Kihon (Basic) Kumite.
Kihon (Basic) Kumite to me is “the” link between the trinity of karatedo: kihon, kata kumite. Pulling from basics, using the life from the kata, and adding an opponent is “the” link leading towards real free combat.
Now kihon is also known as fundamentals. Need I say it? Fine then: “Fundamental Kumite”.
Yahara Sensei focuses most of his kumite on advanced jiyu ippon kumite. And trust me, those KWF karateka can do kumite.
My understanding and the way I teach it is, having everyone in the class facing shomen, we train kihon. Basics such as oi-zuki, working on correct karate form. Then putting someone in front of you and just repeating now just adding distance. Then doing it from a kumite kamae as the advanced option, yet kihon ippon is defending from a natural yoi, (which to me is far more difficult). Thinking about it has me excited training later.
Everything is learned in Kihon Kumite, going backwards, going forward, taisabaki blind side, using hip rotation to avoid, taisabaki open side, using leg drive in direction to avoid the attack. Later it becomes both used in both methods. Obviously fundamentals such as Kankyu (fast / slow), correct use of speed; Shinshiku (expansion/contraction) correct use of muscles and also Kyojaku (soft/hard), correct use of power.
When doing this all and in the true spirit of penetration, then zanshin will naturally come out.
Bryan Dukas Sensei and I training a variation basic kumite at Murakami seminar.
Gohon Kumite
White belt learning own distance by measuring their own arms distance as the marker for gohon kumite.
Attacker measures with arm touching defender. Both yoi.
Attacker steps back into a gedan barai kamae and nominates “Jodan”.
Defender replies “Ossu”.
Attacker steps over in jodan oi-zuki repeated for five steps.
Defender steps backward and defends by using age-uke and counters with a gyaku-zuki.
Then chudan oi-zuki.
Only from yellow belt 8th Kyu can you add chudan mae-geri.
Green belt 6th Kyu can add chudan mawashi geri.
Then from there one can just build.
Then for experienced karateka I add a counter between each step, making this kumite very demanding on block counter, block counter….
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Here we find with more focus on basics and penetration and having the starting distance still only an arm’s length away is very advanced.
Attacker steps back into a gedan barai kamae and nominates “Jodan”.
Defender replies “Ossu”.
Attacker steps over in jodan oi-zuki.
Defender steps backward and defends by using age-uke and counters with a gyaku-zuki.
Chudan Oi-zuki defence is using taisabaki towards the blind side, using hip as the tool making you avoid. Something like the movie karate kid 2, where Miyagi said “Best defence, just no be there.”
Mae-geri defence is using taisabaki, by using thrust we would normally use going backwards, but towards the open side.
Now in Kihon Ippon Kumite you start training everything on both sides, so it would be attacking with right first, then attacking with left…. for each of the techniques.
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
This is all done from a kumite kamae. But this time starting distance is at own discretion and starting both must move forward simultaneously.
But the kamae is kept throughout, in other words there is only yoi at the beginning and yoi at the end.
Advanced Jiyu Ippon Kumite
Yoi between alternating hands for every move. Shinshiku-dachi is also incorporated so that the traditional format of kihon (standing still) can be kept.
Later after much time has been spent on advanced jiyu, one changes the counter, and turning into a second phase where the attacker must now either step back, use taisabaki or just block and counter…. Then taking that back to kihon ippon….
Fundamental Kumite is “the” link of the karate trinity.
