying to maximize each of the six criteria... it's a very simple karate kumite drill, yet very effective - I guess that's why it's being used by coaches and teams from around the world.
Would you like to know what it is?
The drill involves 2 competitors and a referee - a W.K.F. certified referee would be best (perhaps you can invite them to your tournament training sessions?). If you don't have access to a referee find someone who is at least familiar with the 6 criteria for WKF scoring.
Basically two competitors face each other, one is the attacker and one is the target. The attacker does whatever single technique or attacking combination he or she wishes to practice while the other person remains still, as a target. The referee watches the attack and then will award the point just like in competition if all 6 criteria are present. If not, then no point is given. After 5 or 10 attacks, the attacker and target switch roles.
The benefits of this drill are:
- You're utilizing a real, live, flesh and blood WKF certified referee, so you know that if the point is awarded, all 6 criteria were present.
- If your points aren't being paid, you can ask the referee exactly what was missing, then work on fixing it. (You can't do this at competition!)
- It makes you THINK and PRACTICE good form and develop good habits. Competitors always WANT to be awarded points (even if it's just practice), so it drives students to perform better.
- You're practicing your technique exactly as you NEED to for competition, so you'll be better prepared!
It's so simple, yet makes so much sense it's irrefutable.
In summary, we've learned the 6 criteria for scoring a point under WKF rules, how to maximize each and discovered a simple yet powerful drill for developing both your skills and those of your students if you teach. Armed with this knowledge and with a little practice you should start to see measurable improvement in your tournament results.
Good luck!
~ Jason
Jason Stanley
www.karatetips.com
P.S. Learn more karate kumite tactics, strategies and techniques in my Fighting Secrets Revealed Home Study Course. Click here to learn why people from complete beginners to national coaches have used this guide to skyrocket their skill sets and most importanly, get results when it counts.