Learning kumite exercises.

by Ryan Gregory, February 25th, 2012

Meibukan Goju-ryu does not include free sparring (jiyu kumite), but instead uses pre-arranged sparring exercises (yakusoku kumite) to develop strong technique, coordination, and timing. One of the first kumite exercises taught is Jo Chu Ge, meaning “high, middle, low”, which is performed either in a linear sequences with one partner, alone as a sort of kata, or in a group with one student surrounded by four others. This can be tricky for new students to learn, but with some examples to study and a recognition that the three different exercises are actually all the same sequence, it is easier to pick up quickly. Let’s consider three different levels of the Jo Chu Ge sequence that are performed in class.

Level 1 (renzoku kumite, or “continuous sparring”) — Linear two-person exercise:

In this exercise, two students work together and go through the entire sequence. They take turns being the “attacker” or “defender”, with the junior belt attacking first. I have written up the sequence step by step below.

Attacker Defender
Bow. Announce Jo Chu Ge.
Bow.
Step back, left fighting stance (hands open). Ready stance.
 —  —
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch. Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left middle block.
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right middle punch.
Step forward, right sumo stance, right low punch.
Step back, left sumo stance, left low block.
 —  —
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, left high punch.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right high block.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right middle block.
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, middle punch.
Step forward, left sumo stance, left low punch.
Step back, right sumo stance, right low block.
 —  —
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch. Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block. Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right middle block. Step forward, left sanchin dachi, left middle punch.
Step back, left sumo stance, left low block. Step forward, right sumo stance, right low punch.
 —  —
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left middle block.
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right middle punch.
Step forward, right sumo stance, right low punch.
Step back, left sumo stance, left low block.
 —  —
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, left high punch.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right high block.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right middle block.
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, middle punch.
Step forward, left sumo stance, left low punch.
Step back, right sumo stance, right low block.
 —  —
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right middle block.
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, left middle punch.
Step back, left sumo stance, left low block.
Step forward, right sumo stance, right low punch.
 —  —
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right high punch.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left high block.
Step back, left sanchin dachi, left middle block.
Step forward, right sanchin dachi, right middle punch.
Step forward, right sumo stance, right low punch.
Step back, left sumo stance, left low block.
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, left high punch.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right high block.
Step back, right sanchin dachi, right middle block.
Step forward, left sanchin dachi, middle punch.
Step forward, left sumo stance, left low punch.
Step back, right sumo stance, right low block.
 —  —
Bow.
Bow.

 

Download this table as a PDF document
You can see the basic exercise in the video below.



Note that the sequence is divided up into two rounds of the block-attack-block series, then one block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block, one more block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block. In this case, the sequence is linear so there are no turns, just forward and backward steps. You may notice that the block-attack-block sequence is the same as the first three moves of the Gekisai ichi and Gekisai ni katas.

Level 2 (kata) — Solo exercise with turns:

A slightly more complex version of the sequence is also performed, this time with blocks and attacks in different directions rather than just forward and backward. This may be taught as a solo exercise first, much like a simple kata that students can practice on their own. Remember, the basic sequence is the same: two rounds of the block-attack-block series, then one block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block, one more block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block. The only difference is that there are turns involved. The video below shows the performance of this exercise.



For those who have trained in Japanese Goju-ryu, you will recognize the basic pattern and the full turn as being very similar to the Taikyoku katas. Honestly, I thought I would never use these katas again after I switched to Okinawan Goju-ryu, but here they are in another form.

Level 3 (kakomi kumite, or “surrounded sparring”) — Surrounded exercise:

In class, this exercise is practiced with a group of five students: one in the middle and surrounded by four others. The sequence is exactly the same as in the solo exercise.

Here is a diagram showing the overall sequence.

Click for larger image.

Download this diagram as a PDF document
Additional notes:

  • The person on the left (L)  starts with a right-hand technique. The person on the right (R) starts with a left hand technique. Then they switch hands for the second attack, then switch again for the third attack.  A good way to ensure that you use the correct hand is to set up for your first attack, then after you perform the sequence once DON’T CHANGE YOUR FEET.  So, if you start as the left attacker, you will be setting up with your left leg forward so that you can begin by punching with your right, then you will be blocking left, then punching right. At that point, your right leg will be forward — keep it there. Now you know that you next attack will be with the left hand as you step through with your left leg.
  • The beginning positions for students are, from highest to lowest rank: middle, L, F, R, B.
  • The student at the L position calls the sequence of attacks that will be done for the student in the middle. They also get everyone ready by announcing “Onegaishimasu”, then indicating that the first attack is coming with “Hai”.
  • Once the complete sequence is complete, the student in the middle moves backward to B, and the others rotate around counterclockwise (B to R, R to F, F to L) and L goes into the middle.

Different techniques:

In kakomi kumite, the first attacker may call any one of a number of combinations of techniques. However, it is important to remember that the steps and overall pattern (but not necessarily the stances) are the same regardless. Once you have the basic sequence down, it’s relatively easy to substitute in different techniques.

For example, here is the same exercise (being performed solo) but with Chu Shuto Ge as the combination of attacks rather than Jo Chu Ge.


This one (performed as kakomi kumite) is Chu Geri Ge, with a middle punch, front kick, low punch combination of techniques. But again, the steps and sequence are the same.


The thing to remember is that you are not learning a lot of different things but rather one basic sequence with some variation in direction and techniques.

Comments (5)

JamesFebruary 29th, 2012 at 11:20 pm

That’s me in the last video 🙂

Ryan G.March 1st, 2012 at 10:20 am

Nice! Do you have any others I should add here? 🙂

JamesMarch 11th, 2012 at 8:34 pm

I am in the background on a few of those karate videos from early 2000.

[…] Instead, Meibukan uses only pre-arranged sparring. This means that one partner attacks and the other defends using one of a set of particular techniques. The simplest version is to just do walking basics with a partner, with one, two, or three techniques thrown at a time (e.g., high punch, or high punch, middle punch, low punch). In renzoku kumite, there is a more complex sequence performed by two partners in a linear series. And in kakomi kumite, one student is surrounded by four others and again there is a pre-determined sequence of attacks and blocks. The specific series of attacks can vary in renzoku and kakomi kumite, but the sequence of movements is the same. I have written more about these forms of kumite in a previous post (Learning kumite exercises). […]

[…] moves. Two-man kata are common in the older styles of Japanese martial arts [note: I would include renzoku kumite and kakomi kumite in this category – RG]. In these, two practitioners act on each other in a scripted fashion. [There […]

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