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.