Focus from the word Go.
During training the other night, our Sensei asked us to practise our sequence of waza and focus on what it is we are doing. Attention to detail, don't exaggerate movements.
One of my Sempai has the ability to focus and approach every opponent with the intention of going into battle.
Fininshing the round of Keiko, using my peripheral vision, I saw that my next opponent was this Sempai with strong spirit.
Kotai! Rotate as we do, I come to face this being. Our eyes lock, and he is staring me down like a pit bull ready to lock his jaws on those bits we keep private.
Onegaishimasu!.... Rei......focus... three steps in, unsheath the shinai.... Sonkyo.....the vision, ...(my god this guy has tunnel vision) I remain focused, finding strong kiai from Hara, and launch my attack and finsish the sequence of cuts. At the time I was pleased with my form, spirit and devoted attention... but now it was my turn to be motadachi and my Sempai to cut. Let me just say.... He unleashed hell, and left me thinking about working on my Kiai and finding that Strong Spirit. My main problem is maintaining that kiai and spirit throughout the sequence. I tend to stop or lose it after the cut, turn around, face my opponent, and find myself having to start all over again.By then, it is too late. Anyone suffer from this?
When I look at my opponent, it’s not with some animalistic fierceness. I have a fairly relaxed look and posture, but I am focused on trying to find a way in and feel what move he or she will make next. Sometimes my intuition is good, sometimes not so good. I don’t really sweat getting hit or trying to score points. My only concern is understanding my opponent as best as I can and remembering things about sparring previously with this person that I can use to my advantage (how they block, what points they mainly go for…). I sparred with a friend last night that leaves his doh open continuously when blocking men. Knowing this, the first three points of the spar where me hitting his doh. I felt he would expect me hitting his doh a fourth time so when he when I went in for what he figured would be a fake to men, he bIocked for doh and I went ahead and followed thru with men.
I’ve also faced opponents that are very confident but you’d be surprised how quickly you can turn overconfidence by simply pressuring someone. One trick I’ve took to heart is trying not to back up when they come in for a strike. I usually lunge forward to limit their striking distance. Even if they do hit me, it’s usually with bad Ki-Ken-Tai-no-Ichi so no point is awarded and that can sometimes be very frustrating to someone intent on scoring a point.
Another thing that has helped me is sheer force of will. I have very good stamina and even during very intense keiko against better students, I keep a very calm composure but try to tire my opponent by constantly applying pressure with good Kamae. Even if I do get winded, I try not to show it. There have been times this has helped during very intense keiko against some of the senior students in my class. I can usually see if they are tiring and try my best to keep at them with relentless seme until they are breathing heavy, start losing kamae, or tend to come in close to tsubazeriai to catch their breath.
Remember that everyone is vulnerable to mistakes and we all have weaknesses, no matter how “animalistic” someone may seem. The best anyone can do is try their best to exploit those weaknesses and be steadfast. And just as importantly, know your own weaknesses and improve upon them. :wink:
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