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Kumite
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For the 2003 Hong Kong film alternatively titled The Kumite, see Star Runner. For the fictional
martial arts tournament, see Bloodsport (film).
Kumite (Japanese: 組手, literally "grappling hands") is one of the three main sections of
karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which a person
trains against an adversary.[1]
Kumite can be used to develop a particular technique

or a skill (e.g. effectively judging and adjusting one's
distance from one's opponent) or it can be done in
competition.[2][3]
Contents
Types
Delivering strikes
Many schools feel it is important that karateka "pull

their punches". Karate training is designed to give its Motobu's twelve kumite (1926)
practitioners the ability to deliver devastating power

through techniques like punches and kicks. Often the
aim of training is that each single strike should be
enough to subdue the opponent. However, this clearly
would make it difficult to train due to the possibility of
injury. Many beginners, while sparring, will be instructed
to develop control and accuracy first, then speed and
power later. In doing this, it may seem like the student is
pulling his punches, when actually, he is developing
technique first. For injury purposes, certain targets are
discouraged, like strikes to the knee and face contact for Two Karatekas sparring
low ranks. Many schools prohibit strikes to the groin,

while others allow it completely. Some schools might limit contact to light contact all
around, while others may employ power usage at higher grades.
All types of sparring allow the martial artist to develop

both control and experience in delivering powerful
strikes against an opponent. In full contact karate,
punches are often "pulled" to some slight extent in
training, to minimize the occurrence of injuries that
would interrupt practice. However, some karate
schools use protective gear in free sparring, so that
strikes can be delivered closer to their full power. Most
karate clubs and most styles of karate combine some
controlled full-contact sparring and some sparring with
protective gear (from gloves to feet pads and up to full
head and even chest guards such as in taekwondo). A karateka wearing a chest
protector
However, a few more traditional clubs that never use
protective gear for sparring (except groin and mouth guards that protect against
accidental injuries) argue that a karateka will not be able to make their most powerful
strike when sparring in the dojo (against a friend whom they no doubt do not want to
injure) even if this opponent is wearing protective clothing. Therefore, the karateka will
still be using some level of control, as is obviously necessary, and cannot truly capture
the spirit of one lethal strike whilst sparring. Except for a life or death self-defense
situation, the spirit and power of the single lethal strike can only be achieved when a
karateka does not have to avoid injuring their training partner. The traditionalists
therefore argue that there is no benefit to sparring with more forceful strikes.
However, in Kyokushin Karate no padding[7] is used and fighters don't "pull their
punches" as fights are finished by knockdown.
Competition
In some forms of competition kumite, punching

("tsuki") and kicking ("keri") techniques are allowed at
the head ("jodan") and abdomen ("chudan"). In some
tournaments, face contact is allowed, sometimes
limited to senior practitioners. One example of a
scoring system is that the first competitor to take eight
points in three minutes wins the bout.
Karate Fighting championship
Kumite is an essential part of karate training, and free
sparring is often experienced as exciting, because both opponents have to react and
adapt to each other very quickly.
In tournaments kumite often takes place inside of a 'ringed' area similar to that of a
boxing ring. If a karateka steps out of the ring, they are given a warning. If they step out
of the ring two times, the other person gains a point. Many international tournaments use
a "point sparring" form of kumite that requires control ('pulling punches') and therefore
warnings can be dealt for excessive force on techniques to the head, or sensitive areas.
Full contact is permitted to the torso area of the body only. Some tournament rules allow
for light contact to the head, whereas other rules do not allow this.
Kumite also includes a series of guidelines that, if followed correctly, result in a clean and
safe fight. These are some of those guidelines:
A karateka must remain in some form of proper fighting stance and in the "kamae-te"
position (hands up, ready to fight position)
A karateka must be aware of all obstacles around him/her
A karateka must never deliberately endanger themselves by turning their back to their
opponent
A practiced and well trained karateka must concentrate on stance and footwork
For the last point about stance and footwork: it is often taught that a karateka who
wishes to be fast and agile while competing in kumite should always be 'pulsing'. Pulsing
is where the karateka remains almost bouncing on the balls of their feet to maintain
minimal frictional contact with the ground, allowing them to move quickly.
Another aspect of kumite which is often seen in international tournaments, as well as

many local competitions is what is referred to as clashing.[citation needed] Clashing is
where both opponents throw techniques against each other at the same time, often
resulting in both getting hit with the techniques. This creates a problem for referees as
they are unable to make out which technique was quick, on target and recoiled - all the
things that constitute a clean technique that is scored. Because of clashing, most
modern day karateka are taught to practice kumite in a 'one for one' situation where one
attacks, then the other attacks and so on. However, due to the speed of these
techniques, and the speed of the footwork of each karateka, to the casual observer it
may appear that they are still clashing when in fact they are not. When opponents are
considered to be clashing, the head referee should declare "aiuchi" which means
"simultaneous hit". When a winner is decided, the referee will announce "~ no kachi"
which means "~'s win".
The tournament rules of full contact or "knockdown" styles of karate often don't award
any points for controlled techniques delivered to the opponent. In fact, they usually don't
award points for full-force techniques delivered to the opponent either. Instead, points
are only awarded for knocking, sweeping, or throwing your opponent to the floor.
Kyokushinkai and its "offshoot" karate organizations are the styles usually known to
promote knockdown tournament rules. They believe this type of tournament competition
is closer to "real life" personal combat, although still in a tournament setting with rules.
There are three criticisms to date. First, is the quickness versus skill argument. The
tournament fighter learns how to shoot in quickly but deliver an unimpressive strike that
gains him or her a point. Also, the question of discoloration of face due to contact, which
can allow for disqualification. It is often difficult to gauge the true intensity of the attack,
so this could cause questioning. Last, it is seen as sport and sport alone. Traditionalists
may dismiss it as "useless", but modern dojos often band with other dojos to form
organizations that utilize a tournament circuit as a way to promote their dojos.
Points
Most high school karate associations use the following point scheme:
1 point: punching to chest and stomach.

2 points: back slap kick.
3 points: face slap kick.
International competition under the World Karate Federation also includes the following
point scoring:
2 points: punching or kicking the adversary's back.

3 points: for a sweep/takedown with a follow-up technique such as a stomp or a
punch. (Any sweep/takedown that is not followed up with a technique may be ruled to
be a dangerous technique that can result in a warning against the instigator of that
sweep/takedown.)
See also
References
Last edited 4 months ago by Cyfal
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Kumite can be used to develop a particular technique

Many schools feel it is important that karateka "pull

practitioners the ability to deliver devastating power

low ranks. Many schools prohibit strikes to the groin,

All types of sparring allow the martial artist to develop

In some forms of competition kumite, punching

A karateka must be aware of all obstacles around him/her

Another aspect of kumite which is often seen in international tournaments, as well as

1 point: punching to chest and stomach.

2 points: punching or kicking the adversary's back.

Last edited 4 months ago by Cyfal

Content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0 unless otherwise noted.

Terms of Use • Privacy policy • Desktop

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