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One of the concepts that Hanshi Anderson works with his kumite competitors is called the "Theory of Closure."

The idea of kumite tactics is to move the body so that you can target the opponent with your weapons, come into range, and attack. Attack is the work and you have to have the opportunity to do so. We can use the idea of a baseball batter to illustrate an important facet of the theory, that of the analysing the opportunity for scoring. For example, the batting average is dtermined by how many times the player gets a hit whenever he comes up to bat. The more hits he gets, the better is his batting average. The more times at bat, the more chances to hit or strike out. The higher his batting average, the more times you want him to bat. The difference between a .300 and a .350 hitter is 1 extra hit for each 20 times at bat. This could earn an extra $1,000,000. The more times you go to bat in the karate match, the more opportunities you have to score, and, conversely, the more opportunities your opponent has to score on you. You can extend some control over the number of times at bat. If you are behind, you will try to force more scoring opportunities and if you are ahead, you may want to negate attempts as scoring.

An opportunity at "bat" in kumite is called closure. Closure deals with getting into position to attack successfully. When you are in range of the opponent you have a closure. If you can move so that the opponent loses the ability to use one of his arms or legs, this is called disconnection. In general, during the kumite bout each competitor should try to close upon the other in such a way as to disconnect the opponent's weapons so that when a closure is forced you attack with the most efficient weapons for the circumstances in such a way that the opponent cannot use all his weapons.

For example, if you move rapidly to the side, your opponent becomes uncomfortable and must turn to keep properly guarded. In this circumstance, you can disconnect the opponents pivot foot. If as the same time you can grasp his arm, you have disconnected that weapon also leaving him with only two of his four weapons left. If you have move correctly, none of your weapons will have disconnected either physically or mentally and you will be at a considerable advantage.

Four areas where your fighting system can break down are:

--Inability to move the body caused because of a failure of the body to move correctly or by superior tactics of the opponent including the use of the boundary lines and ring positioning.

--Disconnection of the weapons occurs either through improper training or superior tactics of the opponent. You must be especially careful when you move your body that you do not disconnect your own weapons.

--Use of incorrect weapons. Do not use the attack you feel comfortable with, but learn the best attack for given circumstances and use it.

--Use of incorrect tactics in a closure. The choice of tactics used in a closure should produce the desired result.

Getting back to our baseball hitter, one extra hit in each 20 times at bat increases the batting average 5% or by .050. The difference between an average batter and an above average batter is very small. Another 5% increase would make him a .400 hitter! You do not need to improve your success in closures by very much. A 2 or 3% increase can give you the edge in kumite. If you are analyzing your matches, determine your weaknesses. Take one weakness at a time and fix it. By following this approach, you can accomplish the extra 2 or 3% that will make you a national and maybe even World Champion.