Kumite

Kumite (組手) means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learnt from the kihon and kata.

Kumite can be used to develop a particular technique or a skill (e.g. effectively judging and adjusting your distance from your opponent) or it can be done in competition.

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 three times, they are often disqualified. 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

Most high school karate associations use the following point scheme:

1 point: hitting the enemy's abdomen or head with your fists.
2 points: kicking the enemy's abdomen.
3 points: kicking the enemy's head.

International competition under the World Karate Federation also includes the following point scoring:

2 points: punching or kicking the enemy'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).

Kumite Referee, Judges and Coaches course.

The basis of the attachment below, is to get the prospective parties reading and learning the rules.

The object is to do the *_exam using the enclosed rules before the course_*.

_*We will go through the rules and answers on the course.*_

Anticipated time for the course is 5 hours and competent fighters will be needed for the last 1.5 hours.

Once you have sent the mailshot, let me know how many may, attend and i will sort the date for late April,Early may.

The course is intended for any person that wishes to progress to a referee qualification or just coach students at club and competition level.

Qualifications will not be awarded on the first course as it is to be done in 2 parts 8 weeks plus apart,

Examination Paper for Kumite Referees and Judges