Summary of Kumite in the Ryukyu Kingdom Period

I have long pointed out that conventional studies of karate history are biased toward kata and that there has been little research on the history of kumite. The first and foremost reason for this is the fact that koryū (old style) kumite has declined significantly since the advent of school karate.

As a result, in the 1920s, “karate was nothing more than the training of various parts of the body represented by makiwara-zuki and the training of kata performed by one person” (Monthly Hiden, March 2021 issue).

• Makiwara-zuki (巻藁突き): Training to strike the top of a long, thin board with straw wrapped around it.

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However, it was difficult for young people in mainland Japan, who had studied judo, kendo, or the koryū martial arts that were the parent systems of those arts, to understand that kumite did not exist. As a result, they created their own kumite and began to experiment with kumite matches.

Some karate practitioners in mainland Japan proudly claimed that “Kumite did not exist in Okinawan karate, so it was an unfinished martial art, and Japanese karate-dō was perfected by adding kumite and matches to it.” This is the “historical view of karate development.”

Did kumite really not exist in Okinawa? — Of course not. However, there has not been enough research on the history of kumite to answer this question clearly. So, what kind of kumite existed in the Ryukyu Kingdom period? The following is a summary of the research conducted so far.

Jiyū (free) kumite: Kakede (Oki: Kakidī) Semi-jiyū kumite: (Irikumi?) Yakusoku (prearranged) kumite: No Kata bunkai (analysis): Yes Match: Kakedameshi (Oki: Kakidamishi)

Yabu Kentsū’s kakede, Miracatu, Brazil, 1948–1951. Collection of the Yabiku family.

As previously mentioned, there was no prearranged kumite. At least none prior to the “karate kumite” for middle school students created by Hanashiro Chōmo in 1905 has been confirmed.

The above is only a summary of kumite in Shuri and Tomari, and the content may vary depending on the era, region, or master, even if the names are the same.

The kakie training of Gōjū-ryū was not transmitted to Tō’on-ryū, and it is not known whether it was brought from China by Higaonna Kanryō or brought back by Miyagi Chōjun from his visit to China. The above-mentioned Monthly Hiden has a feature article on this subject, so those interested should order a copy and read it.

The original English translation was posted on the Ameba blog on July 12, 2022.

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