Kumite (Sparring)
Types of Kumite levels learned up to Shodan (1st Dan) from SSKA Syllabus
Gohon Ippon Kumite - Five step sparring - 10th & 9th Kyu's
Kihon Ippon Kumite - Basic one step sparring - 8th Kyu & Shodan
Kihon Ippon Kumite - Basic one step sparring (6 & 8 block combinations) 7th & 6th Kyu's
Jiyu Ippon Kumite - semi-freestyle one step sparring (4 block combinations) 5th Kyu
Jiyu Ippon Kumite & Jiyu Kumite - semi-freestyle one step sparring (6 block combinations) & freestyle sparring, any attack and any block 4th kyu to 1st Dan
Other types of Kumite used in training;-
Ten No Kata - Ura & Omote. Basic kihon and kumite drills invented by Funakoshi Sensei.
Tanren Kumite - training or drill kumite (as in gohon & sanbon kumite)
Sanbon Kumite - 3 step strike/block sparring 5th Kyu & above.
Kiso Kumite - Fundamental Sparring - basic reactive sparring to develop reaction and control techniques & help with maai (distance), timing & coordination - all levels.
Kaeshi Ippon Kumite - Attack & counter one step kumite. This is where the attacker has to quickly respond with a block & counter all in one move or Returning one-step sparring (the defender counter-attacks with a whole step and forces the original attacker into the defending position).
Okuri Jiyu Ippon Kumite - Freestyle one step sparring with follow-though by the attacker or Sparring with two attacks in a row. The first one is pre-determined but the choice of the second attack is based on the opponent and the distance.
Happo Kumite - Eight direction sparring against several opponents.
Oyo Kumite - Bunkai (application) sparring.
Kyogi kumite - competition sparring.
Shiai kumite - Sparring performed in the sense of budo (as in jiyu ippon and in jiyu kumite).
Yakusoku kumite - Appointment Sparring - the sparring forms from gohon kumite to okuri-ippon kumite make up the group of Yakusoku kumite. The word Yakusoku means appointment or promise, which forces the attacker to execute the attack that has been predetermined.
Mitsu-no-Sen [kumite] means attacking simultaneously with the opponent as in nagashi-zuki. It implies that the 'defender' will be able to complete his attack first, and/or displace the opponent's attack.
Updated: Friday, 10 September 2010