Kihon Kumite – The Basics
Throughout my career in Wado Kai Karate I have truly enjoyed both the art of the style and the learning process. One of my favorite experiences is Kihon Kumite. In the early learning journey I was always so focused on the “What” I was supposed to being doing that I missed the opportunity to really learn the “How” I was expected to do it. Mostly I just followed the flow of each Kihon Kumite but never really understood the importance of applying the basics to Kihon Waza. While training in Japan it became clear to me that the basics (Kihon Waza) was fundamental to properly understanding and performing each of the ten Kumites. The Japanese instructors, while being very kind, were always quick to point out the small errors I was making. It was this learning experience that prompted me invest time researching the topic by reviewing numerous videos, interviewing senior practitioners and experimenting with a number of participants that I put together the attached PDF file.
The file provides the reader with a basic overview of the ten Kihon Kumite and the various stances used by the Attacker and Defender at different stages of the Kumite. It is especially import to understand the concept San- Mi-Ittai (a single and/or unified action), therefore I have provided a basic description within the document.
