Kime

Best Karate, everyone has them but no one reads them they just look at the pretty pictures to learn their next kata. Please read and study these training aides. Below was taken from Best Karate by Nakayama

 

The techniques of karate-do are well controlled according to the karateka's will power and are directed at the target accurately and spontaneously.

The essence of karate technique is Kime. The meaning of kime is an explosive attack to the target using the appropriate technique and maximum power in the shortest time possible. (Long ago,there was the expression ikken hissatsu, meaning " to kill with one blow," but to assume from this that killing is the objective is dangerous and incorrect. It should be remembered that the karateka of old we're able to practice kime daily and in dead seriousness by using the makiwari.)

Kime may be accomplished by striking, punching or kicking, but also by blocking. A technique lacking kime can never be regarded as true karate, no matter how great the resemblance to karate. A contest is no exception; however, it is against the rules to make contact because of the danger involved.

Sun-dome means to arrest a technique just before contact with the target ( one sun, about 3 centimeters). But not carrying a technique through to kime is not true karate, so the question is how to reconcile the contradiction between kime and sun-dome. The answer is this: establish the target slightly in front of the opponents vital point. It can then be hit in a controlled wasy with maximum power, without making contact.

Training transforms various parts of the body into weapons to be used freely and effectively. The quality necessary to accomplish this is self-control. to become a victor, one must first overcome his own self.