Many karate students do not respond with multiple techniques after an incoming attack, leaving them frustrated when they miss with the first counterattack. Your opponent may move out of range, perhaps his counterattack technique is blocked, or he may hit an arm or shoulder instead of the intended target. This is frustrating because your “only chance to score” disappears in an instant.
However, when you use multiple counter techniques instead of one, your chances of scoring increase by 200%!
Today I want to offer you an excellent combination of “triple” fights that I had my students work on last night in class and that can help them with their counterattack skills when doing kumite (sparring).
This combination is a bit different than the usual “triples” like punch / kick / punch, or jab / jab / reverse punch, etc. It is different because it is:
1) largely unknown
2) Rarely used
3) Incorporate both offense 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 the belief of many people that kata is useless, here is a brilliant example of how a small modification to the second movement in pinan sandan can generate more points than you imagined.
Is that how it works …
Because our triple combo starts on defense, we need an attack to counter.
There is no better place to start than to counter the good reverse blow (gyaku zuki) which is responsible for approx. 80% of the technical score in traditional karate competition.
This defense works best when the target is the belly. So when your attacker throws his reverse blow to the body in the usual way, you are going to block (gedan barai), while simultaneously striking with your back fist (uraken), on your opponent’s temple.
When doing this, it is important that you shorten your stance a little to avoid the blow, moving your front foot back and raising your center of gravity. This allows you to get “over the top” with a horizontal back punch.
Key point: This must be done at the same time as the lock! Don’t block, then hit back, otherwise you won’t break time and give your opponent a chance to bounce back!
Immediately after scoring with your rear fist, return to your guard position and strike your opponent’s front hand towards the outside line of their body. Immediately follow up with another counterattack, this time a reverse punch of your own to the belly.
As you regain your guard, grab your front hand and strike your opponent’s guard (if it’s still raised), downward by turning your hand palm down and placing it on top of your forearm. This frees your head for your final technique.
From this position, step forward as you strike, and do a one leg strike (ippon ashi dachi zuki), or what our MMA friends like to call the “superman strike” to the exposed head, and land towards forward with your foot on your opponent’s outside line. In this position, your chest should be against your shoulder and your guard should be low.
So again when the reverse hit comes, this is what you need to do:
1) Block your front hand, make your fist back with your other hand.
2) Return to guard and immediately strike your front arm out, and reverse strike to your belly.
3) Return to guard and slam your front arm down and come to the top with your one leg strike to the head.
The whole process shouldn’t take more than 1.5 to 2 seconds. The effect when done correctly is confusing to your opponent because this technique:
1) break time
2) Hit high, low, high, making it difficult to block
3) Create confusion with unusual application of combat techniques.
Of course, after the final blow, you can come out however you want … with a sweep, a hit, a shove, etc.
I understand?
Excellent!
This is a great karate combat combo. Give it a try next time you fight and let me know how it works for you!
– Jason