Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi)

During training (this and Last week) at the JKA (Japan Karate Association) Central Kumamoto Dojo—Shototakuhirokan, amongst other things, Nakamura Shihan and Akiyoshi Sensei had us work on Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi). Here is a brief description of this variation of ‘Kihon Ippon Kumite’, which is now required during the JKA Examinations for Sankyu (3rd Kyu Brown Belt) and Nikyu (2nd Kyu Brown Belt). I apologize in advance for not having any pictures from the training; that being said, the simplicity of text—that I have used below—will not require corresponding images (as there is a `general overview’ then `kihon drills’ thoroughly detailing each stimuli and response in this form of Kihon Ippon Kumite).

 An overview of Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi):

 ‘Jodan':

1.      The designated attacker steps back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with hidari gedan-barai. They then announce “jodan” then attack with jodan jun-zuki.

 

2.      The designated defender responds to the attack by stepping back with the right foot into hidari zenkutsu-dachi, lower the weight/centreline on the spot), and blocking with hidari jodan age-uke.

 NB – steps one and two perfectly resemble kihon ippon kumite.

 

3.      From here, instead of the defender countering with gyaku-zuki they instead counter with jodan jun-zuki. A kiai is executed on this punch.

4.      The person who initially attacked (the designator attacker) then blocks and counters the designated defenders counterattack. This is done by making a full step rearwards and blocking with jodan age-uke and countering with gyaku-zuki. A kiai applied on the gyaku-zuki.

 

‘Chudan’ and `Mae-geri’ follow the same pattern: This same pattern is followed with chudan jun-zuki (1. chudan jun-zuki attack; 2. defender blocks with chudan soto-uke; 3. they then counter with chudan jun-zuki; 4. the initial attacker steps back and blocks with chudan soto-uke and counters with gyaku-zuki); and, for the Nikkyu-Shinsa, chudan mae-geri is added (1. mae-geri attack; 2. defender blocks with gedan-barai; 3. they then counter with zenshin mae-geri; 4. the initial attacker steps back and blocks with gedan-barai and counters with gyaku-zuki).

To reiterate, here is the complete exercise broken down into six solo kihon drills:

Please forgive me for the simplicity of this, however, —if you are like me and not so good at karate—“breaking everything down into kihon and `practicing over and over again’ is utterly critical”… My apologies for the height of mundaneness in advance!

Drill one: Step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi and execute gedan-barai. Announce “jodan” and attack with jodan jun-zuki. Next step back and block with jodan age-uke and counter with gyaku-zuki applying a kiai. Repeat on the opposite side.

Drill two: From shizentai/hachiji-dachi step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block with jodan age-uke then counter with jodan jun-zuki (kiai). Repeat on the opposite side.

Drill three: Step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi and execute gedan-barai. Announce “chudan” and attack with chudan jun-zuki. Next step back and block with chudan soto-uke and counter with gyaku-zuki applying a kiai. Repeat on the opposite side.

Drill four: From shizentai/hachiji-dachi step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block with chudan soto-uke then counter with chudan jun-zuki (kiai). Repeat on the opposite side.

Drill five: Step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with and execute kakiwake geda-barai. Announce “mae-geri” and attack with chudan mae-zuki. Next step back and block with gedan-barai and counter with gyaku-zuki applying a kiai. Repeat on the opposite side.

Drill six: From shizentai/hachiji-dachi step back into hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block with gedan-barai then counter with chudan mae-geri (kiai). Repeat on the opposite side.

In sum, ‘Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi)’ is very simple; nonetheless, it unmistakeably supports to build (and break) some `deeply ingrained’ patterns of fundamental movement; for example, always countering on the spot with a gyaku-zuki. For that reason, the hangeki (counterattacks) with jun-zuki jodan and chudan, and indeed countering with zenshin mae-geri, also develop one’s maai more acutely: as opposed to simply ‘sitting tight’ to counter on the spot. Of course, ‘sitting tight to counter’, in the case of being counterattacked by a well-executed oi-waza, “…will result in being `steam rolled’.” Taken as a whole, Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi) challenges the ingrained habit of the ‘static counter with gyaku-zuki’ and provides a springboard “...to more readily move towards `the midway between jun-zuki and gyaku-zuki’”. Last but not least, it offers a fundamentally-based/introductory means of practicing a `win-win’ situation; that is, to attack whilst “being ready to counter your opponents counterattack”.

 PS – I would like to add here that one must keep in mind `who Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi)’ is targeted for’; namely, those testing for Sankyu and Nikyu (4^th and 3^rd Kyu students respectively). With this in mind, the strict adherence to kihon in this form of kumite readily makes sense: especially pertaining to the development of ‘kime’ amongst ‘kyu grades’ and, indeed, in a testing scenario. Needless to say, this type of practice can, and is, applied in a much more advanced/freestyle way for example in various extensions of jiyu ippon kumite etcetera. All the very best from chilly Japan, Osu! – André.

 

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2015).