Karate Basics - Kumite Scoring Explained
Kumite is an essential part of Karate training, and free sparring is often experienced as exciting, because both opponents have to react and adapt to each other very quickly.
In some forms of competition Kumite, punching (tsuki) and kicking (geri) techniques are allowed at the head (jodan) and abdomen (chudan). One example of a scoring system is that the first competitor to take eight points in three minutes wins the bout.
In tournaments Kumite often takes place inside of a matted area. If a Karate-ka steps off of the mats, they are given a warning. If they step off of the mats three times they are often disqualified. Many international tournaments use a 'point sparring' form of Kumite that requires control ('pulling punches') and, therefore, warnings can be dealt for excessive force on techniques to the head, or sensitive areas. Full contact is permitted to the torso area of the body only. Some tournament rules allow for light contact to the head, whereas other rules do not allow this.
Kumite also includes a series of 'guidelines' that if followed correctly, result in a clean and safe fight. These are some of those guidelines:
- A Karate-ka must remain in some form of proper fighting stance and in the kamae-te position (hands up, ready to fight position)
- A Karate-ka must be aware of all obstacles around him/her
- A Karate-ka must never deliberately endanger themselves by turning their back to their opponent
- A practiced and well trained Karate-ka must concentrate on stance and footwork
For the last point about stance and footwork: it is often taught that a Karate-ka who wishes to be fast and agile while competing in Kumite should always be 'pulsing.' Pulsing is where the Karate-ka remains almost bouncing on the 'balls' of their feet to maintain minimal frictional contact with the ground, allowing them to move quickly.
Another aspect of Kumite, which is often seen in international tournaments, as well as many local competitions, is what is referred to as 'clashing.' Clashing is where both opponents throw techniques against each other at the same time, often resulting in both getting hit with the techniques. This creates a problem for referees as they are unable to make out which technique was quick, on target and recoiled - all the things that constitute a clean technique that is scored. Because of clashing, most modern day Karate-ka's are taught to practice Kumite in a 'one for one' situation where one attacks, then the other attacks and so on. However, due to the speed of these techniques, and the speed of the footwork of each Karate-ka, to the casual observer it may appear that they are still clashing when in fact they are not. When opponents are considered to be clashing, the Head Referee should declare 'aiuchi' (eye oochee) which means, 'simultaneous slaying', a term borrowed from iaido (Japanese swordsmanship). When a winner is decided, the referee will announce "no kachi” which means 'winner'.
Points scores are as follows
- Sanbon – Three points
- Nihon – Two points
- Ippon – One point
In Kumite competitions points are awarded when a technique is performed according to the following criteria to a scoring area
- Good form
- Sporting attitude
- Vigorous application
- Awareness (Zanshin)
- Good timing
- Correct distance
Sanbon is awarded for;
- Jodan kicks
- Throwing or leg sweeping the opponent to the mat followed by a scoring technique that contacts less than two seconds after the throw / sweep
Nihon is awarded for;
- Chudan kicks
- Punches on the back, including back of the neck and head
- Combination hand techniques, the individual components of which each score in their own right
- Unbalancing the opponent and scoring
Ippon is awarded for;
- Chudan or Jodan Punches
- Uchi
Attacks are limited to the following areas; head, face, neck, abdomen, chest, back, & side. For reasons of safety, throws where the opponent is thrown without being held onto, or thrown dangerously, or where the pivot point is above hip level, are prohibited and will incur a warning or penalty. Exceptions are conventional Karate leg sweeping techniques, which do not require the opponent to be held while executing the sweep such as de ashi-barai, ko uchi gari, kani waza etc. After a throw has been executed the referee will allow the contestant two to three seconds in which to attempt a scoring technique.
When a contestant slips, falls, or loses balance as a result of their own action and is scored upon by the opponent the score will be given as if the contestant had been standing upright.
A technique with 'Good Form' is said to have characteristics conferring probable effectiveness within the framework of traditional Karate concepts.
Sporting Attitude is a component of good form and refers to a non-malicious attitude of great concentration obvious during delivery of the scoring technique.
Vigorous Application defines the power and speed of the technique and the palpable will for it to succeed.
Awareness (ZANSHIN) is that criterion most often missed when a score is assessed. It is the state of continued commitment in which the contestant maintains total concentration, observation, and awareness of the opponent's potentiality to counter-attack. He does not turn his face away during delivery of the technique, and remains facing the opponent afterwards.
Good Timing means delivering a technique when it will have the greatest potential effect.
Correct Distance similarly means delivering a technique at the precise distance where it will have the greatest potential effect. Thus if the technique is delivered on an opponent who is rapidly moving away, the potential effect of that blow is reduced.
Distancing also relates to the point at which the completed technique comes to rest on or near the target. A punch or kick that comes somewhere between skin touch and 2 to 5cm from the face, may be said to have the correct distance. However, Jodan punches, which come within a reasonable distance of the target and which the opponent makes no attempt to block or avoid will be scored, provided the technique meets the other criteria.
A worthless technique is a worthless technique, regardless of where and how it is delivered. A technique, which is badly deficient in good form, or lacking power, will score nothing.
Techniques, which land below the belt may score, as long as they are above the pubic bone. The neck is a target area and so is the throat. However, no contact to the throat is permitted, although a score may be awarded for a properly controlled technique, which does not touch.
A technique, which lands upon the shoulder blades, may score. The non-scoring part of the shoulder is the junction of the upper bone of the arm with the shoulder blades and collarbones.
The time-up bell signals the end of scoring possibilities in that bout, even though the referee may inadvertently not halt the bout immediately. The time-up bell does not however mean that penalties cannot be imposed. The Refereeing Panel up to the point where the contestants leave that area after the bout’s conclusion can impose penalties. Penalties can be imposed after that, but then only by the Referee Commission.
True aiuchis are rare. Not only must two techniques land simultaneously, but both must be valid scoring techniques, each with good form etc. Two techniques may well land simultaneously, but seldom are both, if indeed either, effective scores. The referee must not dismiss as aiuchi, a situation where only one of the simultaneous pair is actually a score. This is not aiuchi.
