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Kumite techniques in sports karate
Article in Archives of Budo Science of Martial Arts and Extreme Sports · November 2021
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Paweł Adam Piepiora Kazimierz Witkowski
Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS
Kumite techniques in sports karate
Authors’ Contribution: Paweł PiepioraABCDE, Kazimierz WitkowskiADE
A Study Design
B Data Collection Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
C Statistical Analysis
D Manuscript Preparation
E Funds Collection Received: 10 October 2021; Accepted: 28 October 2021; Published online: 23 November 2021
AoBID: 15991
Abstract
Background & Study Aim: In different varieties of sports karate, the rules of competition in kumite are constantly being modified. This
underscores the importance of technical preparation in karate training. Therefore, the purpose of this article
is to present the allowed kumite techniques in sports karate.
Material & Methods: The method of analyzing the source materials was used. The current rules of kumite competition were an-
alyzed: the World Karate Federation, World Karate Confederation, World Union of Karate-Do Federations,
World Karate Martial Arts Organization. The results were presented in the form of overview photos.
Results: The following are allowed: four techniques from the tsuki waza group; three techniques from the uchi waza
group; six techniques from the keri waza group; eight techniques from the nage waza group; nine techniques
from the uke waza group; four techniques from the kawashi waza group.
Conclusions: It was concluded that the criterion for allowing 34 karate techniques to be used in kumite sports competition
is the safety of the competing athletes.
Keywords: combat sports • World Karate Confederation • World Karate Federation • World Karate Martial Arts Organization
• World Union of Karate-Do Federations
Copyright: © 2021 the Authors. Published by Archives of Budo Science of Martial Arts and Extreme Sports
Conflict of interest: Authors have declared that no competing interest exists
Ethical approval: The study has been accepted by the local ethics committee
Provenance & peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed
Source of support: Departmental sources
Author’s address: Paweł Piepiora, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences,
I. J. Paderewskiego 35 street, Multipurpose Sports Hall room 75, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland; e-mail: pawel.
piepiora@awf.wroc.pl
© ARCHIVES OF BUDO SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS AND EXTREME SPORTS 2021 | VOLUME 17 | 113
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which per-
mits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license.
Original Article | Science of Martial Arts
INTRODUCTION MATERIAL AND METHODS
Kawashi waza – dodging In preparing athletes for sports competition in The method of analysis of source materials [7] was
techniques.
karate, motor, technical, tactical and mental prep- used. The current rules of the kumite competi-
Keri waza – kicking aration are distinguished [1]. Motor preparation tion of four sports karate organizations were ana-
techniques. allows for developing motor skills to a high level. lyzed: World Karate Federation [8], World Karate
This provides the basis for perfecting techniques at Confederation [9], World Union of Karate-Do
Kumite – fighting in karate.
the championship level. A high degree of mastery of Federations [10], World Karate Martial Arts
Nage waza – uppercut and these gives the opportunity to achieve many tactical Organization [11]. The results are presented in
throwing techniques.
solutions. The whole is topped off by mental prepa- the form of overview photos. For this purpose,
Tatami – floor matting. ration, which allows the achieved training effects to a photo session was conducted in the sports hall
be fully presented at sports competitions [2]. of the Primary School in Mysłakowice (Lower
Tsuki waza – thrusting Silesia, Poland). The techniques were presented by
techniques.
With the dynamically changing rules of compe- Pawel Piepiora and Maciej Baranski while the pho-
Uchi waza – chopping tition in kumite in different varieties of sports tos were taken by Zbigniew Piepiora. It should be
techniques.
karate, karate practitioners are forced to select mentioned that the authors of this article are mas-
Uke waza – blocking possible techniques to prepare for sports competi- ter class coaches.
techniques. tions [3]. That is why technical preparation is such
Waza – a technique or
an important part of karate training. In this sense,
movement which is based on karate technique consists of the performance of
a standard form and is used RESULTS
to challenge and defeat the
a movement task adapted to a given fighting situ-
opponent [16]. ation, in an economical way, defined by the rules, Tsuki waza
which uses the physical potential, mental poten- Four techniques are allowed in the group of fist
Tactics – plural noun the art
of finding and implementing tial and movement skills of the karateka necessary thrusting techniques: kizami zuki – straight punch
means to achieve immediate for sports fighting. (Photo 1); gyaku zuki – reverse straight punch
or short-term aims [17].
(Photo 2); oi zuki – straight punch with transition
Technique– noun a way of In general, there are dozens of karate tech- (Photo 3); choku zuki – straight punch in place
performing an action [17]. niques [4]. To minimize the risk of injury and trauma used as a finishing technique after an uppercut
in sports competition, most karate techniques have (Photo 4).
been banned due to their destructive nature to the
opponent [5]. Consequently, sports karate tech- Uchi waza
niques can be divided into attack and defense tech- In the group of curved cutting techniques,
niques. Attack techniques include tsuki waza, uchi three techniques are allowed: uraken uchi –
waza, keri waza and nage waza; while the defense a strike with an upturned fist (Photo 5); haito
techniques include uke waza and kawashi waza [6]. uchi – a strike with the inner edge of the palm
(Photo 6); shuto uchi – a strike with the outer
The purpose of this article is to present the edge of the palm (Photo 7).
allowed kumite techniques in sports karate.
Photo 1. Kizami zuki. Photo 2. Gyaku zuki.
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Piepiora P et al. – Kumite techniques in...
Photo 3. Oi zuki.
Photo 4. Choku zuki.
Photo 5. Uraken uchi. Photo 6. Haito uchi.
Photo 7. Shuto uchi.
© ARCHIVES OF BUDO SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS AND EXTREME SPORTS 2021 | VOLUME 17 | 115
Original Article | Science of Martial Arts
Keri waza – circle kick (Photo 10); ura mawashi geri –
Six techniques are allowed in the group of kick- hooking kick (Photo 11); ushiro geri – back kick
ing techniques: mae geri – front kick (Photo 8); (Photo 12); ushiro ura mawashi geri – spinning
yoko geri – side kick (Photo 9); mawashi geri kick (Photo 13).
Photo 8. Mae geri. Photo 9. Yoko geri.
Photo 10. Mawashi geri. Photo 11. Ura mawashi geri.
Photo 12. Ushiro geri. Photo 13. Ushiro ura mawashi geri.
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Piepiora P et al. – Kumite techniques in...
Nage waza undercut (Photo 16); o uchi gari – large internal
In the group of undercut and throwing tech- undercut (Photo 17); ko soto gari – small external
niques, eight techniques are allowed: de ashi undercut (Photo 18); ko uchi gari – small internal
barai – an undercut from the side behind the foot undercut (Photo 19); okuri ashi harai – undercut
(Photo 14); kuzushi – an undercut from the side of by leaning (Photo 20); tai-otoshi – throw by low-
both legs (Photo 15); o soto gari – large external ering (Photo 21).
Photo 14. De ashi barai. Photo 15. Kuzushi.
Photo 16. O soto gari. Photo 17. O uchi gari.
Photo 18. Ko soto gari. Photo 19. Ko uchi gari.
© ARCHIVES OF BUDO SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS AND EXTREME SPORTS 2021 | VOLUME 17 | 117
Original Article | Science of Martial Arts
Photo 20. Okuri ashi harai. Photo 21. Tai-otoshi.
Uke waza sweeping block (Photo 25); gedan uke – lower
In the group of blocking techniques, nine tech- block (Photo 26); te nagashi uke – nailing block
niques are preferred: age uke – upper block (Photo 27); te osae uke – pressing block (Photo
(Photo 22); soto uke – outer block (photo 23); uchi 28); hiza-uke – knee block (Photo 29); sune uke –
uke – inner block (Photo 24); gedan barai – lower shank block (photo 30).
Photo 22. Age uke. Photo 23. Soto uke.
Photo 25. Gedan barai.
Photo 24. Uchi uke.
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Piepiora P et al. – Kumite techniques in...
Photo 26. Gedan uke. Photo 27. Te nagashi uke.
Photo 28. Te osae uke. Photo 29. Hiza uke.
Photo 30. Sune uke.
Kawashi waza different directions (Photo 32); rotational dodg-
Within the group of dodging techniques, there ing – performed around one axis or two axes of
are four techniques: dodging in place – by swing- rotation (Photo 33); and combination dodging –
ing the body in different directions (Photo 31); by combining the previously mentioned dodging
dodging out of the line of attack – by moving in with blocks (Photo 34).
© ARCHIVES OF BUDO SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS AND EXTREME SPORTS 2021 | VOLUME 17 | 119
Original Article | Science of Martial Arts
Photo 31. Dodge in place. Photo 32. Dodging with stepping off the attack line.
Photo 33. Rotary dodge around a single axis. Photo 34. Combination dodge.
DISCUSSION
Therefore, the problem of perfecting karate
Technical correctness is only one of the factors sports techniques boils down to accentuating
that affect the end result of a fight. It can be and combining all those elements on which the
improved by motor accents in technical train- effectiveness of the movements performed in
ing, because motor preparation during a fight a sports fight depends. It should be mentioned
significantly determines the result of the tech- here that a thorough knowledge of the rules
nique performed. Therefore, the appropri- translates into the conduct of the athletes’
ate relationship between motor skills and the pursuits realized through combat. Nothing can
motor potential of a karateka is formed dur- replace the experience gained in sporting com-
ing a long-term training process. The stage of petition as it has an impact on the develop-
learning karate techniques is always the short- ment by the competitors of their own unique
est and easiest. The pace of mastering them fighting styles.
depends on the karateka’s motor susceptibil-
ity. Then the skills of combining and using the An analysis of the sports karate rules showed
functions of given techniques in a specific sit- that only 34 karate techniques are used in kumite
uation depending on the opponent are per- sports competition. Therefore, when reworking
fected. It should be emphasized here that due the technical material, it is not advisable to rush
to the limitations of the rules of sports com- in search of novelty, but one should focus on
bat, there is a big difference between the tech- perfect mastery of the fundamental techniques.
niques in the combat version and the sports Outstanding champions are examples of what
version of karate. In sport fighting, karateka is can be reached by working systematically. The
always focused on scoring points by attacking issue of nage waza in sports karate is also impor-
the allowed areas of the opponent’s body while tant. Today, this group of techniques differs sig-
constantly controlling his techniques. nificantly from the classic nine throws of Gichin
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Piepiora P et al. – Kumite techniques in...
Funakoshi [12]. Although modern sports nage element of personal safety (security), which is dis-
waza is more practical, tatami used for karate is cussed in a multifaceted sense by, among others,
not designed for falls [13]. Significant differences Gąsienica-Walczak et al. [15].
are observed between karate tatami and judo tat-
ami. In addition, karate practice does not take
into account the kind of emphasis on falls pres-
CONCLUSIONS
ent in judo [14]. This shows that the problems
with the use of nage waza in karate are still pres- Thirty four karate techniques are allowed to be
ent and should be solved as soon as possible, used in kumite sports competition. This is jus-
since the personal safety of karatekas depends tified by the concern for the safety of compet-
on them. However, this is only one (albeit basic) ing athletes.
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Cite this article as: Piepiora P, Witkowski K. Kumite techniques in sports karate. Arch Budo Sci Martial Art Extreme Sport 2021; 17: 113-121
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