018 — Training Stimulus: Beyond the Count

Karate training relies on more than sight and sound.

When we step into the dōjō, it’s easy to forget that the way we train often looks very different from the way we’ll need to respond in a real encounter. In teaching Karate, I’ve noticed that the types of stimuli we use to direct students carry both benefits and detriments. Too often, one form of stimulus dominates practice, leaving others neglected. Yet in self-preservation, all must be sharpened.

Let’s examine the three primary types of training stimuli: auditory, visual, and tactile.

Auditory Stimulus: Reacting to the Count

Most dōjō, instructors, and students begin their training here. The sensei counts: ichi, ni, san…  the students respond together as a group.

This method has real benefits. It allows the teacher to set the rhythm and pace, freeing students from the need to see the instructor. For a large class, counting creates unity, focus, and efficiency.

But there is a limit. No one will shout numbers at you on the street. Real encounters don’t arrive to the beat of a drum. Auditory stimulus is a valuable tool for developing coordination and group cohesion, but it must not become the only stimulus students learn to respond to and move to

Visual Stimulus: Reacting to Movement

The next stimulus is visual. Students pair up or line up facing the instructor or each other. Instead of moving to a count, they move in response to what they see: the step of a partner, the shift of a stance, the strike of an opponent.

This training is more alive, demanding attention, awareness, and timing—movement only begins once the eyes register the cue. This is closer to the reality of self-defense, where we respond to body language and sudden movements, not to sounds and words.

Visual stimulus also forms the basis for sparring. Tournament fighters train to see, read, and react in fractions of a second. This skill has great value, but again, it is only part of the picture.

Tactile Stimulus: Reacting to Touch - The Missing Link

The most neglected form of stimulus in modern Karate is touch. The instant you make contact with another—whether by a grab, a push, or a clinch—the game changes. Sight and sound become secondary. The body tells you everything you need to know.

This is the world of kakie. Through pushing hands, students learn to read pressure, balance, and intention through touch. They learn to yield, redirect, and counter before the opponent can act. In many ways, this is the heart of Gōjū-Ryū training.

Sport karate often misses this entirely. Matches are stopped as soon as the contestants tie up. Yet this is the exact moment when a real confrontation becomes dangerous—and when tactile sensitivity is most vital.

Integrated Stimuli: Kakedameshi

At the advanced level, all three stimuli come together. Kakedameshi—a form of free-style, close-quarter testing—demands it. In this practice, you hear, see, and most importantly, feel your opponent. The clash is immediate, messy, and real.

Here, tactile response dominates. Once contact is made, survival depends less on what you hear or see and more on what you sense through your skin, bones, and muscles. This training is designed for the chaotic and unpredictable nature of real violence.

Conclusion: Training for Reality

Each form of stimulus has its place. Counting keeps a class together. Visual cues sharpen awareness and timing. Touch develops sensitivity and control. But when we look honestly at self-preservation, it’s the tactile stimulus that matters most.

Gōjū-ryū excels here because, unlike most other traditions, it preserves kakie and kakedameshi. These practices keep Gōjū-ryū rooted in reality.

So I encourage you to reflect: what type of stimuli dominates your training? If you spend most of your time moving to a count, seek out exercises that sharpen your visual response. If sparring is your focus, don’t forget touch — it’s too often overlooked. Balance the three, and your karate becomes real. Neglect one, and it risks becoming ritual.