| The educational system often talks about the | | | | |
| 'Three Rs' of Reading Writing and Arithmetic. | | | | As we progress in our skill level the drills |
| To a casual observer, one might say that the | | | | become harder with a greater element of |
| education system was flawed from the very | | | | surprise that is gradually introduced, until |
| beginning by the fact that it can't spell! In | | | | we are able to deal with random attacks from |
| Karate, however, we can spell, and the three | | | | multiple opponents. For our language analogy |
| Ks really are three Ks - Kihon, Kata and | | | | our kumite training is how we express |
| Kumite. Let's look at each one and explain | | | | ourselves by using our vocabulary and our |
| what it is. | | | | grammar appropriately based on any given |
| | | | situation. |
| Kihon means Basics. Basics are the | | | | |
| fundamentals of our art or style. In Karate, | | | | By breaking down our karate training into the |
| basics are our punches, our kicks, our | | | | 'Three Ks', we are able to focus on each core |
| blocks, our strikes and our stances. In order | | | | training element individually, and |
| to build a strong foundation for our karate | | | | consequently improve our overall ability |
| we must drill and practice the basics | | | | through a very systematic approach. Our |
| constantly. The honing of our basic technique | | | | ultimate goal is to combine these three |
| is the very essence of our training and must | | | | elements seamlessly so that the 'Three Ks' |
| be taken seriously in order to progress to a | | | | become one K -- and that K of course is |
| high level of skill. If we compare karate to | | | | Karate. |
| learning a language, our kihon or karate | | | | |
| basics are our vocabulary. | | | | When this seamlessness takes place, you begin |
| | | | operating from a level of what is known in |
| Kata means Form. Forms are sequences of | | | | the west as unconscious competence. You don't |
| movements that are put together in an overall | | | | have to think of the individual pieces and |
| pattern that we must memorize. Kata training | | | | parts. Everything fits together and works in |
| includes the elements of direction, | | | | harmony almost totally without any direction |
| technique, speed, power and rhythm. On a | | | | from the conscious mind. This is the level |
| deeper level the analysis of kata can lead to | | | | from which the masters operate and that is |
| many useful discoveries for practical | | | | why observing them is like watching poetry in |
| self-defense, since hidden within the | | | | motion. |
| different forms are many useful sequences of | | | | |
| movements that can be directly applied to | | | | For more information on these individual |
| different scenarios. Going back to our | | | | elements of Karate check out the following |
| language analogy, kata can be likened to the | | | | FREE Report "Achieving the Black Belt: How to |
| grammar of our karate. | | | | Successfully Take Your Karate to the Next |
| | | | Level". You can download it at |
| Kumite means Partner Work or Sparring. Basic | | | | |
| partner work introduces pre-arranged training | | | | Keep training hard and don't hesitate to |
| drills that help us get used to using | | | | contact me if you have any questions at |
| different punches, kicks, blocks and strikes. | | | | |
| Through these set training drills we are able | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in |
| to directly apply our defensive movements and | | | | karate. |
| counters against actual attacks. | | | | |