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kumite

/ ˈkuːmɪˌteɪ /

noun

  1. martial arts freestyle sparring or fighting
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of kumite1

C20: Japanese, literally: sparring
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Example Sentences

Horuna, who represented his country during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the men's karate Kumite event, joined the Ukrainian Army and has used his social media platform to bring attention to Russia’s attacks led by President Vladimir Putin.

Pandemic news conferences gave way to karate kumite and canoe sprints.

Instead, the gold medal match in men’s over-75 kilogram kumite ended with a messy, confusing penalty for a kick that was apparently too spectacular for karate.

There were numerous exciting bouts that showed off the kumite competitors’ striking skills, and the kata competition was captivating with its primal demonstration of karate form - an exercise that fits nicely with everything from gymnastics floor exercises to equestrian dressage in the Olympic playbook.

Instead, the gold medal match in men’s over-75 kilogram kumite ended with a messy, confusing penalty for a kick that was apparently too spectacular for karate.

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More About Kumite

What does kumite mean?

In martial arts, kumite refers to sparring—free-form fighting between two opponents, typically involving light blows or strikes that don’t actually make contact.

Kumite is most closely associated with karate, and one of the forms of karate practiced as a sport is known as kumite. In kumite karate, two opponents spar against each other with the goal of being awarded points by judges for effective strikes.

The kumite form of competitive karate was first included as an Olympic event in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 (along with the performance form called kata).

Example: In kumite, opponents usually refrain from landing full-force blows out of respect for each other.

Where does kumite come from?

The word kumite is borrowed directly from Japanese, in which it means “sparring.”

Sparring has been a part of martial arts training since ancient times, but the formal nature of kumite evolved as karate and similar martial arts became popular forms of self-defense and, eventually, sports. Kumite karate was first included as an Olympic event in 2021 at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for kumite?

What are some words that often get used in discussing kumite?

How is kumite used in real life?

Kumite is most closely associated with karate, and kumite karate is an Olympic event.

Try using kumite!

What does the word kumite mean in Japanese?

A. sparring
B. defending
C. karate
D. kicking

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