Jiyu ippon kumite (semi free sparring, also spelt ju, jiyu or jui)

Jiyu ippon kumite is normally introduced into the dojo syllabus at brown belt or 3rd kyu level. When first practiced, the attacks in jyu ippon kumite are pre arranged, later developing into any attack sparring.

The most common form of Shotokan jiyu ippon kumite is long range, with attacks, oizuki jodan, oizuki chudan, mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri and ushiro geri. Some shotokan groups add other attacks, such as gyaku zuki and kizami zuki.

Jui ippon kumite can also be practiced at medium or close range, moving or stationary, with or without hikite on the attacks and counters.

For the first time, moving and feigning can be used while attacking and defending.

The defense and counter is usually free, but many shotokan karate dojo have pre arranged block and counter sequences, which include a large selection of blocks, counters and tai sabaki ( body movement).

Jiyu ippon kumite and Ikken Hissatsu

The ‘ikken hissatsu‘ (to kill or finish with one blow) is still the attitude to have when attacking and defending. Make sure your counters are devastating, or rather, don’t be content with a counter to someone’s shoulder. Once you have delivered your counter strike, imagine what the effect would have been like, if the counter strike had connected fully.

With kihon ippon kumite, the distance between attacker and defender is set, but with ju ippon kumite (if you practice ju ippon moving), the distance between attacker and defender is continually changing. Because of this, timing is imperative, both on attack and defense.

The time between the attackers attack and defenders counter should be small, the same time, or even before the attack completes.

So just a brief explanation of my thoughts on ju ippon kumite, I will cover the more advanced kumite aspects in later articles.

Jiyu-ippon kumite

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