Kumite is the Japanese term for sparring in karate, standing alongside kata as one of the art's two main training pillars. It covers a wide range of practice, from slow, prearranged exchanges between two students who know exactly what technique is coming, to fast, competitive point sparring where each side reacts freely to the other.
Beginners usually start with heavily controlled or prearranged kumite, focusing on distance, timing and safe contact before moving toward freer sparring as skill and control develop. Competitive kumite formats vary between styles and federations: some score points for clean technique with light or no contact, while others allow continuous, harder contact within set rules. Protective gear such as gloves, shin guards and mouthguards is commonly required once contact sparring begins, and requirements differ by competition rules.
See our protective gear overview for what is typically worn, and the entry on kihon for the basic techniques kumite draws on.
