Contest Observations and Fighting Tips

By Sempai Ron DiGrandi SVOK

The Will to Win - Demonstrating a strong spirit and a determined “will to win” make a big difference in winning or losing.

The Corner-man - It's just common sense to attempt to capitalize on the corner-man 's advice.

Punches In Bunches - Simple combinations of punches and kicks are what earned most of the winning points. Low kicks and reverse punches earned more points than all the other techniques put together. It is to have several sets of combinations of no less than three techniques each preferably four.

I have noticed fighters give away points by looking/checking with the Referee after being hit. If you are hit keep moving forward to create some doubt that your opponent has earned a point.

Counter Punching - When your opponent launches a punch, it's physically essential that his arm or leg extend out, which brings his fist away from the defensive position leaving him exposed or his leg off the floor putting him off balance. Going in With Power - Because of a fighter's stance, torque from the turning of the hips and the spring in his feet, allows his punch to be thrown with a tremendous amount of power.

Circle-Point Theory - Form + Focus + Speed = Power.

Finding Your Range - Simply put, your range is the amount of distance between you and your opponent. The use of proper range will allow you to efficiently hit your opponent while also allowing you the time to maneuver defensively. Do not attempt to begin your attack to far away. You will telegraph your intentions to your opponent so he will have enough time to counter your attack.  Punches need to be up close and personal. You need to move in very close to deliver your punches.  It cannot be done from long distance.

Hands Up - The bottom line is common sense and common sense say’s "keep your hands up and don't get hit. " Getting kicked in the face can cause very serious damage.

Mental Imagery - Imagine throwing punches with accuracy, speed and correct form. If there are problems that must be corrected, then imagine experiencing them and making the proper adjustments to correct them. All your mental imagery will come together the next time you step into the ring because you will have already been there in your head. You will have harnessed your emotions and made any necessary adjustments.

Economy of Motion - A key term in business today is efficiency. In the ring as in business, it’s common sense to not waste energy and to get the most out of every movement made. Invest your limited energy and techniques into strikes that have the biggest payoff. Not all open areas of your opponent are worth the risk of attacking. Many opponents will consciously give you an exposed target just to suck you into a trap.

Be a Strategist:
Ring Movement Use your jab to maintain distance.
“Lean-out” your opponent.Good ring movement also entails sidestepping and pivoting around your opponent.
Be aware of the outer boundaries of the ring.
A good fighter makes his foe pay every time he throws a punch.
Never leave yourself overextended with a punch or kick.
Protect chest and stomach by folding inward. Be small.
Protect your throat with you chin.
Don’t go into the ring cold.
Do some light stretching before and between each of your rounds.
Never adjust your Gi when fighting or squaring off with your opponent.
Combine accuracy, timing, speed, distance and movement.
Do not attempt to throw a rapid series of punches and kicks non-stop for three minutes.
Think of your fight as a series of clashes.
Drinking Enough Water - A Crucial Factor for Health and Athletic Endurance and Performance. Mixed with electrolytes. Eat some fruit shortly before your fight. The natural fructose can give you some added energy.

Breathing During Kumite - Endurance and stamina is vital to successful Kumite. With that in mind, controlling breathing during Kumite becomes the most essential lesson of all. Power also flows from breathing control, making one strong in the face of determined opponents.

Contest Observations and Fighting Tips

The Will to Win: Muhammad Ali said: "Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, and a vision.  They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, and they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

The Corner-man A fighter who doesn't listen in the corner and doesn't attempt to perform the instruction is telling the corner-man that he is nothing more than a water boy. The corner-man is sitting outside the ring without punches being thrown at him, and thus, will have an easier time recognizing what is working and what isn't. In addition, he knows the fighter's strengths and weaknesses and can tailor his instruction accordingly. It's just common sense to attempt to capitalize on the corner-man 's advice.

Punches In Bunches - Combinations are indispensable and a fighter who uses them effectively is always successful. A "big punch" is a priceless but it's imperative that a fighter set it up with other punches that keep his opponent off balance and camouflage that final bomb. Maintaining strict form in the delivery of each punch helps the effectiveness of the combination. The natural shift in weight necessary in a punch allows a succeeding punch to put you back on balance. For instance, extending with your left shoulder while throwing the jab enables the easy, fluid shift of weight required for the straight right, which in turn, sets you up for the left hook. Combinations are cycles of weight shifts that enable you to finish in a protected and balanced position. When throwing combinations, it's important not to become "predictable." If you're predictable, your opponent can time your punches and plan a counter. Combinations become predictable when you throw the same one over and over. Therefore, it's important to vary the speed and pattern of your punches. Small variations will do the trick. This can be done easily with the jab. You can lull your opponent to sleep by intentionally throwing a slow jab and then waking him abruptly with a burst of speed and power. It is also important to develop your own combinations of no less than three techniques preferably four. If you are not sure what works for you, try someone else’s. Shihan John and Sensei Motoi have a lot of tried and true techniques that are very effective.  Ask for suggestions, they are always willing to help.   You should have a repertoire of at least three different sets of combinations to avoid being “predictable”.  Some if not all of these combinations should include at least one low kick to our opponent’s legs.  Create a TV commercial of these combinations in your mind and play it over and over again.  Make it part of your Mental Imagery (see below).

Counter Punching - When your opponent launches a punch, it's physically essential that his arm or leg extend out, which brings his fist away from the defensive position leaving him exposed or his leg off the floor putting him off balance.  The correct and most efficient defense allows you to block, parry or slip oncoming punches and land clean counter punches in return. Your opponent is most vulnerable when he commits himself to a punch or kick.  Learning to counter punch is essential. Every top caliber fighter has this ability and utilizes it to "turn the tables" on his opponent at every opportunity. For every offensive punch, there is a counter punch. Actually, there are many counter punches to choose from. The general defensive rule is to block or parry your opponent's left hand with your right hand and his right hand with your left hand. Slipping is usually performed to the "outside" of your opponent. Slipping "inside" your opponent is more dangerous because you position yourself in the line of fire of your opponent's other hand.

Going in With Power - Because of a fighter's stance, the right hand, or left hand for southpaws, allows the punch to be thrown with a tremendous amount of power. The body torque involved in delivering the punch allows for that power. What logically follows when a well-delivered power punch connects cleanly is a knockout or at least a knockdown Some inexperienced fighters, because they can hit harder with it, get stuck in the pattern of throwing nothing but right hands. This is obviously detrimental to the fighter "throwing the heat" because sooner or later his opponent will be able to "time" the shots and begin counter-punching. Additionally, leading with a right hand can be affective, but it is also difficult. It's hard to hit someone with a lead right because the aforementioned body torque usually tips the opponent off that something is on the way, which gives him time to prepare a defense. It's best to "set up" the right hand with a jab to get a better feel for your opponent's exact location. It also gives your opponent something to think about while the right is en route.

Finding Your Range Simply put, your range is the amount of distance between you and your opponent. The use of proper range will allow you to efficiently hit your opponent while also allowing you the time to maneuver defensively. Without it, you'll either be "smothering" your punches or flailing helplessly in the wind. The most efficient way to develop it is through sparring. A Sensei can teach his fighter how to "find his range" with stance, positioning and movement in the ring, but ultimately, only the individual has the first person point of view required to develop this skill. With plenty of practice, locating your most efficient distance will become more natural, as you constantly adjust to your opponent's movement and control the distance between you. Eventually, range can be used to help dictate the pace and direction of a match. Practice makes perfect, and in regards to range, the phrase has never been truer. It has a dramatic impact on your performance in the ring, not to mention the effect it has on your opponent, both mentally and physically. So find your range and use it because it can do nothing but help.

Hands Up - Common sense demands it, but time and time again, amateurs and professionals alike, compete with their hands down at their waist. They must be protecting their ever-vulnerable hips. If there was a choice between the two, it's logical that most people would choose to protect their head. Hopefully, you're a logical individual. In order to minimize the chances of getting hit, each and every punch thrown should be like a piston. Shoot it out at 100 mph and bring it back at 200 mph. Your fist should leave its "on guard" position while your arm is extended for the blow and then immediately return to its original position. The impact of your fist at the moment of contact is greatly increased by how fast your can pull your fist back.  Its simple physics (F=MA). Check with your high school physics book. Some inexperienced fighters make the mistake of either leaving their arm extended too long or dropping their fist when they pull it back. Either mistake leaves them exposed and open to counters. Keeping your hands up can get you out of some sticky situations and even avoid them all together. Again, the bottom line is common sense and common sense says, "Keep your hands up and don't get hit."

Mental Imagery -- One of the most important aspects of mental imagery is vividness. Experiencing every aspect of an event and seeing every detail of the situation adds power to the exercise. Incorporate all of the five senses. It's important to see friends and family in the crowd, hear the shouts of encouragement, and taste the mouthpiece. Re-create the total feeling of excitement and anticipation. It's important that the practice be as close to reality as possible. Imagine throwing punches with accuracy, speed and correct form. If there are problems that must be corrected, then imagine experiencing them and making the proper adjustments to correct them. All your mental imagery will come together the next time you step into the ring because you will have already been there in your head. You will have harnessed your emotions and made any necessary adjustments. It is also important to always imagine a positive outcome. If you can see it and believe that you can do it, then you can achieve it. The amount of visual imagery practice needed depends on the level of athlete you are. A good start is practicing for 10 minutes everyday. The human mind is where it all begins, so be sure to keep it in tip-top shape. Mental imagery is a path to this end, and it makes sense to do it. So, the next time you warm up, don't forget to make your mind sweat too.

Economy of Motion -- A key term in business today is efficiency and “Return on Investment” (ROI) . In the ring as in business, it’s common sense to not waste energy and to get the most out of every movement made.

The basic fighting stance is the foundation on which everything is built. It’s important that it be solid and balanced, with the elbows “tucked” to protect the body and the hands up at all times. Efficiency calls for the hands to leave the head only when a punch is being thrown. However, some fighters choose to compromise safety for style by allowing their front arm to “dangle” at their side. This stance forces the fighter to block both the jab and right cross with one hand. They also roll their shoulder over in an attempt to protect their chin. This technique is drastically flawed and leaves unnecessary openings in a fighter’s defense. You should be as physically relaxed as possible when you enter the ring. Avoid being “tight” and over-anxious. These robotic and wasted movements have the potential to diminish power, accuracy and endurance. Instead, allow your punches to flow. Concentrate on proper form, and don’t make any unnecessary movements when on the offensive.

Many fighters have the tendency to rush when in the dojo, mistakenly assuming that every practice punch must be thrown with enough force to topple a building. It’s important to periodically slow-down and concentrate on form, especially for a beginner. Establish form first then focus. Speed and power will come later. On the defensive side, move enough to slip or weave the punch so that it misses you by inches, rather than feet. Take one step around or back from your opponent (Tai Subaki) to avoid an onslaught. Any more movement is extraneous. Using an efficient defense provides you with options to counter and capitalize on your opponent’s mistakes. Stepping or slipping just enough to avoid a punch allows you the option of continuing on the defensive and regrouping or taking the initiative and countering because you’re still in range.

Invest your limited energy and techniques into strikes that have the biggest payoff.  Not all open areas of your opponent are worth the risk of attacking.  Many opponents will consciously give you an exposed target just to suck you into a trap.

Both business and boxing require efficiency. Many times, all that is required to be efficient is a conscious effort. With practice, it will become second nature, and you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to take care of your business.

Be a Strategist / Ring Movements The jab is used to maintain the distance between yourself and your opponent, while also keeping your opponent off balance. It should be thrown when you’re on the offensive and moving forward, as well as when your opponent is initiating the action and you’re moving backward. Like a football straight arm, you’ll be able to keep your opponent at arms length. Otherwise known as “leaning-out” your opponent. By controlling your opponent with the jab, you will be able to sit back and pick your shots using speed and accuracy.

Should you find yourself in close with your opponent or during any other opportune situation, good ring movement also entails sidestepping and pivoting around him ( Tai Subaki). Using every maneuver available to you will enable you to both keep your opponent guessing and increase your angles from which to initiate offensives.

Be aware of the outer boundaries of the ring. A good rule of thumb is if you have to back up more than three paces from the center of the ring, you are probably going to be out of bounds soon.  If you are backing up and going out of bounds while your opponent is attacking you, the Referee and Judges could give the fight to your opponent.

A good fighter makes his foe pay every time he throws a punch. Whenever a technique is blocked or off target it’s important that you counter with multiple punches and then reinstate your jab. All of your punches should be almost fully extended, never overextended, thus maximizing your power to the fullest.  Over extending only creates wide-open targets for your opponent and puts you off balance allowing your opponent to take advantage of you. Do not attempt to throw a rapid series of punches and kicks non-stop for three minutes. You will die of exhaustion. Think of your fight as a series of clashes where you go in to deliver your combinations and then maneuver around your opponent, catch your breath, look for openings and move in on your opponent when you see a new opening.

Being a good fighter requires that you combine accuracy, timing, speed, distance and movement. It’s a lot to incorporate, but when all the elements come together it’s beautiful to witness as a spectator and difficult to defend against as an opponent.

Drinking Enough Water, A Crucial Factor for Health and Athletic Performance

Athletes often overlook water as an important nutrient even though proper fluid intake can be one of the most crucial factors for sports performance and safety! In fact, boxing experts have been investigating the possibility that many serious injuries that have occurred during boxing matches were directly or indirectly the result of dehydration. Fighters who are in a dehydrated state may rapidly lose stamina and/or become disoriented and thus may lose the ability to properly defend themselves. Meanwhile, their bodies are less capable of handling physical punishment due to impaired organ and tissue functions. Specifically, dehydration causes increased susceptibility to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat cramps. In addition, it can lower the amount of blood that can be pumped by the heart, the amount of oxygen the body can take up, and the body's lactate threshold. All of these factors can contribute to rapid losses in strength, power, and endurance. It has also been suggested that a significant loss of body water can increase the likelihood of cuts and bruises as well as the chance for blood clotting in the brain due to weakened arteries.

The following guidelines can help the fighter remain properly hydrated during exercise and competition:

Try to drink about 500 ml of fluid (plain water or other drinking fluids) two hours before intense exercise. Drinking an additional 4 to 8 ounces of plain water 10 to 15 minutes before exercise may be advisable if heavy sweat losses are anticipated. Since fighters may be unable to drink a lot of fluid during sparring, they should try to hydrate themselves as well as they can before training.

It has been generally recommended that people should drink about 4 to 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes during exercise. Some individuals tend to experience stomach discomfort if they drink this much fluid during exercise so drink what you can tolerate, but just be sure to not go too long without drinking some water especially when training in a very hot and/or humid environment.

After exercising, try to drink at least 17 ounces of fluid for every pound of weight that is lost during exercise. That may sound like a lot, but on the other hand, it makes sense that you'd want to replace all the water lost during exercise! Since 16 ounces equals one pound, you may be wondering why I included that extra ounce in this recommendation. The reason for drinking 17 ounces is to account for some of the water that is lost besides the water lost from sweating. Of course, you don't have to drink this fluid all at once but can drink it at a pace that is comfortable to you. As far as everyday fluid consumption is concerned; the best rule of thumb is to simply drink enough so that your urine is odorless as well as clear or pale yellow in color.

Before competing, be sure to drink plenty of fluids especially during the 48 hours before the bout. (As mentioned above, try to avoid dehydration as a means of losing weight, but if you have to do this in order to make weight, obviously you should try to restore the loss in body water after the weigh-in). It might be a good idea to drink about 16 ounces of fluids about two hours before the fight. Two hours should give the body enough time to urinate excess water before fight time but of course, don't drink so much that it might come back to haunt you during the fight! (You might want to experiment with how much you can actually drink during this time frame before the day of competition.).

Avoid drinks that contain more than 8% carbohydrates (especially fructose) shortly before exercise or competing since these carbohydrates may cause stomach/intestinal discomfort during the exercise or during the fight.

Alcohol and caffeine beverages are poor choices for hydrating the body since caffeine and alcohol tend to increase urination and thus can slow the rate of hydration.

The chance for heat injury is increased when exercising in an environment that is very humid as well as hot since the humidity decreases the rate that sweat can be evaporated from the body. Therefore, fighters should consider this factor if they plan on competing in an area that might be very hot and humid.

Thirst is not a good indicator of the body's hydration state. In other words, it is possible to drink until you no longer feel thirsty but still not receive enough water to adequately hydrate the body. Studies have shown that athletes who only drink enough to satisfy thirst tend to only replace 50% or less of the body fluid lost during exercise.

Breathing During Kumite: Endurance and stamina is vital to successful Kumite. With that in mind, controlling breathing during Kumite becomes the most essential lesson of all. Power also flows from breathing control, making one strong in the face of determined opponents.

When fear sets in such as when a person might be protecting himself, if inhalation and exhalation are not kept under control the fear builds and completely controls the individual. At the same time, oxygen and nitrogen levels in the blood change, affecting the brain, which in turn controls the physical, emotional, and mental state of the person.

Hyperventilation is something many people experience if breathing is improper. It can be brought on by a number of different situations: through fear, anxiety, stress, physical exertion, and more. Improper breathing always brings it on. When the breathing is altered, so is the individual.

If you are hit in the chest while your lungs contain air, you are likely to become winded. Partially emptying your lungs helps avoid this danger. A fast inhalation is carried out when a possible threat becomes apparent - the student inhales quickly in preparation to move.  A slow inhalation is conducted when there is no apparent threat, but the student still needs to maintain a state of awareness and readiness (Zanshin). A fast exhalation indicates that a perceived threat is real and marks the transition into a defensible position such as kamae. Conversely, a slow exhalation marks a continued state of readiness, even though there is no immediate threat.

It should come as no surprise that fast breath is used to match a fast action, and a slow breath is used to match a slow action. This can be experienced by trying to perform your favorite technique at full speed and power, whilst breathing slowly. Deliberate and controlled breathing also promotes a state of readiness and calmness - If you can control the breath, you can control the mind (think about the difficulty of acting rationally when the body is struggling for breath). Similarly, if you can control the mind you can control the body (think about the conflict between mind and body that arises when you are in the middle of a grueling run). Moreover these breath-mind and mind-body relationships are transitive: If you can control the breath, you can control the body. The ability to control the body is a core principle in martial arts.

Theoretically, a karate student who has full control over breathing could easily outmatch a more physically powerful opponent if that opponent was wasting energy instead of controlling it.

It has long known that stress and anxiety diminish response time, impair judgment and ultimately hamper performance.

A more obvious example of this performance-hampering phenomenon can be seen in situations of very high duress, such as being attacked on the street. Under this level of intense pressure - even among trained martial artists - the body may revert to innate survival-based responses, including tunnel vision, large lunging motions and wild swings.

It is absolutely critical to focus upon controlling the breath, as well as relaxing the upper body, in particular the jaw, neck, shoulders and arms.

Early in the match, try to simply breathe naturally through the nose. Do not breathe high up in the chest, but instead, low down in the belly. After usually thirty to sixty seconds, maintaining natural breathing will become increasingly difficult. At this point, start taking short, slightly more forceful breaths in through the nose, along with slightly longer exhalations, also through the nose. Occasionally one can flare the nostrils, so as to assist in the in and outflow of air.

After a short while longer, it may become necessary to breathe through the mouth, even entirely, as the body places higher and higher demands upon the respiratory system for oxygen. This is all right. Listen to the body.  Try not to let your opponent see that you are winded or exhausted.

These breathing techniques will keep the blood oxygenated, which is required for keeping the muscles responding properly and the brain functioning well enough in order to perform learned responses. Note: no matter the level of physical preparation, mental rehearsal or psychological conditioning in training, the brain without sufficiently abundant oxygen can not respond with anything other than innate responses (or very poorly-performed learned ones), which nullifies most of the advantages obtained through training.

Some believe that if you breathe loudly, your opponent will know that you are about to attack! But others believe that sometimes the physical shout of the kiai can be used to momentarily scare or distract the opponent just long enough to set up your next technique.