Championship Sport Karate

Championship Sport Karate by

Robert Parham

Copyright Š 2007 WCAP, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

PREFACE At the request of many of my students and colleagues, I am writing this book to demonstrate some of the techniques that have made me a successful tournament fighter . I can remember the very first tournament that I participated in. I was a white belt under the instruction of Dr. Alonzo M. Jones. He said “practice and persevere and you will become a world champion one day in this sport.” I listened to my instructor and actually won five World Championships on the point tournament circuit, including titles with the United States Karate Alliance (USKA), Sport Karate International (SKI) and the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame (UMAHOF). I have faced some of the best fighters the world over and have made some great friends along the way. As a competitor, I had to continuously learn from each match, constantly adjust my techniques until they were flawless, and train hard. Most importantly was to share in the spirt of the brotherhood of Martial Arts and have fun along the way! In writing this book, I have tried a different approach. I have taken still photos from archived videos of my matches. This way you can actually see how the techniques work in real sport karate matches. I hope you enjoy learning from this book as much as I had fun writing it for you. So, now it is my turn to tell you to “Practice and persevere and you will become a world champion fighter one day in this sport.”

Yours Truly, Grandmaster Robert D. Parham, Jr. Kempo Comba-Tai

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

This book is dedicated to all of those who have influenced my career in Sport Karate. First and foremost, my instructor, Dr. Jones. Thank you Soke, your words and direction gave me a path to follow. My students Rick and Tellias, who were there to encourage and pushed me to my limits. The late Grandmaster Ferdinand Bigard who accepted me as one of his own. To Pee Wee, Raymond, Ed and the rest of the fighting Blanco family for showing me how it’s done (Well!). To Grandmaster Eric O’ Neal, who always took the bar one step higher. “Mafia” Holloway who personally showed me his axe kick. To Sabrina, Cookie, Leonard, Marcellus, John and Jeff. To Superfoot, thanks for everything! To Grandmaster Guerra, you’re still the man! To the following organizations; MKA, SLAM, USKA, PKL, WKA, UMAHOF, SKI and NBL (Yeah Boice, I didn’t forget about you!). And mostly, I give thanks to the CREATOR who makes all things possible!

OUSH!

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

Contents Chapter One: The Backfist 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7

Speed Backfist .............................................................................................................. 2 Lead Springing Backfist .............................................................................................. 3 Snap Backfist ................................................................................................................ 4 Quick Backfist .............................................................................................................. 5 Lead Flipping Backfist……………………………………………………………….6 Tilting Backfist with Reverse Punch…………………………………………….. ...7 Double Fake Backfist with Reverse Punch………………………………………...8

Chapter Two: The Reverse Punch 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6

Shuffle Reverse Punch .............................................................................................. 11 Quick Reverse Punch ................................................................................................ 13 Fade Away Flying Reverse Punch………………………………………………...14 Blind Side Stepping Reverse Punch……………………………………………….16 Counter Reverse Punch…………………………………………………………….17 180 Reverse Combination Punch………………………………………………….19

Chapter Three: Kicks 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.0 3.01 3.02

Drawing Lead Roundhouse ..................................................................................... 22 Lead Leg Hook Kick .................................................................................................. 23 Double Pump Lead Leg Roundhouse Kick ........................................................... 25 Lead Leg Axe Kick..................................................................................................... 27 Lead Hopping Axe Kick……………………………………………………………29 Counter Spinning Hook Kick................................................................................... 30 Drop Suicide Spinning Hook Kick .......................................................................... 32 Rolling Flip Kick ........................................................................................................ 33 Counter Jump Spinning Back Kick ......................................................................... 35 Jump Roundhouse Kick ............................................................................................ 37 Jump Spinning Crescent Kick……………………………………………………..39 Flying Sidekick Spinning Hook Kick Combination……………………………..41

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

CHAPTER ONE THE BACKFIST

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THE SPEED BACKFIST

1. My opponent is in a closed stance. Both of our hands are down. In this instance, I have great faith in my speed.

3. As I execute the backfist, I raise my lead elbow. The elbow brings snap to the backfist.

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2. We bounce in a rhythm and I copy his rhythm. On the second bounce, I start a speed backfist by pushing off of my back foot.

4. The backfist lands to the side of my opponents head. Because he is in a closed stance, it is hard for him to react to techniques coming at his blind side.

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THE LEAD SPRINGING BACKFIST

1. I size my opponent up. I notice quickly that he is in a closed stance, which means he also has the same lead foot out front as I do, which in this case is the left foot. Even though he is leaning away, his back foot is not underneath him.

3. I spring off of my back leg. This motion is also done quickly

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2. I give him a head feint to see his reaction just by leaning forward slightly, but the motion is executed quickly. Notice that I bend my knees just a little deeper. This prepares me for a quick spring action.

4. I execute a lead springing back fist.

Notice that my opponent hasn’t moved an inch. It’s important to always be in constant motion no matter how little or big the movement is.

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THE SNAP BACKFIST

1. My opponent is in an open stance.

3. As I move forward, I aim my elbow towards my target. In this case, it is my opponent’s forehead.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. I push off of my back leg.

4. The backfist lands. I bend my wrist slightly in order to allow the first two knuckles of my backfist strike my opponent. This action along with aiming the elbow causes the backfist strike to have more snap.

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THE QUICK BACKFIST

1. My opponent has a closed stance. His defense is difficult to penetrate because his lead hip is turned in.

3. I react by exploding off of my back foot with a quick backfist.

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2. He feints to draw a reaction from me.

4. The quick backfist scores as he tries to counter with a lead ridge hand strike.

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THE LEAD FLIPPING BACKFIST

1. I see that my opponent is in an open stance, which means we have opposite feet in front. I have my left foot as lead and he has his right foot as lead. My lead arm is outstretched from my body and my palm is downward.

3. Now I commit to the technique. I have flipped my lead hand over and push off of my back foot. Notice my opponent is still in the same position as in figure 1

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2. Notice my lead hand and foot. I start to flip my fist over and lift my lead foot off of the floor ever so slightly. He doesn’t know if a punch or a lead kick is coming.

4. My opponent reacts…but it’s too late.

The lead flipping back fist has landed flush!

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THE TILTING BACKFIST with REVERSE PUNCH FOLLOW THROUGH

1. From a left lead, I notice my opponent is in a closed stance. I shift my weight back slightly to give him the impression that I want to kick.

3. The backfist connects to the back of the head. Notice how this causes his left hand to raise which creates an opening to his left ribcage. I start to twist my rear foot in order to execute a reverse punch.

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2. I suddenly come forward with a leaning backfist, aiming for the back of my opponents head. Notice that unlike any of the previous backfist strikes, both of my feet are on the ground and I lean forward with my weight.

4. The reverse punch lands to the open ribcage with enough force to knock him backward.

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THE DOUBLE FAKE BACKFIST REVERSE PUNCH

1. My opponent is stepping to me as I circle him clockwise.

3. This movement stops him in his tracks and he leans away to avoid the backfist strike.

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2. I push off of my back leg and fake a back fist strike.

4. With both feet on the ground, I set him up for a reverse punch.

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5. I fake another backfist

6. My opponent attempts to block it, but I throw the backfist short.

7. I immediately execute the reverse punch to the body and it scores.

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CHAPTER TWO THE REVERSE PUNCH

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THE SHUFFLE REVERSE PUNCH

1. As my opponent and I square off, I notice he is in a closed stance. Also, he is shorter than I am. This is to his advantage because he wants me to lean in and extend myself so he can counter.

3. Now I shuffle my front foot forward.

As soon as I get my lead foot close enough to my opponent, I push off of my back leg.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. I shuffle my rear foot forward with the intention to close the distance between us.

4. I raise my elbow to mask the reverse punch. He thinks the backfist is coming, and that is a choice of technique for me in this instance, but because he is shorter than me, I don’t want to take a chance on him countering

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5. The reverse punch scores to the body. If you look closely, you can see that he leaned away expecting the backfist. Always try to go to the body when fighting shorter people. Most shorter fighters are well adept at head movement and drawing taller opponents in for the counter.

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THE QUICK REVERSE PUNCH

1. My opponent is shorter than I am. I make an adjustment by bending my knees deeper and becoming the same height as he is.

3. I explode with a reverse punch, but mask it behind a backfist. Notice that he also has started a reverse punch.

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2. He opens his guard to draw me in.

Because I am the same height he is, my reach becomes longer than his. If I were standing taller, our reach would be the same length.

4. My reverse punch scores to the body with authority. His reverse punch is not completed because my reach is longer; I beat him to the punch.

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THE FADE AWAY FLYING REVERSE PUNCH

1. My opponent has a closed stance. I purposely keep him just outside of kicking range to make him commit to attacking me.

3. I block his attempted backfist with my lead hand while shifting my weight backwards to my rear foot.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. I see him bend his front knee and lean forward to jump towards me.

4. I jump backwards as I trap his lead hand pulling him towards me. I start my punch. He starts his as well, but because I am pulling him backwards with me, it will fall short.

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5. The fade away reverse punch scores to the face.

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THE BLIND SIDE STEPPING REVERSE PUNCH

1. My opponent has an open stance.

3. I am angled on my opponent’s blind side. I twist my hips and rotate my rear foot to start the reverse punch.

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2. I take my lead foot and step to the outside of his lead foot.

4. The reverse punch scores to the body.

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THE COUNTER REVERSE PUNCH

1. My opponent has an open stance.

3. The second his foot touches the floor, I start to rotate my foot and hips to execute a reverse punch.

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2. He tries a lead leg side kick that falls short.

4. The counter reverse punch scores to the body with authority.

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5. The punch causes him to fall backwards.

7. He winces in pain and tries to catch his breath.

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6. He goes backwards a few steps more.

8. Because I punched him just as his weight was coming forward, it caused my punch to become more forceful. I think he needs a time out!

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THE 180 REVERSE COMBINATION PUNCH

1. I notice my opponent has squared up towards me.

3. Almost completing my 180 turn, my opponent suspects that I will throw a kick.

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2. I start to spin 180 degrees towards my opponent.

4. Instead I step forward to him.

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5. I throw a right cross to the body which scores.

6. I follow it with a left to the body that scores.

7. I finish with a reverse punch to the head.

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CHAPTER THREE KICKS

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THE DRAWING LEAD ROUNDHOUSE

1. Me and my opponent face off. He is in an open stance. This makes him vulnerable to attacks to the side and back of his head.

3. As he steps forward into my range, I start a quick lead leg roundhouse.

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2. I lean away a little more which draws him forward (attack by drawing).

4. The roundhouse scores to the side of his head.

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THE LEAD LEG HOOK KICK

1. My opponent and I size each other up. He is in a closed stance.

3. I chamber my knee as he gets closer…

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2. My opponent comes towards me and I lean away, shifting all of my weight on my rear leg.

4. …and start the arc for a hook kick.

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5. The kick travels past my opponent’s head…

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6. …and hooks back, scoring solidly to the back of my opponent’s head.

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THE DOUBLE PUMP LEAD LEG ROUNDHOUSE KICK

1. My opponent squares off against me.

3. I purposely throw the kick short so he thinks that I missed.

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2. I pick up my knee to do a slight chamber of my kicking leg

4. I quickly re-chamber my kicking leg

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5. I score with a roundhouse kick to the side of my opponent’s head

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THE LEAD LEG AXE KICK

1. My opponent leads away to draw me in for a counter attack.

3. …and slide my back foot underneath me as I chamber my kicking leg.

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2. I start to raise my knee…

4. My axe kick is at its apex as my opponent tries to lean further away.

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5. The axe kick lands to the back of the head

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THE LEAD HOPPING AXE KICK

1. My opponent steps through to attempt to deliver a sidekick.

3. I hold my thigh to keep my axe kick at its apex. At the same time, I take a short hopping step to my opponent.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. As he closes the distance, I start to chamber my knee for an axe kick.

4. I let my thigh go to deliver an axe kick to the side of the head.

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THE COUNTER SPINNING HOOK KICK

1. My opponent steps forward to deliver a kick.

3. His kick falls short as I take a half step backwards.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. He turns his hip to execute a rear leg round house kick.

4. He starts to spin to deliver a spinning kick. I start my spin as well.

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5. I turn my hips and chamber my kicking leg tight. Notice how my opponent’s leg is not chambered.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

6. My spinning hook kick scores to the head.

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THE DROP SUICIDE SPINNING HOOK KICK

1. As my opponent and I square off, I notice he is in a closed stance. I drop my hands to draw a lead leg kick from him.

3. As I drop, I start to spin. Neither my left knee nor my left hand touches the ground as I spin. Instead, I prepare for a side fall.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. He chambers for a lead leg kick. I immediately start to drop to the ground.

4. The hook kick scores to the chest.

Notice that I am completely on my left side

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THE ROLLING FLIP KICK

1. My opponent is in an open stance.

3. …and he misses

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2. He attempts a right leg drop kick…

4. As my opponent starts to stand up, I begin by roll

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5. I place my right hand on the floor…

7. I start to extend my left leg as I roll on my left shoulder.

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6. …and roll my body over. Notice how I chamber my left leg, which is the leg that I will use to score with

8. With my left leg fully extended, I score with a kick to the stomach.

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THE COUNTER JUMP SPINNING BACK KICK

1. My opponent twists his hips

3. As he extends his kick, I take a half step backwards.

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2. He starts a jump spinning back kick

4. This causes him to completely miss his kick. I start to bend my knees.

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5. By bending my knees, I can get the spring I need to jump and turn. Notice that I start the jump and spin before his kicking foot touches the floor.

7. I chamber my kicking leg very tightly‌

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6. His kicking foot touches the floor which causes his weight to move forward as I become airborne.

8. ‌and finish the technique by extending my kick to the back of the head.

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THE JUMP ROUNDHOUSE

1. Right before the referee gives us the command to fight, I see my opponent with his feet together. This means that he most likely is trying to “crowd” or “rush” the start line. I stake a few steps back from the start line.

3. Now I chamber my kicking leg and jump off of my left leg.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT KARATE

2. The ref says “fight” and steps back.

My opponent did crowd the line; notice how his lead foot is now over the line. I take a slight step to my left and fake a right rear leg axe kick.

4. After jumping off of my left leg, I’m airborne moving forward. My kicking leg is still chambered.

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5. I start my descent downward. On my way down, I still keep a tight chamber with my kicking leg.

6. Just as my foot touches the ground, I unleash a roundhouse kick with my right leg.

7. My roundhouse is fully extended, scoring with a kick to the head

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THE JUMP SPINNING CRESCENT KICK

1. The referee has just given us the command to fight. Notice how far I am from the start line (I’m on the right)

3. I bring my right foot up to follow and deeply bend my knees.

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2. I leap across the start line with my left foot.

4. I jump and turn in the air.

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5. Fully airborne, I tightly chamber the knee of my kicking leg.

6. Now I extend the crescent kick as I descend to the floor.

7. The crescent kick lands flush on the side of my opponent’s head as I land.

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THE FLYING SIDEKICK SPINNING HOOK KICK COMBINATION

1. The referee has just given us the command to fight. I notice my opponent has crowded the start line. I take a half step back.

3. I execute a right leg flying side kick to the body.

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2. I jump off of the line chambering my right knee.

4. I land, but the referee has not acknowledged a clean scoring kick and neither has my opponent.

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5. I spin leaning my upper body away from my opponent.

6. I chamber my left knee…

7. …and score with a spinning hook kick to the back of my opponent’s head. The referee definitely saw that one!

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