What makes a KATA and KUMITE Champion?  by Peter Klipfel

What makes a champion ? Well let me start by saying that everyone wants to win and everyone wants to stand on the winning podium . However this is not the reality. Sport karate has evolved quiet drastically in the last 25 years. Twenty years ago Sport karate athletes were getting on the floor and practically doing dojo kumite. Through the intervention of the sports body the WKF , karate has forged ahead in leaps and bounds. 

I remember back in 1984 here in Cape Town , we had a Western Province All style team go up against the visiting USA  team that had Billy Blanks and several other top athletes in it at the time .we seemed to be like ducks out of the water , even though we had top class Karate ka in the team that in a street fight would be extremely dangerous. However at that stage the style of fighting seems strange to us .

Today South Africa has caught up to the rest of the world . Every year sport karate athletes are advancing , new sport science training methods are being incorporated as well as psychological and eating habits .

Now lets get back to the question . In my opinion to make a karate champion you need the following criteria

• Correct right physical frame / Body
• A will power second to non
• Good mental attitude to Sport and karate
• Willing to listen to the coach-sensei
• Willing to give up there social life
• A student willing to travel and compete
• Good balance
• Speed
• Timing
• Judgment
• Perseverance
• Well Being
• Willing to spend hours training

He or she that perseveres will be the winner . Today the young generation seem to want the laurels handed to them with out effort.

The student must - look good in there karate gi for KATA tournaments . Today super lighweight gi,s are tailor made for the sport kumite athlete giving them more room to move. The KATA athlete needs to wear a heavier gi that has the Tokaido cut .

Students need to look the part .

WKF have listed items the student must acquire or purchase  should they want to take part in officially organised WKF tournaments.

Most sport karate athletes are good tournament fighters/kumite and Kata competitors , however most are not mentally ready and often break down mentally due to either there own neglect or bad referees. This giving the opponent the edge to win.

Children are the most vulnerable , still emotionally unsecure. This is where the coach comes in to emotionally prepare the young student - there is nothing more embarrassing then a sore loser that was misled by either the coach or the parents convincing the student that he or she is guarenteeded to win - Nothing is guarenteeded -