3 & 5 step kumite

[B&D]

here I go again.
lts easier to start with being on the defensive. since I have a long stride I have an advantage usually but there is a drawback, and this is my conundrum.
when going back I take a natural step back considering my heightened awareness its quite long, my partner's step is usually smaller therefore quicker(in that they have already started the next step before I finish my first) so by the third or fourth step they have gained the ground, my block is already out of sinc..and the last punch gets thru.do I alter my length of step which will take time since it will not be as natural, also when going forward my partner tends to land to the side of me which after the third makes us move in an ark. In one step of course i'm great but I understand why now but does not make my karate any better. Any thoughts out there, hope i've made it clear. in my steps I do load the legs to push and not just lift them. By the way I enjoy finding these little things that cause me to question things .

[Dave J]

Hi Arwel , here is some stuff I wrote in my thesis for Yondan on Gohon ippon. It's a bit long to read but I hope it is useful to you and others .... but remember reading is the easy part ...

Introduction
Gohon Ippon Kumite ( 5 Step single attack ) is one of the first training exercises a karate student will experience. Although it can be practised by karateka with limited levels of skill it is an exercise which is developmental to karateka at all levels of experience.
Fundamental elements of the karatekas abilities can be developed through diligent study and practice of Gohon Ippon Kumite. This thesis will discuss the benefits of this exercise and the primary technical objectives of this exercise relating to development of technique and mental strength.
The exercise requires 2 karateka to face each other with the attacking partner beginning the exercise by stepping backwards  making a strong gedan barai block and nominating ‘Jodan’ as the first attack in a series of five punches to this target. After the five jodan attacks have been made the defending karateka delivers a chudan counter punch before going to Yoi position and carrying out the same five jodan attacks in the opposite direction. The first attacker the repeats the exercise, this time attacking the chudan target of his partner five times ,this is then repeated in the opposite direction by the partner who has just defended and counter punched.
Fundamental Elements
Stance
Having a good stance is key to good Gohon Ippon Kumite as this is the foundation of strong techniques being used during the exercise. Emphasis on keeping the stance low and stable is important as this is the fundamental source of speed and power in the techniques employed during the exercise.
The stance used is zenkutsu dachi ( Front stance )  and students should concentrate on driving the hips forward into the attacking moves while keeping a vertical posture and relaxed shoulders. When performing the blocking techniques the student should try to keep his hips level and aim for a smooth transition from one stance to the next.
Keeping the heels of the supporting leg on the ground while moving is a noteworthy point as many students allow their back heel to come up off the floor as they attempt to drive into the oi tzuki technique. This is a crucial error as having the heel firmly on the ground is vital for the generation of power from the floor into the technique and plays a major role in ensuring the stance is stable.   

Distance
Through repeated practice a karateka is able to experience how to judge the distance to the target while stepping forward when making an attack. Performing the exercise with multiple partners educates the karatekas to adapt his use of the fighting distance with different opponents. With several years of Gohon Ippon Kumite practice with different partners a Karateka  learns the  distance he can deliver his oi tzuki attack effectively. He will also come to understand the distance from where others are able to attack him from.
Distance is often the most difficult element for an inexperienced karateka to understand as it is a variable which is only understood through years of diligent training and study.
A karateka should maintain discipline when trying to come to grips with good quality Gohon Ippon Kumite and not compromise his technique for the sake of either making up distance to catch out a partner with an attack or moving too far backwards when defending therefore moving out of the correct fighting distance. These errors take many forms such as leaning in or sliding the feet forward when attacking and leaning backwards or sliding the feet backwards when defending. These errors will result in a poor understanding of distance and of how to generate power and kime in the techniques.
Timing
Timing the execution of techniques in Gohon Ippon Kumite is developed with experience. As a beginner, a karateka is often instructed to deliver the techniques so that the foot of the stepping leg lands at the same moment as the technique does. This remains true as the karateka becomes more advanced however the timing behind the completion of the technique changes.
As a beginner, the attacking or blocking arm will often move at a speed which is similar to the speed of leg movement. This is due to poor timing of delivery of the technique. Through study a student learns how to delay the attacking / defending limb until a split second before the foot lands to make the next stance. This causes the punch or block to accelerate to catch up with the foot resulting in a much faster and stronger technique.
Rolling from once attack to the next is another common error made when practising Gohon Ippon Kumite. Each attack should be made as an individual attack and should not be linked by timing to the preceding attack. This principle enables the student to practice making one strong attack at a time. This means that training becomes more realistic as one good strong punch will often finish a fight whereas 5 weak techniques delivered with poor timing does not contribute to the development of the karateka who is training this way.


Speed
Gohon Ippon Kumite is an excellent training exercise for developing fast and strong attacks. The exercise allows its participants to increase the speed in execution of their techniques and provides immediate feedback through noting how partners cope with blocking and defending attacks.
Speed is generated by using the stance to drive the hips forwards strongly and timing to deliver the technique effectively to the target. Correct utilisation and timing of the Hikite       (Reaction Hand) will also increase the speed of the attack and make it more effective.
The goal for a karateka performing Gohon Ippon Kumite is to be able to attack his partner so quickly that he has no chance of defending against the attack despite the attacking partner having nominated the target to his opponent.     
Target
Attacks which are on target are effective attacks. From a beginner to the most advanced grades concentration on the target area is crucial. Ability to focus attacks on the target of either the point of the chin for Jodan attacks and the stomach for Chudan attacks will determine the timing of Kime in application of the techniques. If a Karateka is not specific about precisely where the technique will be delivered then much of the benefit of the exercise is lost as weak or no kime will be present in unfocused techniques.
Techniques should be delivered with both power and control. The mastery of this concept enables the practitioner to progress to other forms of kumite safely as his skill in delivering focused accurate techniques to the target will improve with experience.
Zanshin
Approaching Gohon Ippon Kumite with the correct mental attitude is an essential aspect of practising traditional karate. The two karateka taking part in the exercise should always show respect and humility to their partners and enter into the exercise with a mutual goal of pushing each other’s capabilities to the limit. Training with this attitude ensures the continual development of the karateka throughout his karate life.
It is important to maintain strong mental focus and determination when both attacking and defending as this is directly linked to the quality of the techniques which will be performed and how effective they might be in a real encounter. Partners should concentrate on each other as soon as they are faced to perform Gohon Ippon Kumite this is because the act of facing a partner for a kumite exercise should be viewed as an opportunity to train mental strength as well as physical strength.     
Conclusion
Regular training in Gohon Ippon Kumite serves to advance a karateka in each aspect of his karate development. Whether Kihon , Kata or Kumite is being practiced,each of these will be developed through diligently training in Gohon Ippon Kumite as the fundamental components of a karateka’s technique are enhanced by it’s practice.

[B&D]

Great Dave!
I need to start adjusting my distance, I've always regarded this subject as try to gain as much distance as possible which means I finish with some partners having my hips nearly touching theirs, I can see that the next few months are going to feel like i've taken a step back in my improvement as I try and correct this part of my karate with plenty of mistakes that will no doubt mean that even lesser grades will get their punches in but its a price i'm willing to pay.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Also - NEVER let your opponent dictate your stance length when stepping to block - what seems to be happening to you B&D is that your effectively being "Blitzed" by the attacker - which IMO isn't a very good thing for the  either as they're not really going to improve their skills much using this approach - at least not in 3/5 step drills.

I suspect that you're pretty much negecting your "primary block" with the other hand and concentrating too much on the "blocking arm". Consider the situation on 3/5 Step Jodan attack - - think about how your instructors teach basic Age-Uke.

What happens first ? - you quickly thrust out what will become the Hiki-Te arm at opponents face level. Trust me that if you continue to do this in the 3/5 step drills as soon as you sense your opponent move they won't be so keen to try to "Blitz" you - one sore nose should sort them out - but of course you should work on improving your step back speed too if it's much slower than your attacking stepping speed.

Of course it works equally well on Chudan attacks.

Jim

P.S. - a good drill to practice this is simple 1/3/5 step kumite but don't allow yourself to use the normal blocking arm - simply use the "primary arm" to strike/block the punch.

[B&D]

now I'm lost, do I keep my original distance and use my hikite hand to stop them coming forward until i'm ready, much of that and i'll soon end up with irrate partners.

[B&D]

thinking about it, using the hikite hand more, raising it higher before pulling back will give me better speed and looks better, the more i think the more I like.

[JimmyTheHoover]

It's not so much to keep the arm there till you're ready so much as to remind them that you're not defenceless as you step. If you do it properly then it's their fault if they get hit.

IMO you should always step YOUR stance length - forward or back - if not then of course your never going to end up back where you started (as a side issue obviously) but if you start training differnet stance lengths for differnet directions then have a think about how this might affect other areas - such as Kata for example - or are you planning to have a whole range of stepping distances that you've tailored to suit your partner ?

The Hiki-Te arm is supposed to shoot out as you initiate the step back anyway - if it's not then in fact you're not blocking properly

Also my point about the opponent not really training properly is that they (IMO) should not be relying on "tricks" to overwhelm you but should be working on stepping and punching fast enough with no "telling action" that they catch you with a clean technique from a "ready" position - just like the first attack.

Just my thoughts/opinions obviously - perhaps it's a "Seki Tradition" to Blitz attack - at least until you "wise up"  

Will be interesting to hear what the other Seki Instructors think about this.

I think that you'll be surprised also at how much it actually sharpens up the blocking action too.

Jim

[B&D]

my hiki-te has not felt right for some time during kumite, due to the hurrying of the moves to try and keep up with my oponent, I have had a good week or two to evaluate my standing as a karateka (holiday) and since achieving my 3rd qyu grade I thought its time to take hold of my progress and study it. I am a weak 3 qyu and need to strengthen my basics. I have moved to the advanced class of training and my basics is letting me down, I intend to try and share the training equally for the forseable future between the advance class and the middle class that I have attended for the past 24 months. Even though my middle class training will not count towards my book stamping for eligibility to grade next time at least I will be more ready for when I do grade.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Good for you 

You can't fix a problem if you don't admit that you have it in the first place.

You've a wealth of great instructors available to you at Seki - use them - talk to them - they won't bite (well most won't anyway) and will offer any assistance you need.

Saying that it's really good that you're asking questions here as well as it lets others who are no doubt going through very similar experiences see that they are not alone/dum/useless etc. and take advantage of the advice given if necessary.

I think that I can safely say that a common complaint that Instructors have is that "nobody asks for help" - Instructors usually love to be asked to assist and it won't matter how stupid or trivial you feel it is - ask - it's one of the signs of someone who really wants to learn and not just be "shown".

Enough preaching for now methinks 

JIm

@ Dave-J - forgot to say - really liked that part of your Thesis - very well presented and understandable. Was that the whole thing or did you cover other Kumite aspects too ?