Understanding Karate and the Relationship between Kihon, Kata and Kumite
One of karate’s key goals is to equip students for self-defense. This goal is achieved by three means, Kihon (basics), Kata (movements) and Kumite (sparring). With Kihon a student begins by learning a series of principles and techniques. These principles then cascade, like a series of waterfalls, down into Kata and finally Kumite.
Kihon (basic techniques): Kihon trains us how to perform an effective technique with clean execution, minimal telegraphing, and maximum power by harnessing and contracting the correct muscle groups. It also trains us to stay connected to the ground and maintain a low center of gravity at all times.
Kata (forms; set patterns; choreographed movements): The principles of Kihon then cascade into Kata, which expands these principles by teaching us to use them while moving in numerous directions and changing in and out of various stances. It also trains us to use these principles under various circumstances, applying them to a number of advanced self-defense strategies (senjutsu) and highly effective self-defense techniques (bunkai).
Kumite (active sparring): The principles of Kihon should continue to cascade through Kata and into our Kumite. Kumite will then take these principles and teach us to apply them against an opponent, either in a pre-arranged sequence (where we know what our partner will be doing) or a free-form-sparring environment (where we must respond on our own). It also develops our sense of timing and distance with these principles and develops our ability to use them while experiencing the emotional ramifications of someone attacking us (albeit in a safe environment). Understanding this, it is essential we take the same mindset of a personal “commitment to excellence” and “attention to detail” we demonstrate during Kihon and Kata and apply these to Kumite. The following are three simple examples:
Kihon (basic techniques): Kihon trains us how to perform an effective technique with clean execution, minimal telegraphing, and maximum power by harnessing and contracting the correct muscle groups. It also trains us to stay connected to the ground and maintain a low center of gravity at all times.
Kata (forms; set patterns; choreographed movements): The principles of Kihon then cascade into Kata, which expands these principles by teaching us to use them while moving in numerous directions and changing in and out of various stances. It also trains us to use these principles under various circumstances, applying them to a number of advanced self-defense strategies (senjutsu) and highly effective self-defense techniques (bunkai).
Kumite (active sparring): The principles of Kihon should continue to cascade through Kata and into our Kumite. Kumite will then take these principles and teach us to apply them against an opponent, either in a pre-arranged sequence (where we know what our partner will be doing) or a free-form-sparring environment (where we must respond on our own). It also develops our sense of timing and distance with these principles and develops our ability to use them while experiencing the emotional ramifications of someone attacking us (albeit in a safe environment). Understanding this, it is essential we take the same mindset of a personal “commitment to excellence” and “attention to detail” we demonstrate during Kihon and Kata and apply these to Kumite. The following are three simple examples:
- We do not tolerate poor stances from ourselves during Kihon and Kata, and therefore should not tolerate them from during Kumite.
- If our performance of techniques in Kihon and/or Kata does not follow an exact path and contains superfluous movements we would work harder to minimize this and strip our technique back to the basics. Therefore, we should take the identical mindset during Kumite and seek to shed any excessive or unnecessary movements.
- When moving through in stances during Kihon, we focus on landing our striking hand and front foot (as we settle into each stance) at the exact same time. Likewise, we should ensure that every time we move through and strike in Kumite we adhere to the same principle.
