Kumite

Think about how the training method forms the correct perception of the battle as such, a sense of distance ( Ma-ai ), balance, polishes the techniques learned from kata and kihon, strengthens the fighting spirit. Also, along with exercises for stuffing the body, kumite develops addiction to pain and the technique of properly receiving blows to the body. One of the main advantages of kumite is getting used to the conditions of the battle, which in a more extreme situation can help make the right decisions and reduce their stress.

Depending on the goals of a particular battle, the instructor, examiner or the organizers of the competition impose certain restrictions on various technical actions, as well as binding or prohibiting requirements for protective equipment. So, for example, in order to stimulate the improvement of kicks and reduce injuries in some styles, kicks to the head are prohibited.

Think of it as a training goal that is characteristic of sports and applied martial arts, and the former have a significant number of restrictions that allow them to maintain the health of fighters and increase entertainment. At the same time, kumite is a generalization and development of all mastered techniques (kihon, kata, renraku ), tactics and body training (physical development, body packing) at the same time and is a good indicator of a practitioner's skill.

In the context of the prevalence and the large number of different areas of martial arts, today there are several classifications that can be used both separately and simultaneously, complementing each other.

Degree of contact of the strike surface with the body of the enemy

• Contactless kumite - all strokes stop at a certain distance from the point of contact.
• Limited contact (semi-contact - with stops for scoring, easy contact - without stopping) - strikes reach the goal, but the force of the blow is limited by the rules of the competition or the instructions of the instructor. ^[3]
• Full-contact kumite (full-contact) - impact force is not limited.
• Mixed - varying degrees of contact for different levels (head, body, legs), usually head contact is easier or none at all, while kumite refers to the same type of contact as for the body.

Often in full contact styles, in competitive practice which punches to the upper level are forbidden ( Kyokushinkai , Asihara-karate ), full contact means the inclusion of punches to the head in the kumita.

Imposed restrictions on the techniques used

• Kihon kumite (conditional battle) - is conducted only by that set of techniques, and in the order that was set by the instructor (practicing individual techniques), roughly - everything that is not allowed is forbidden.
• Dziyu kumite ( 自由 組 手 - free fight, free fight) - there are no restrictions other than those forbidden in the style of techniques (unless instructed by the instructor or the rules of the competition), rudely - everything that is not forbidden is allowed.
• Fight without rules - there are no restrictions (not to be confused with mixed martial arts , incorrectly called fights without rules).

Winner Determination

• Before any given action (for example, before the first hit in the head or a successful throw).
• Scoring system for each significant action.
• “Knockdown” - a system characteristic of full contact styles, where two knockdowns or throws with the designation of finishing (waza-ari) or one knockout ( ippon ) means victory.
• To the impossibility of one of the participants, continue to fight ( loss of consciousness , disorientation, trauma ) or until the moment of surrender (orally, patting your opponent or tatami).
• By decision of the judges or instructor, taking into account the technical level, control of the initiative, fighting spirit and actions committed during the battle.
• In case of a tie, additional time may be assigned, if after the additional time the winner is unclear, then the winner is the lighter box (with a small difference in weight, usually less than 5 kilograms, the additional time can be replaced by tameshivari ) or another additional round is appointed.

Formally, a disqualification or non-appearance of an opponent is also considered a victory.

Number of Opponents

• Without an adversary - shadow boxing .
• With one opponent - a classic version of martial arts.
• With several opponents.

Number of Steps

• Ippon kumite - one step battle (for example, a block with a step back and a counterattack after a single attack of the enemy with a step forward).
• Sanbon kumite - a three-step battle (that is, three enemy attacks with a step forward, three blocks from these attacks with a step back and a counterattack).
• Gohon kumite - a five-step battle (similar to the previous one).

Usually, kumite on steps are performed from the classical racks ( kiba-dachi , zenkutsu-dati ) with movement in them. Generally fully conditioned (kihon kumite).

Protective equipment

• Without protective equipment - there is no protective equipment at all, the soldier has nothing but clothes.
• Minimal protection - a practitioner may have a mouth guard, sink , and also individual equipment that protects a recently or chronically injured part of the body (for example, knee pads, with a knee joint injury), with the permission of the sensei or judges .
• With protection - with additional protective equipment, according to the requirements of the style, the rules of the competition or the task of the coach (for example, gloves, helmet, shields on the ankle, vests and so on).

Pursued Goal

• Training - the practitioner is placed in the conditions under which the practicing of actions is carried out on the instructions of the coach; this kumite is made in a dojo , where one way or another, is controlled by a trainer.
• Certification - cum for the purpose of assessing by the examiner the degree of mastering the necessary equipment, tactics and the level of physical preparation of the applicant to a certain level.

• Competitions - cum for the purpose of determining the best fighter among the participants of the competition, fostering interest in training with athletes and popularizing the style and healthy lifestyle; As a rule, they are divided by weight categories (there may be one - absolute) and age, they can be held in individual, team and personal-team tests.

Other

• Kiso kumite - structured sparring extracted from kata; bunkai presentation form.
• Tai sabaki is an Asihara-karate training method consisting in continuous consecutive attacks on the defender by a multitude of attackers, who must, using the sabaki concept, counterattack on ippon (kicking in the head or throwing with finishing).

The fight is held in a convenient stance for this, which depends on the preferences of the booths or the characteristics of the school. In the karate styles of the Kyokushin branch, the stance is a cross between a kokutsu-dachi and a modern boxing stance.

For various purposes of holding kumite, the requirements for the booth (its appearance, equipment and behavior) and ritual actions may vary. The list of requirements is approved by the organization and may have some differences between the general requirements and the requirements of specific competitions, according to their regulations or the requirements of a specific instructor for the current training.

Kumite begins with a call on the tatami , where opponents face the semen at a certain distance; then bow to the judges, bow to the hall and bow to each other; at the command of kamae-te (raise hands), opponents take a fighting stance. In the future, commands are given to the beginning of the fight, to its suspension (if necessary), and subsequently to its completion. Teams for all actions are given by the referee on the tatami or instructor, while the course of the battle also passes under his control. ^[4] Different schools are characterized by their own duration of battle, usually from two to four minutes, with the extra time often being less than the main one. End with the same bows as it begins, then the participants can shake hands with each other and the seconds of the enemy (see Fair Play ).

For competitions, the duration of the main and additional time, weight and age categories, as well as other requirements and restrictions are established in the end in the competition regulations approved by the organizers. For training, all of these parameters are set by Sensei.

• WKF Sparring Evaluation Rules (Russian)
• Videos Kumite on Youtube (Russian)