Ippon Kumite is a one step pre-arranged sparring drill that teaches students proper fighting distance, timing,
kime and conditions the body. In ippon kumite one person is the uke (receiver) and the other nage (attacker). Nage deilvers a single attack that is received and countered by uke. It is the first sparring drill leading to Jiyu Kumite (free sparring).
Yakusoku Kumite is another pre-arranged sparring drill that utilizes longer strings of offensive and defensive techniques in a longer more fluid pattern. The focus is to teach proper fighting distance, timing, body conditioning and kime. Typically the partners will reciprocate both offensive and defensive techniques in turn throughout the exercise.
Jiyu Kumite is what is commonly referred to as sparring. In jiyu kumite the opponents are not fixed in any pre-arranged patterns and are open to attack and defend in any way they chose. For safety purposes rules are often implemented and they can vary greatly depending on the purpose of the kumite. Depending on the practioners level jiyu kumite can include striking, throws, joint locks, ground fighting and multiple attackers. In full contact jiyu kumite "bogu" or pads may be used to lessen the liklihood of injury.
Bunkai or
Tijikun (Okinawan Hogen) are the applications of the kata techniques. LIke other forms of pre-arranged sparring the fighting distance, timing, kime and body conditioning are stressed. Bunkai practice reinforces the practice of the kata by allowing the practitioner to implement the techniques and explore the purpose and how the flow of the kata fits together to form the fighting method that signifies the ryuha.