Description
Kumite means "meeting of hands." In karate, the term is translated as "sparring." Sparring is any form of combat training with a partner. Kumite is the only facet of karate that requires a partner to practice with. Beginner and intermediate students usually train yakusoku-kumite, or "sparring with announcement." In this type of kumite, the attacker announces what the attack and target will be. The defender must then block or evade the attack and launch an effective counter-attack. Contact is generally not permitted in yakusoku-kumite, at least not for beginners. Contact on the counter-attack is never allowed. The idea is to make contact with the other's gi, or uniform, not the actual body. Advanced karateka practice jiyu-kumite, or "freestyle sparring." In this type of sparring, attacks and combinations are thrown at will by both partners, without announcement. In this type of sparring, good control is of utmost importance.
Due to the modernization of karate over the years, the techniques once used in sparring in karate have "dulled down". The concept of sparring in a competition is that whoever scores the maximum possible points first, or the highest point holder when the time runs out, wins. Strikes (as described in Kihon) aren't used much (if at all). Certain targets on the opponent's body is off limits which highly constricts a competitors options of attack. The "game" has changed into the concept of: "Whoever touches the target of the opponent first, gets the point, no matter if you get hit". More on this in the history section.
Yakusoku-Kumite
Announcement sparring
There are different variations of announcement sparring:
- Kihon-Gohon-Kumite: Basic 5 step sparring. The attacker steps forward with an attack 5 times, the defender will block each attack the same way and will counter the final attack.
- Kihon-Sanpon-Kumite: Basic 3 step sparring. The attacker steps forward with an attack 3 times, the defender will block each attack the same way and will counter the final attack.
- Kihon-Ippon-Kumite: Basic 1 step sparring. The attacker steps forward with an attack 1 time, the defender will block the attack in a specific way and will counter the attack.
Jiyu-Kumite
Free sparring
The different variations of freestyles sparring are:
- Jiyu-Ippon-Kumite: Freestyle 1 step sparring. The attacker steps forward with an attack 1 time, after which the defender will counter the final attack. The difference here is that both participants are in freestyle position and the defender is allowed any block and counter.
- Jiyu-Kumite: Freestyle sparring. Both participants are allowed to attack and defend. Any technique goes.
- Shiai-Kumite: Competition sparring. Like Jiyu-Kumite, but the participants are limited by rules and regulations. The competitors fight for their points. The maximum points can differ, usually the maximum points can be 1, 3, 6, 9
- Oyo-Kumite: Application sparring. It consists of using movements of kata to attack and defend.
Due to modernization, Shiai-Kumite is the primary practice of sparring when it comes to freestyle. All the other practices aren't as popular anymore. This is disappointing as not only are many of the techniques learned in Karate never used by students, limiting them to practice only the basic punches and kicks, but the students began to focus on making a show, more than putting up an actual fight.
Shown below are two videos that shows the difference in approach between the modern, and lost fighting styles.