Yakusoku Kumite Forms
Karate technique
約束組手
- Type
- Forms, kata and routines
- Martial arts
- Karate
In karate, yakusoku kumite (from Japanese 約束 yakusoku 'promise' Kumite 組 手 'grappling hands') is the group of pre-arranged karate sparring forms that are designated to equip the practitioner with the essential skills required to perform any of the jiyu 自由 ('free') Kumite sparring forms. When an extreme sporting application of jiyu kumite, such as in a full contact mixed martial arts contest, is the exclusive training focus of the participant, then the practice of the more basic forms of yakusoku kumite tend to be neglected. However, traditional karate organisations such as Shotokan Karate Union and Shotokan Karate-do International Federation, Japan Karate Association that follow the budo form of jiyu kumite incorporate the yakusoku kumite forms within their grading syllabus.
Other Karate forms, kata and routines
- Anaku
- Passai
- Pinan
- Ansan
- Heian Godan
- Heian Nidan
- Heian Sandan
- Heian Yondan
- Heian Shodan
- Seiryu
- Shisochin
- Taikyoku
- Wankan
Japanese terms for forms, kata and routines
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 三戦 | sanchin | sanchin; fundamental karate kata focusing on breathing, stability, and body hardening |
| 徳俵 | tokudawara | 4 bales on the edge of the ring set slightly back |
| 套路 | touro | taolu (Chinese martial arts forms); martial arts routine |
| 五形拳 | gokeiken | Wu Xing Fist; Five Form Fist (Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Crane, Leopard) |
| 形稽古 | katageiko | form refinement training |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q19841066 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.