Everybody’s different, some karate-ka like high kicks, some like low kicks, but which one is better?

Tae kwon do, perform very high kicks, that are fast and powerful, some karate groups only practice kicking below the belt and some practice both high and low kicking.

I believe it’s all down to the individual involved. I personally wouldn’t recommend high kicks in self defence, but then again, I’m sure there are people who do recommend high kicks.

Really, it doesn’t matter what someone says or doesn’t say, because when it comes to self defence, you will do, whatever you practice! So if you practice head kicks, day in day out, there’s a high chance, that if you kicked whilst defending yourself, in a self defence situation, the kick will probably target the head.

The 'one for one' sparring exercise is an excellent way to develop certain Shotokan kumite skills, such as, timing, accuracy, speed, reflex, anticipation, stamina, relaxation and many more.

'One for one' sparring is where two karateka take it in turns to attack and defend, the first karateka attacks with one attack, the other karateka blocks and counters with one strike, the first karateka then repeats the process.

This exercise can be useful when trying to anticipate your opponents next attack, one for one is a continuous exercise, where there should be no let up in the cycle (attack,block attack,block ,attack,block,etc) , each attack you execute, try and 'out smart' your opponent, try to gain the upper hand and by so doing, control the fight.

Kaeshi Ippon Kumite is a great exercise for reaction training, which can be used by beginner, intermediate and advanced karate-ka.

Basic explanation of Kaeshi Ippon Kumite
Attackers job, is to attack, then block and counter.
Defenders job, is to block and counter, with this type of kumite, the defenders counter becomes an attack.

The more basic version of this sparring, could be ~
1. Attacker steps in oizuki jodan (stepping punch to the head), with the right leg and right arm.
2. Defender steps back with the right leg and blocks age uke (upper rising block), with the left arm.
3. Defender then counters with oizuki chudan (stepping punch to the body), with the right leg and right arm.
4. Attacker steps back with the right leg and blocks soto uke (outside forearm block), with the left arm, immediately followed by gyakuzuki chudan (reverse punch to the body) with the right arm.

Always Hide your Breathing!

Although some of these kumite tactics seem small, if you try and implement them, your karate will take on a whole new exciting direction.

As the title says, 'Always hide Your Breathing'. Never let your opponent know if you're breathing in or out, this is so important. Especially when you are tired and starting to breathe heavy.

If your opponent or sparring partner is tired and breathing heavy, one of the times to attack is just as they finish breathing out!

Watch your opponent closely, just as they finish the last part of their exhalation, ATTACK! They will struggle to react because they are more concerned with living and breathing in.

Eyes And Fighting

Most karate sensei teach karateka to look at their opponents eyes, not focusing on the eyes, but looking through the eyes and seeing everything.

I know some great fighters who do not look at the eyes at all, yet they also see everything.

Wherever you look when you fight, the eyes can sometimes tell a lot.

Just like people, martial artists blink their eyes, some people blink often and sometimes at regular intervals, if your opponent does this and you can judge when, attack!

If your opponent looks away from you, attack! They may be watching someone else sparring, looking to see what's behind you, because they're about to launch an attack, looking to see where sensei is in the dojo, look for these opportunities, then attack!