Karate – Sparring [Kumite 組手] Sparring is effectively play fighting. The idea is that students can practise their skills in a safe environment. As students become more skilled and physically conditioned, the level of difficulty and the amount of contact between opponents increases. There are two main types of sparring: Pre-arranged sparring [Yakusoku Kumite 約束組手] and Freestyle sparring [Jiyū Kumite 自由組手] Pre-arranged sparring [Yakusoku Kumite 約束組手] This is often taught as a one-, two-, or three-step combination to keep practice focussed on a specific technique or combination. In Japanese: one-step sparring is called Ippon Kumite 一本組手 two-step sparring is called Nihon Kumite 二本組手 and three-step sparring is called Sambon Kumite 三本組手 Freestyle sparring [Jiyū Kumite自由組手] Freestyle sparring is where you have the freedom to choose for yourself the techniques you want to use in attack and defence. Sparring is usually conducted in a specific floor area, and with a time limit. While general assessments of how well a student spars can be made from the sideline, the student should spend a few moments after the round to go over what happened in their head, specifically: What worked? What didn’t work (and why)? What could have been done better? What can I do to improve?