Kumite

Oi-zuki

Stepping punch

Long-range punch delivered with the lead step — common entry scoring tool.

• Step and punch finish together
• Hips drive the hand; shoulder stays down
• Recover guard immediately after contact

Gyaku-zuki

Reverse punch

Rear-hand punch — the classic counter after a kick or slip.

• Rear heel drives rotation
• Ideal after mae-geri or a missed attack
• Keep chin tucked and front hand covering

Mae-geri

Front kick

Straight front kick to the midsection — fast, linear, hard to see early.

• Knee chambers high before the snap
• Strike with the ball of the foot
• Retract quickly to avoid a catch

Mawashi-geri

Roundhouse kick

Circular kick to body or head — high reward when timed on an open guard.

• Pivot the standing foot for hip turn
• Target the side of the gi / head gear area
• Do not telegraph with a big wind-up

Yoko-geri

Side kick

Sideways thrusting kick — strong for creating distance or body scores.

• Chamber across the body, then thrust
• Heel or blade of the foot depending on style drills
• Keep the supporting leg bent for balance

Ushiro-geri

Back kick

Spinning or turning back kick — surprise weapon when the opponent over-commits.

• Look over the shoulder before the thrust
• Keep the path linear to the target
• Land ready to follow with gyaku-zuki

Yuko

One-point score — typically a clean mid-level punch or equivalent.

• Clean technique, good distance, and control
• Often awarded for chudan punches
• Demo scoring only — check your event’s sheet

Waza-ari

Two-point score — commonly a chudan kick delivered with form and timing.

• Body kicks with clear impact and recovery
• Must show balance after the kick
• Demo naming — local leagues may vary

Ippon

Three-point score — typically a jodan kick or a decisive throwing-linked score.

• Head-level kicks need exceptional control
• Highest value single technique in many formats
• Never sacrifice safety for an ippon attempt

Aka / Ao

Red (aka) and blue (ao) corners — colours identify each athlete on the tatami.

• Aka usually starts on the referee’s right (confirm locally)
• Mitts, belts, or sashes match the corner colour
• Scoreboards and calls use aka/ao, not names

Senshu

First unscored lead — the athlete who opens the scoring may hold senshu.

• Used as a tie-break in many competition formats
• Displayed on the scoreboard after the first score
• Exact rules differ by organiser — treat this as a primer