kumite.

Kumite is a method of training in which the offensive and defensive techniques learned in
the kata are given pratical application.The opponents are face to face.The importance of kata to kumite cannot be overemphasized.If techniques are used unnaturally or in a forced way,posture will break down. And if the kata techniques become confused when applied,on improvement in kumite can be expected.In other words,improvement in kumite depends directly on improvement in kata;the two go together like hand in glove.It is a mistake to emphasize one at the expense of the other.This is a point to be careful about when practicing kumite.Since the word “kumite” refers to forms of sparring, it covers a vast range of activities. In traditional Shotokan karate, the first type of kumite for beginners is gohon kumite. The defender steps back each time, blocking the attacks and performing a counterattack after the last block.This activity looks nothing like the jiyu kumite (or “free sparring”) practiced by more advanced practitioners, which is far closer to how karate would look if used in a real fight, especially because it is not choreographed. Karate and other forms of martial arts have various other types of kumite (5-step, 3-step, 1-step, semi-free) which span this large range in styles of practice.
The defender steps back each time, blocking the attacks and performing a counterattack after the last block.This activity looks nothing like the jiyu kumite (or “free sparring”) practiced by more advanced practitioners, which is far closer to how karate would look if used in a real fight, especially because it is not choreographed. Karate and other forms of martial arts have various other types of kumite (5-step, 3-step, 1-step, semi-free) which span this large range in styles of practice