Kumite
Ryan Layman, competing in full-contact, knockdown-style kumite at the World So-Kyokushin 1st World Tournament in Shizuoka, Japan, 2016.
Kumite (組手), or sparring, is the foundation of Kyokushin Karate. There can be no test of karate without a contest of skill, since by its very nature it is an adversarial contest. Here at the Aranami Dojo in Honolulu, Hawai’i, we continue the tradition of focusing on sparring as a means of testing, evaluating, and improving one’s skill in karate through practical application.
That being said, there is a difference in approach between kumite in the dojo to develop the skills of you and your fellow students, kumite in a tournament, where you are competing against other karateka to distinguish yourself as the best competitor, and fighting in self-defense or actual violence, where the objective is the protection of yourself or others from harm for the vast majority of people who don’t work a job that has a use of force policy.
For kumite in the dojo, students will need the following gear:
Gloves - Usually boxing gloves will suffice. For kids, 6oz. or 8oz. gloves are sufficient.
Shin guards - Because Kyokushin Karate differs from other styles of karate in the use of low kicks, it is important that leg protection covers both the shin as well as the instep.
Helmet (Required for kids, optional for adults) - Hopefully a self-evident requirement. Because Kyokushin at the highest levels of competition is a bare-knuckle sport, hand and elbow techniques to the face are disallowed. However, one may still kick to the head, and so a helmet is recommended for those who desire as adults, but required for children.
A sample of sparring gear that would be effective for Kyokushin Karate practice. Gloves, shin and instep guards, and helmets are included.
