Sai-Jutsu Kumite

釵術   組手

Sai-Jutsu (or 釵術 in Japanese) includes the fighting techniques ( 術 Jutsu ) with the Sai dagger ( 釵 Sai ) according to Ryukyu Kobujutsu. Next, Kumite (or 組手 in Japanese) – literally ‘grappling hands’ – means practicing with an opponent.

Ippon-Kumite     Renzoku-Kumite     Sogo-Kumite


Ippon-Kumite   |   一本 組手

Ippon-Kumite (or 一本 組手 in Japanese) means ‘one step sparring’. Typically, this involves a standard way of responding to a single attack technique. In the video embedded below (recorded on 9 October 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national champion from the Netherlands, performs the following nine basic one-step-sparring sequences for defending with the Sai:

  1. Hiraki-Uke (Honte-Mochi) [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  2. Soto-Uke (Honte-Mochi) [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  3. Nagashi-Jodan-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  4. Nagashi-Uchi-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  5. Ippon-Dachi Gedan-Uke (Honte-Mochi) [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Gedan]
  6. Nagashi-Gedan-Uke (Honte-Mochi) [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Gedan]
  7. Jodan-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  8. Uchi-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  9. Gedan-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Gedan]


Renzoku-Kumite   |   連続 組手

Renzoku (or 連続 in Japanese) means ‘continuous’, and Kumite (or 組手 in Japanese) can loosely be translated as ‘fighting’. Combined, Renzoku-Kumite is a continuous drill of blocks and attacks with a sparring partner. The purpose of this form of exercise is to develop confidence, timing, and distancing with an opponent. This is for reaching greater progress in training and technical control. In the video embedded below (recorded on 6 November 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp performs the basic continuous drill sequence for the Sai:

Step Seme Uke
1 Jodan-Uchi Hiraki-Uke (Honte-Mochi) + Jodan-Uchi (Honte-Mochi)
2 Nakae-Uke + Maede-Tsuki Chudan Ippon-Dachi Gedan-Uke (Honte-Mochi)
3 Jodan-Uchi Soto-Uke (Honte-Mochi) + Kaeshi-Uchi (Honte-Mochi)
4 Soto-Uke Jodan-Uchi (Honte-Mochi)
5 Nakae-Uke + Gedan-Tsuki Gedan-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi)
6 Yoko-Uchi Uchi-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) + Gyaku-Tsuki (Gyakute-Mochi)
7 Osae-Uke Osae-Uke (Gyakute-Mochi) + Gyaku-Tsuki (Honte-Mochi)


Sogo-Kumite   |   綜合 組手

‘Sogo’ (or 綜合 in Japanese; sōgō) means ‘composite’, ‘synthesis’, ‘integration’, or ‘putting together’. It has become customed to translate these forms of Kumite as ‘comprehensive’. In the video embedded below (recorded on 29 July 2024), budoka Johan Oldenkamp the five comprehensive staff fighting sequences for the Sai:



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