Kumite

 

 

Written by Guss Wilkinson 2000

 

Kumite, or free-sparring is probably the most well-known face of karate, especially in today's times with the wide spread proliferation and popularity of sport karate. It is seen by most modern clubs and styles as the most important aspect of karate training and is therefore, very often, given the most time.

 

I would not agree with this for many reasons: modern kumite is adapted for, and has evolved around competition rules. Yet, when you examine the richness and diversity of the techniques contained within the katas, it becomes very apparent that most of those techniques would not be allowed in competition. The conclusion of this is that if the main focus of your karate training is competition kumite, then you will loose 90% of the techniques that karate makes available to you.

 

If the main focus of your karate training is in self-defense (as karate was originally intended) then kumite has to be put back in it's place.

 

So, what is kumite's place in karate training? I see kumite as being a very important exercise that puts the dynamics back into karate. Kumite teaches speed, develops reactions, develops tactics but most importantly, kumite teaches the exponent to be able to act despite the fear of getting hurt. It allows that person to develop the ability to cope with that fear.

 

But kumite isn't fighting, at least not in the sense that I mean. Fighting, in the defense of life is scrappy, even for the most disciplined of martial artists. This is because in the defense of life, anything goes. Most fights will end up on the ground anyway, which is why it is so important not to neglect ground work and grappling techniques.

 

That does not mean that karate people who train almost exclusively competition sparring are  not good at defending themselves - they are. I have suffered many a broken bone that has taught me to respect the skill of competition sparers.  Boxers, wrestlers, judo players etc etc can all be very capable of defending themselves very effectively; but only as a bi-product of their sport.

 

All I am saying is that our style of karate tries not to be that limiting.

 

My last comment on this subject is more of a technical one. Competition kumite has become very long-range, with competitors maintaining quite a large distance from each other. The competition arena allows this luxury.

 

 I believe that mastery of very close sparring is essential in self-defense. An exponent should be able to defend him/herself in extremely confined spaces such as a lift (elevator).

 

Kakie training (sticking hands principles) is the best way to master these skills. Once close quarters sparring has been mastered, long range sparring is relatively easy.