Kumite, Randori and Thugs

Friday Knight News

“You can only fight the way you practice” Miyamoto Musashi

There is a vast difference between kumite, randori and self-defense. Both kumite, randori have their places in our training, but there use in real life self-defense is not that significant. Ippon kumite and toshu randori are closer to self-defense training but even they are not quite there. This is due to the use of weapons in real life. We cannot achieve the real feel of self-defense in a safe class room environment, and most likely we wouldn't want to do so either.

Martial arts, in my view, were made to help us develop the tools to use in this paradigm and not to recreate the circumstances where they would be needed. We gain so much more from our study than mere self-defense; and many lessons would be lost if we only focused on this one aspect. Still it is necessary to improve upon in this category and we can do this by learning how to defeat a foe that is superior in strength, speed, agility, numbers or weaponry.

In order to deepen our knowledge in this area we can become familiar with the five weapon types. These being blunt, edged, flexible, and weapons that combine two or more elements to them like a rifle with a bayonet for example. After that, we can examine the role distance and timing plays as it applies to overcoming speed, power and the longer reach afforded by various weapons. Of course the distance involved in these situations will vary depending on the scenario and it will also change depending on the weapon involved.

The ippon kumite, toshu randori one step training is a higher level concept of free practice in my way of thinking, as this relates closer to what self-defense actually is going to be. These practices also have an initial block or reception in common in their format. There are basically two types on blocks in my experience ones that halt progress of the attack and those that misdirect the progress of the attack. Both types can achieve the desired result albeit in different fashions.

One thing to keep in mind while practicing these skills if both people raise up their hands to fight it becomes mutual combat or sparring and it is no longer a surprise attack. Keep in mind real life attacks rely on the element of surprise. This fact should indicate that meditation with its focus on awareness training and relaxation are highly valuable in real life self-defense. This is also where kumite and randori can contribute somewhat to both of these categories. Tony Annesi has great video lessons on what he calls Sudden Attack Defense, I highly recommend them.



Tony Annesi DVD/s

"A block is a lock, is a throw, is a blow." Tony Annesi

Where kumite and randori fail in my view is that they cause many martial artists to operate under the false assumption that if you block your opponent then your opponent is free to attack you with another strike. This is not necessary so, that is if you understand when and where to apply either of these three foundation structures; circle, square and triangle. To circle resistance is first applied with intercepting hands, secondarily with your steps. Learning to take the attackers balance which is generally first applied with steps, secondarily with your hands. From there you can focus your power, which can be applied with any part of the body through strikes, throws, or a compression.

This again is where timing and distance come into play, understanding these elements can allow you to develop the skill set needed to drop larger, stronger, faster opponents with a single block alone. This ability can turn kumite and randori into ippon kumite and toshu randori. Be careful with this as I have had many examples of men coming into my dojo wanting to prove themselves. These men came from military boxing, wrestling and combat martial arts programs and a lot came from MMA enthusiasts. It seems that these people, more so than other, did not want to play fight or do one steps but they wanted to do real fighting. After their challenges and initial strikes or take down's they gave up. Many had returned after a three month recuperation time to tell me they would not have believed it if they had not felt it for themselves. They all commented on how nonchalant it seemed except for the fact that for the most part they all received (shoulder separations or dislocations), injuries.

There had been a few elbow injuries too and one dislocated jaw invoked with these challenges, but for the most part from over forty years I only had to do a simple block. I will admit that I have dropped a few various other attackers now and again with strikes, throws or chokes but by and large the blocks have done the lion's share of the work. There was no need for a follow up or counter attack in these cases and it worked just as well on assailants that had laid hands on me or had attempted to do so during the course of an arrest. In twenty years as a LEO there had never been a need to strike anyone, although the ground had done so, and many times a block that took the aggressor down and they might have felt like it was a blow. I have a book available on Kindle that touches a bit deeper on this subject.

Principle Based Warrior Arts

If you have not yet read the "Dream Walker" series, below are links to the Kindle version books and they have many examples of these and other martial art skills in them. My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.

Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.