How to Develop the Timing.

Exercises to develop the most important attributes of karate

What is better than speed or technique? No, not luck, is the Timing (| taiming |).

Timing is the quality that makes or breaks a fighter. The ability to recognize and react immediately to changes and opportunities for training in sparring or fighting. For example, your opponent stumbles. You see the error, instantly taking advantage of it with a kick or punch. That's timing.

The instructor Jim Mather advised not to confuse timing with speed.

"Rhythm is the effect caused by a succession of technical training for a fight or a personal defense situation. However, the timing may be part of the rhythm of a fight. You can create openings through the use of tactics and strategy, then take advantage of them with good timing. " Mather says.

The timing is also sometimes confused with setting traps the opponent. But this is directly related to the strategy and tactics, not the timing.

In the past, has referred to the timing and have a good eye. The ability to measure opponents, capitalizing on any opening in his guard or weaknesses in their combat tactics.

Timing is also the technical ability to execute the precise moment that the technique has its greatest effect.

According to Mather, good timing is a way to take immediate advantage in any gaps with the correct technique.

Timing methods

Mather, who is a coach certified by the United States of America Karate Federation, said that the holes in opposing defenses come in two forms, active and passive.

An active opening is created actively manipulating the positioning of your opponent, either physically or mentally.

For example, you Jabe crossed his face, creating an opening, then hits the body to the extent that the hands up to cover their heads in their first jab.

A passive opening is created by itself stop or incorrect movements of the opponent during the match.

When using the timing to take advantage of openings active or passive, reacting without having planned the situation. Think about their actions before they are strategy and tactics, not timing. According to Mather.

There are situations where premeditation is not fast enough. For example, your opponent throws a Roundhouse Kick to the head. Although not enough time to to think of a solution, if the timing of one is good enough, you can block the kick and fight back before your opponent reacts.

Mental situations

There are four mental situations that allow you to create openings for a well coordinated counterattack.

The first is fear. Their opposition is reduced by the fear of his blows. It is sometimes the gap can be created deliberately actively launching a couple of hard knocks.

Doubt their own ability is the second state of mind. This is an opening passive. The question makes your opponent (or you) slower and over-conservative.

The confusion is another mental condition that can bring your opponent, releasing a number of unrelated techniques, making him wonder what is next.

The last state of mind is surprise. You can catch your opponent off guard with a sudden kiai. Then, when you are puzzled, forward with a kick or fist.

Physical aspects

Good timing also takes advantage of physical fitness. If you are in better shape than your opponents, you can catch them before they do so. Some fighters are good at putting their counterattacks between the techniques of their opponents. This space or time between techniques is called dead time.

Another tactic of fighting, based on the timing, is moving in a different direction when your opponent throws a technique. As it moves, hit with their techniques. Then with perfect timing, change it again, launching another blow from the opposite direction.

After the opponents have missed the target and try to recover it, they become easy targets for you. At that time, they are mentally and physically out of the fight. All your time and effort is spent just trying to escape from you.

This even works if you cause an opponent to move out of position. If simulating a movement toward the left, the opponent usually moves to the left with you, ready to hang. When the opponent is going to his left, hit it from the right, taking it when not in position to block techniques.

Mather students use their expertise in timing to take advantage on the opponents while they are distracted during a match.

As you become mentally or physically tired, opponents begin to have a vacant stare. Mather students look for these expressions to instantly capitalize.

Do not have a good timing of fighting until you can see his opponent clearly and neutrally, responding promptly to any gaps they leave. Throughout the match should remain calm, keeping his attention focused entirely on his opponent. You also need confidence in their ability to control the situation. Most inexperienced people react strictly emotional level, severely restricting any technique well-timed.

According to Mather, the timing is one of the most difficult aspects of martial arts enseñr. However, it can be taught to anyone. Mather does so through experience and a large number of exercises on timing.

Teaching Methods

In addition to the exercises, Mather is on four ways to teach their students good timing.

The first and most obvious is the practice of sparring. The following is instruction, teaching students how to read what to watch and unconscious movements of opponents.

Third, Mather stays with his students as they fight, warning on all the holes as they occur. Finally, spend time with their students during the tournament, explaining the ins and outs of the other battles.

A single workout will not teach students all they need to know about good timing. Mather uses at least six years of timing.

The first exercise is a combination of two people simulating an attack. As soon as the simulated movement occurs, the remaining person comes forward with a real attack. This teaches students to react instantly and without fear.

The following exercise makes a person initial restrictions. For example, he is told to do nothing except front kick followed by a forward step (step forward). Meanwhile, the other side can block and counterattack as desired. As this exercise is practiced over and over again, the student gains experience seeing and reading the movements, in this case front kicks.

Another exercise, called Jyu ippon, is a combination of attacking side with any hand technique. The other person avoids or blocks and strikes before the other person can retire. The person who fights quickly begins to find specific targets rather than general areas. Jyu ippon increases speed and reaction time. Remember, that advocates must fight back before the attacker can break away from the battle.

The fourth year of Mather's timing makes the attacker launch a technique (fist or kick). He who defends, who is working on the timing, you must fight back and score a legitimate point against the attacker.

When students can easily handle a technique, exercise is extended to two techniques very similar to sparring one-and two-steps-do tae-kwon. This exercise teaches students to recognize targets quickly and proceed on them.

The next exercise is very close to free-style sparring. The attacker can use any technique that comes to mind, and the defending strikes, making the attacker. Then the first bomber strikes this technique. This continues for three or four exchanges. In this exercise, both sides can practice and improve their timing skills in a realistic combat situation.

Finally, a student Mather faces five others. At this level, good timing is critical. Furthermore, it is argued should be careful, because any error can leave gaps where one or more attackers can enter.

"This exercise is one of the closest thing we can do for real," says Mather.

The other timing-oriented exercise is the mass street kumite. Here Mather divides the class into teams, with approximately 10 people in each. Everyone who is beaten, you should sit. This continues until one team remains. Mather makes his kumite mass as a gang war, any one team can attack any opposing team. Mather believes the timing exercises and actual experience of sparring you are the best ways to develop good timing to fight. Her students spend time in both. According to Jim Mather, the timing is one of the most crucial segments of karate sparring and self defense.