Kumite

Some lectures and notes about “kumite”, preparing the seminar on December 2022.

A terminology of different “practice fighting”, from [Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 1, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1985]

Practice fighting

kumite	sparring
sandan gi	basic sparring adapted from Gekisai kata
sanbon kumite	three step sparring (3 jodan, 3 chudan, 3 gedan)
ippon kumite	one point sparring where one blocks an attack and then counters
sandan kumite	three step, three level sparring (1 jodan, 1 chudan, 1 gedan)
sanbon zuki (kumite)	three step sparring, blocking with one hand against a triple punch combination
kihon ippon	basic one step sparring
jiyu ippon	one step sparring from stance
randori	slow and soft free style with emphasis on technique
jiyu kumite	hard and fast controlled free style fighting

Kumite = sparring or fighting? Yes … and not!

組 kumi “to cross, unite with, grapple with, braid together”

手 te “hand or hands”

Sandan uke harai “three levels block” or sandan gi “three levels exercise”, tai atari “body hitting exercises” and ude tanren “forearms forging” are kumite, tanren kumite.

Sandan uke harai or sandan gi

Kumite training develops distance and timing, as these skills can’t be learned during kata training. This type of basic attack and defence training is the first step of develping these skills that are essentials in real combat. […]

This type of kumite is called sandan uke harai or sandan gi. […]

Sandan uke harai is a very basic exercice that use basic blocks age uke, chudan yoko uke, gedan harai uke for defense, and jodan, chudan and gedan punches in attack. The footwork is very simple, forward and backward movement (zenshin / kotai).

[Morio Higaonna, Panther Productions, 1988]

Body conditioning

Being a pragmatic form of self defence, goju-ryu karate promotes body conditioning to allow students to experience the repeated shocks of an actual combat while at the same time hardening their bodies and strenghtening their minds.

Ude tanren conditioning makes the arms strong and forges them into effective weapons for blocking and striking. The key to successful training is regular and serious practice. By this means, both the whole person is developed and the level of both mental and physical health and strength achieved, that is the envy of many contemporary professional athletes.

Some of the most powerful and therefore effective karate techniques
must be endured if they are not bring a speedy end to every
clash of combatants. Resistance to the shock and pain are built up
systemically by exercises such as these.

Realistic but controlled clashes between trainees develop skill and
endurance as well the familiarity with close encounters fighting and
therefore a highly developed sense of correct timing and distance.

Conditioning is important as it makes parts of the body into strong weapons to be used against an opponent when fighting in earnest. It also makes them largely invulnerable to damage in combat. Advanced practitioners spend many hours strengthening and hardening each striking area of their body.

Strength and confidence are built by these exercices.

The more realistic the clash, the less unsettling the shock of actual combat. Bolstered by superior fitness, great endurance and a strong mental attitude, the warrior thus finds that he will invariably prevail.

A fundamental precept of goju-ryu karate is that in an encounter, it
is probable that one will be hit by an opponent before that encounter is over. Conditioning is designed to gradually accustom the student to this sort of shock, so he will continue to function effectively when it does occur.

[Power Training, Dragon Tsunami, 1995]

Kotekitae (strenghtening the forearms)

a. Kotekitae is a training method to strengthen the inner and outer forearms by striking arms with a partner. This training helps to build up blocking power.

b. Kotekitae training helps to build up pulling strenght and muchimi.

c. It also helps to build up strong forearms as hard and heavy as iron which can break the arms or legs of an opponent when used to block his attack.

d. Hitting one anothers forearms is painful. You learn physical and mental endurance through kote kitae training.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 1, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1985]

Ude tanren, or arm conditioning exercise, is to strengthen the arms. Not only for blocking. Ude tanren develops the arms in powerful weapons for attacks also. For example, when blocking punches or kicks, practice with the feeling of not only blocking, but of actually breaking the arm or leg. The forearm can also be used as a strike in a variety of different ways […].

Those practising ude tanren for the first time, begin gradually with light contact only. Gradually increase the power of the strikes. Then ease of and practise slowly again. Condition both the inside and the outside edges of the forearms.

This next exercise consists of five separate movements. The outside and inner edges and the upper surface of the forearms are conditioned. All these techniques can be applied as powerful strikes against an opponent. As before, begin slowly with light contact only. Gradually increase speed and power when movements become more natural.

This next exercise conditions the forearms, while at the same time training sabaki techniques for evasive skills. In this exercise the arms are conditioned while practising sabaki to the side.

This next form of ude tanren conditions the open hand. The open hand is not only used to block, it is also a very effective weapon in attack. As in the arm conditioning exercises, begin slowly at first and then gradually increase speed and power as the hands become accustomed.

[Morio Higaonna, Panther Productions, 1988]

Ippon kumite, nihon kumite, renzoku kumite, etc, are kumite, yakusoku kumite.

Yakusoku kumite – “arranged” kumite

Yakusoku kumite, or pre-arranged sparring is an exercise to develop basic block and attack skills, also speed, power, distancing, timing and reflexes.

Within yakusoku kumite there are many different kinds of kumite practices. For example, ippon kumite, nihon kumite, sanbon kumite, jiyu ippon kumite, renzoku kumite, to name but a few. In renzoku (continuation) kumite opponents practice combinations of attack and blocking movements. All of these movements have been decided upon beforehand. Infinite variations of renzoku kumite may be praticed, using combinations of punching, striking, blocking, kicking techniques and so on.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 4, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1991]

Kihon bunkai kumite, dento teki bunkai kumite, oyo bunkai kumite, are kumite, kata bunkai kumite.

Kata are the essence of combat, created and elaborated in ancient times by distinguished experts of the past.
Every single movement is for self-defence. They also possess the fundamental sense of being able to take down an opponent with a single shot.

[Morio Higaonna, Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Keibundo, 1981]

About the Bunkai (Applications)

[…] If you practice the kata thoroughly you will come to understand the bunkai of the kata naturally and completely. However, this will take many years of training, without which you will not gain a true understanding of the kata, and will not be able to apply kata techniques to real combat.

None of the movements of the kata is restricted to only one application -in real fight the variations of each application are unlimited. Thus, if you practice the kata enough, in real combat the techiniques from the kata will surface naturally in a pratical way. It is because of this that within karate the kata are the most important aspect of training.

[…] Movements within the kata should match your own body size. Therefore, when practicing basic applications always practice with an opponent of approximately your size, so that when you perform an attack as you would in the kata, you will see the meaning of the movement, i.e. which specific vital area you should aim for, and so on. Later, when practicing variatiuons of kata applications, you should practice with opponents of all different sizes. This way you will gain a practical realistic understanding kata movements.

These bunkai can be used when training in ippon kumite and jiyu kumite. Furthermore, through your own research and training you can develop numerous combinations that can be used effectively in tournaments. It is no exaggeration to say that the kata of Okinawan Goju-Ryu, in their entirety, contain appropriate techniques for every possibile situation. in this sense, it is through the kata that all the gokui, the secrects of karate, may be preserved.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 3, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1989]

The kata bunkai kumite that I have included in this volume are the traditional basic kata bunkai and a number of hiden, or ‘secret’ bunkai. […] In addition to this I have also included some oyo bunkai (variations on bunkai). These oyo bunkai are the result of individual study and research. It is through the individual’s personal research, which requires the use of the intellect and martial sense, that these oyo bunkai have come about. Depending on the individual’s capacity for research and thought, an infinity variety of oyo bunkai may be developed.

[…] Serious repetitive practice will result in achieving fast and powerful attacks, skill in locking techniques and ‘sabaki‘ (body movement). Serious repetitive practice of these kihon kata bunkai is of utmost importance. Oyo bunkai practice is the individual’s own research into technique. If you pursue these studies seriously then an infinite variety of techniques may be developed.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 4, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1991]

Kakie is kumite, kakie kumite.

Kakie カキエ : a method of conditioning

Kakie: a typical Okinawan pairwise conditioning method

Kakie is a conditioning method in which pairs of forearms are placed in contact and, by pushing and pulling, arm strength and muchimi (ムチミ sticky movement) are cultivated. At the same time, since the forearms are in contact with each other, one becomes able to calculate the correct timing of defense and attack by perceiving the particular movements of the partner and the rhythm of his breathing. In particular, the Kakie proves to be a highly effective tool for learning close-range combat techniques and joint manipulation techniques.

[…] While remaining in contact with the partner’s arm, the movements of the body and mind (“心身 shinshin“) are read.

[Morio Higaonna, Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Keibundo, 1981]

One of the useful methods to read the timing of the attack is the typical Goju-ryu exercise known as “kakie“. In pairs, you make your forearms adhere and you push, pull, try to grasp the subtle changes in the movements of your partner’s muscles, his movements, his breathing: all this allows you to understand the precise moment in which he is about to leave an attack, and at the same time it is also useful for strengthening the arms. Another of his goals is to cultivate the quality known as “muchimi“, i.e. the ability to adhere.

[Morio Higaonna, Gekkan Karatedo, October 1986]

Kakie is considered as one kind of kumite in the Goju-Ryu system. In kakie training the opponents stay close together, with the forearms touching. From this position is to learn to read the movements of the opponent by anticipating his movements and intention, through the sense of touch in particular.
Kakie is especially effective for close range combat. When fighting at a distance, as in normal kumite, the eyes are relied on to anticipate the opponent’s movements. However, in close combat being able to sense the opponents movement in other ways is important.
In Kakie there are many effective techniques for close range combat that may be practised. For example: pulling and pushing techniques to disturb the balance or locking techniques to subdue an attacker.
When practised, Kakie training will help the practitioner develop many techniques that are very affective for dealing with an opponent at close range.

[Morio Higaonna, Panther Productions, 1988]

Jiyu ippon kumite, jiyu nihon kumite, randori kumite, iri kumi are kumite, jiyu kumite.

Now Master Higaonna’s assistant will demonstrate Jiyu kumite, or free sparring. In the beginning, to avoid injuries, students with little or no experience should begin slowly and with light techniques. Practicing in this way gives the students time to think about their actions and allows them to develop good technique and strategy. This type of practice will encourage good posture and form and teach the students how to execute effective techniques to vital areas in a free kumite situation. […]

[randori 乱取り, an exercise (tori), applied to a random pattern (ran) of attack techniques]

During slow kumite practice, it is important to concentrate on technique. As you are moving around you should be thinking about tactics and trying to develop new techniques for offense and defense. […]

Once a degree of proficiency has been achieved in this form of slow kumite, then the pace may be picked up, working towards hard and fast kumite. [..]

In the next type of kumite, which is hard and fast, there is no time to think about technique. Here, the techniques that you use should come automatically and without thinking.

[Morio Higaonna, Panther Productions, 1988]

[iri kumi, ‘entering engagement’]

‘Iri kumi’ in the Okinawan dialect means jiyu kumite, or free sparring. In former times in Okinawa after regular training had finished, the senior students who all knew each other well would practice ‘iri kumi’. In ‘iri kumi’ there were no pre-arrenged moves (yakusoku nashi). They would practice punching, kicking, throwing techniques, choke holds, locking techniques and so on, oftne until one or the other surrended. Because these senior students had practiced together for many years and they were friends, this was not real fighting. Their techniques were controlled if aimed to vital areas so as not to injure each other. This type of training is still referred to by older senpai in Okinawa, who are now in their sixties and seventies, as ‘iri kumi’.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 4, Japan Publications/Minato Research, 1991]

© 2022, Roberto Ugolini