Opening a kumite

In 'kiatsu no shisei', a posture of concentration, your feet are at an angle of about 90 degrees, with heels touching eachother. Keep a distance that makes it impossible to attack for you nor your opponant. In most cases that means a distance of about 3 meters.

The eye is sometimes called the window of the heart. In the eye one can see the intentions of the attacker. Therfore allways keep looking at the eyes of the opponant. But be aware that if you concentrate one leaf of a tree, the tree itself gets out of sight. So look into the eyes, but observe the whole body. It can help to look 'out of focus', unsharp as a camere with a bad adjusted lens. In budo it is said: "to look with the eyes is weak, to look with the heart is best".
Observing, to percieve the essence of things, is called 'kan' in Japanese. 'Ken' on the other hand, is looking at the surface, looking at seperate movements seperately, without perceiving the whole. 'Kan' will provide you with a good insight of the situation which will enable you to take the right actions.
The ancient budoka also used to say: 'Far places are best observed from nearby, and places nearby are best observed at a distance."

The way of expresing respect for your partner is etiquette. To be able to express your true feelings and to be able to trun them into deeds, your feelings and your behaviour should be one. That's the reason why etiquette is not only important, but is even of fundamental value. and off-course etiquette is not only important in budo, but also in our social life.
To neglect etiquette in budo and in competition means not observing agreements, not having dicipline and having no respect for your opponent. This leads to ill-mannered behaviour and might result in 'transparant' behaviour: the opponent might easely see what you're up to.
Karate is aimed at prosperity, for you as well as for your opponent. Lack of respect and ill-mannered behaviour is not according to the spirirt of karate.

Etiquette prescribes that karate, budo, allways begins and ends with 'rei', a respectfull greeting. When both have assumed posistions, the upper body is bend 30 degrees as to express 'rei'.







Both partners lower their centre of gravity, seikatanden is getting tension, the shoulders are relaxed. both slowly put their feet at about shoulderwidth in 'kumite yoi no taisei'
One should allways strive to have the same tranquile mind during a fight as in an everyday situation. But at the same time one cannot afford to let concentration slip away. Broaden your attention, as to concentrate on more than one point.
The heart should be calm an quiet. This is obviously much easier said then done. A great master might be able to do this. But we, who still have to learn a lot, have to settle for knowing how it should be and striving for it. Kumite begins, therefore, with inspiring the mind. Body and mind are united and resolutely all energy is put into the exercise. If you try hard this way, you will eventually be able to reach the ideal spiritual posture.

The attacker steps forward and assumes 'hanmi'. It is important that the attacker is is not only concetrated on attacking, but is ready and able for defence at any time.
The performer steps backward in hanmi. You prepare for a defence, but should be able to attack instantly.
These actions are executed as much as possible simultanously, with kiai and moving from seikatanden. Which means it is important that both observe eachother. This is an important part of the exercise because this way you will 'get to know' your opponent. You will learn when to expect an attack. You will have the intention to surprise your opponant with one swift action, 'ichi geki' in Japanese.
In kihon kumite the perfomer has the role of defender and awaits the actions of the attacker.

The attacker reduces the distance by carefully 'shoving' forward in tiny little movements, driven by the toes, with a posture that remains unchanged. The opponent should be close enough to attack properly.
The performer can wait, or carefully move forward as well.
The attacker concentrates on the performer to try to find a moment of weakness in his concetration and attention. At that moment the attack begins.


nb:
Some kumite begin with right hanmi, some with left. Whether you open the kumite with left or right hanmi can be seen on the first picture of every series.
Naturally you will begin and end every kumite with the etiquette as presented on this page. In each kumite these pictures, and the following pictures are not repeated every time. But they should nevertheless be applied in each kumite!
Though when you perform several kumite immediately after eachother, rei only needs to be done at the beginning of the first, and at the end of the last kumite.


Closing a kumite

After the last action of the kumite, attacker and performer return in hanmi by stepping backwards. Even now both try to 'read' eachothers intentions and move simultanously with kiai. Pay attention that these movements are not performed soleley with the legs, but should start from the hips. If well performed, the legs will follow the hips, not the other way around. This way you will allways maintain a good balance. If the movements are driven by the legs, upper- and lower body will be 'disconnected', which will result in instability.

nb:
Just as in the preceding explanation regarding the beginning of a kumite, exactly how to end a kumite may vary. also in this case the pictures in the series will tell wich leg is forward.

Both return to the original postion but remain in fighting posture. Only then kumite yoi no taisei.









Both first pull the right, then the left foot in musubidachi (feet in 90 degrees) and remain in kiatsu no shisei with hands openened against the thigh.








Bow (rei) with a feeling of gratitude for having performed this exercise together. The eyes don't make contact but are directed downwards. The bow can be slightly 'deeper' then in the beginning.







The body is straightened again and the kumite has come to an end.










© WadoWorld/Hideo Muramatsu