基本一本組手 (Kihon Ippon Kumite): a few notes...

Kumite training with World Games Champion, Inada Yasuhisa (photo, circa 2002).

 基本一本組手 (Kihon Ippon Kumite) involves two to five foundational attacks, which are practiced on both right and left sides. Today, I’d like to briefly address these in regards to targeting and distancing; furthermore, some other fundamental notes (for the budo/bujutsu practice of this drill).

  

1. 上段 (Jodan): 上段追い突き (Jodan oi-zuki).

Target the jinchu with seiken. The maai is to reach between two inches and midway through the skull. A deeper thrust is preferable, but not at the expense of losing acceleration and engaging in mubobi.

 

2. 中段  (Chudan): 中段追い突き(Chudan oi-zuki).

Target the suigetsu with seiken. The maai is to reach the rear of the spinal column.

 

3. 前蹴り(Mae-geri): 中段前蹴り蹴上げ (Chudan mae-geri keage).

Target the suigetsu or myojo with josokutei/koshi. The maai is to reach the rear of the spinal column.

 

4. 横蹴込み (Yoko-kekomi): 中段横蹴り蹴込み (Chudan yoko-geri kekomi).

Target the suigetsu or myojo with sokuto. The maai is to reach the rear of the spinal column. Please note — Never land passively after this waza; that is, after hiki-ashi land in zenkutsu-dachi as opposed kiba-dachi.

 

5. 回し蹴り(Mawashi-geri): 中段またわ上段回し蹴り(Chudan or Jodan mawashi-geri). 

Target the opposite side of the head or torso. Make sure  your maai is close enough. Many people make their mawashi-geri out of distance to deliver a full contact waza. Note — when calling the attack announce “chudan mawashi-geri” or “jodan mawashi-geri” depending on the waza you are executing.

 

 

Supplementary Notes —

a. If unsure about maai, use the ‘board breaking reference’. If the technique is not at the correct distance to break a board, i.e — only able to make surface level impact, quite simply, it’s wrong. Wrong because the technique is ineffective and literally grooving a bad habit. This bad habit is not negative only for the attacker… It also ‘wastes the defenders training time’.

 

b. Attack with your zenkutsu-dachi. In the case of the tsukiwaza the seiken must impact slightly before the completion of the stance; thereby, it maximizes hand speed and maximum transfer of bodyweight/mass into the target. Obviously, in the keriwaza one leg is already up; therefore, emphasize the snap/whipping action of the kicking leg and the drive of the sasae-ashi. In both cases,”harmoniously combine hard and soft actions”.

 

c. Always keep in mind that whilst 基本 (Kihon) can be translated as ‘basic’, it better to be described as ‘foundational’ or ‘base’ techniques, drills and kata. This allows one to properly characterize the term as understood by Japanese people. Needless to say, most English speaking people instinctively perceive ‘basic’ as being ‘easy’ or for ‘beginners’, which is, of course, misleading.

 

d. Lastly, always remember that correct form—which encompasses the above four points—is the aim of Kihon Ippon Kumite (also 五本組手/Gohon Kumite) as opposed to ‘fighting’. These drills are Kumite, but moreso ‘Kihon with a partner’, which adds the elements of physical contact, timing and maai. With these points strongly in mind one can make the most of these fundamental partner drills.

 

To conclude, and to reiterate, “…please remember in Yakusoku Kumite that the quality of the attack is of higher importance than the defense and counterattack”. As, without an effective initial attack, the exercise is completely invalidated; moreover, as I’ve already stated, ‘actually bad for your karate’.

 

I hope that this article helps karateka to better practice their kihon ippon kumite and, in doing so, contribute to their overall budo development. 押忍! —AB

Countering using deai with jodan mawashi-geri.

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2023).