Many karate students fail to respond with multiple techniques after an incoming attack, leaving them frustrated when they miss with the first counter attack. Your opponent could move out of range, perhaps your counter technique is blocked, or perhaps you hit an arm or shoulder instead of your intended target. This is frustrating because your “one chance to score” is gone in an instant.
However, when you use multiple techniques to counter instead of one, your chances of scoring are increased by 200%!
Today I want to give you a great “triple” fighting combination that my students worked on last night in class that can help you with your counter skills when doing kumite (sparring).
This combination is a bit different than regular “triples” like punch/kick/punch or jab/jab/reverse punch etc. It is different because it is:
1) Largely unknown
2) rarely used
3) It incorporates both attack and defense.
4) Use the same hand for all 3 strikes
It is also based on the same basic concept of a pinan kata. Yes, despite many people’s belief that kata is useless, here is a brilliant example of how a slight second movement tweak in pinan sandan can earn you more points than you ever imagined.
Is that how it works…
Since our triple combo starts defensively, we need an attack to counter.
There is no better place to start than to counter with the old reverse punch (gyaku zuki) which is responsible for approx. 80% technical score in traditional karate competition.
This defense works best when the target is the belly. Then, when your attacker delivers his reverse body punch in the usual way, he will block downwards (gedan barai), while simultaneously punching back (uraken), into his opponent’s temple.
As you do this, it is important that you shorten your stance a bit to avoid the strike, moving your front foot back and raising your center of gravity. This allows you to get “over the top” with a backward horizontal punch.
Key point: This must be done at the same time as blocking! Don’t block, then hit back, otherwise you won’t break time, and give your opponent a chance to recover!
Immediately after scoring with your back fist, return to your guard position and punch your opponent’s lead hand toward the outside line of his body. He immediately followed up with another counter, this time with a reverse punch to his gut.
As you regain your guard, then take your lead hand and strike your opponent’s guard (if it’s still up), down by turning your hand palm down and placing it on your forearm. This frees up his head for your final technique.
From this position, step forward while punching and perform a one-legged punch (ippon ashi dachi zuki), or what our MMA friends like to call the “superman punch” to the exposed head, and drop forward. forward with your foot on the outside line of your opponent’s. In this position, your chest should be against his shoulder and your guard covered by him.
So again, when the reverse hit hits, here’s what to do:
1) Block the front hand, make a fist behind the other hand.
2) Return to stance and immediately punch your lead arm out, and reverse punch your belly.
3) Return to guard and slam your lead arm down and step over it with your one-legged strike to the head.
The whole process shouldn’t take more than 1.5-2 seconds. The effect when done correctly is to confuse your opponent because this technique:
1) Break time
2) Hits high, low, high, making it harder to block
3) Create confusion with unusual application of combat techniques.
Of course, after the finishing blow, you can go out however you want… with a sweep, a punch, a push, etc.
I understand?
Excellent!
This is a great karate fighting combo. Give it a try next time you fight and let me know how it works out for you!
-Jason