Sanbon Kumite

Sanbon Kumite (meaning 3 step sparring) is practiced in a straight line and it helps build up the student’s awareness of distance, speed and variety of incoming attacks. As the attacker moves forward three times. Each attack is countered with a block and finished with a counter attack on the third attack.

Stafford Shotokan Karate teaches Sanbon at two levels of difficulty

• Basic - strikes to the same area (Jodan, Chudan or Gedan) with basic blocks and counter after the last attack

• Random attacks at any height either announced or unannounced

It takes time to build up a steady base and to read the opponents pattern of attack in Sanbon. This is why we have the two types of Sanbon training.