Kumite (Pre-Arranged Sparring)

Uechi Ryu Kumite provides students with a safe method to practice various attacks and defenses in a vigorous manner.

Kumite Guidelines

• Always bow to each other before starting a Kumite and after completion.
• The lower ranking student starts the first attack.
• Maintain a realistic distance from each other during attacks and defenses.
• Maintain eye contact throughout the Kumite (glare in the eyes).
• Hands should always be in the “kamai” or ready position.
• Hard contact is not necessary or encouraged for new students.
• Once learned, Kumite should be performed in a realistic manner.

Kyu Kumite: This Kumite is introduced at the White Belt level. It consists of five “points” or attacks and defenses. It is one of the requirements for the Green Belt test.

Kenyukai (Yakusoku) Kumite: This Kumite is introduced at the Brown Belt level. It consists of seven “points” or attacks and defenses. It is one of the requirements for the Black Belt test.

Dan Kumite: This Kumite is introduced at the Black Belt level. It consists of eleven “points” or attacks and defenses. It is most like free style sparring and should be performed at the highest level of intensity.