The translation of the Japanese word 'kumite' is 'sparring' and so naturally kumite training is sparring (or fighting). Karate sparring can come in many forms (see the 'Types of Kumite' page), but they all have one important thing in common, all sparring is carried out against a real opponents (unlike Kihon and Kata where the opponents are imaginary). For this reason kumite is commonly the most competitive of the 3 main training methods.

Sparring is the main training method in which techniques can be used against real opponents. However, the use of powerful and potentially dangerous karate techniques against real opponents introduces many more important aspects of Karate which are not immediately obvious from the other 2 major forms of training (Kihon and Kata).

To ESKA the most important of these is the necessity for control. Karate techniques are designed to be powerful techniques (they were originally used for breaking through bamboo body armour) and much of our karate training is used to develop this power. However using these kinds of techniques to their full potential against a partner in a lesson is not realistic, and so in order to remain free from injury a large amount of control is required. However 'control' does not imply a reduction in power, but means that each attack (still with full power) does not make full contact with the target. This is achieved by positioning your self correctly during Kumite training, such that the attack either stops slightly short of the target (no more than 1 inch) or makes only light contact with the target (but with no contact to face). In this way sparring can be carried out safely without injury and without any loss of the traditional Karate power.

Some of the other aspects of Karate which kumite training highlights include awareness of your opponents' actions, defending yourself (or others) and distancing (from your opponents). Therefore Kumite training introduces the more realistic aspects of karate fighting into training.