Ippon Kumite: The Essense of Karate

Ippon Kumite

The most practiced and least understood part of most martial artist training regime.

As a beginning karate student you are taught Ippon Kumite as a basic exercise, Attacker steps forward with an attack, defender steps back and blocks. This is fine, it teaches the new Karateka to use good form and how to transition from one stance to another.

Most martial art instructors have their students increase the power and speed as they advance, but never take it to the next level.

In Shotokan Karate, when we would train Ippon Kumite, we wouldn't know what attack was coming, we would be attacked from a standing or a fighting stance. The defender, who usually derives the most benefit from this kind of training would have to block or evade and would return with his own ippon, learning to see the opening, picking the correct weapon and striking with focus.

All of this needs to happen as a reaction, someone throws something at you, you duck or weave out of the path of the object, no training or practice, just reaction. Now lets combine this natural reaction with training, timing and focus.

Eventually every strike will be the final blow, not a combination of feints leading to the kime, but every blow as kime. Attaining this level is the essence of self defense taught in Shotokan Karate.

Ippon Kumite is so much more then basic training.



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