Once gohon or sanbon kumite has been studied, practiced and tested, it’s time to move on to the next shotokan sparring exercise. Shotokan’s next sparring exercise is kihon-ippon kumite (basic one-step sparring). Kihon-ippon kumite is generally practised by karateka that have reached the rank of 7th kyu. This sparring is practiced extensively from 7th kyu to 3rd kyu. Hopefully, timing, distance, speed, etc, are starting to develop and improve in the karateka. As can be seen from the translation, this sparring is referred to as, ‘one step sparring’. The attacker and defender should always be trying to deliver 'Ikken Hisatsu' (finishing blow or to kill with one blow).

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