The importance of Kumi Kata

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The definition of Kumi Kata is grip fighting. By grip fighting it is meant to take a grip that will provide you with advantage over your opponent, but also to not let your opponent take is comfortable grip.

The reason a fighter needs to take his grip of his opponent is because without the grip he cannot throw. He cannot perform any effective attack without a grip.

With the new rules where you’re not allowed to grab legs, players fight more up-right, less fearing of counter attacks. All leg grabbing counter attacks can be performed AFTER the attack is on, which in many cases would be too late…A good grip will assist in blocking attacks, but most important, will assist in enabling you to attack!

There are many examples of effective grip fighting but the best is the Atlanta Olympic final -78Kg (Koga Vs Bouras). Koga, who’s a master of grip fighting and knows to adjust his grip for right handed fighters and left handed fighters, lost in the final to Bouras, who had a great grip strategy to not let Koga grab his lapel or his left sleeve. Every time Koga went for the lapel, Bouras moved back, using his grip and long arms to stop Koga, and every time Koga was going for the left sleeve, Bouras would go for the cross-guard grip over Koga’s left shoulder. Bouras did not manage to throw Koga, and realistically, not even jeopardise Koga, but he stopped Koga from attacking, which eventually led to his victory by referees decision. Bouras has developed his strategy after losing to Koga in the previous year in the semi-final of the World Championship, where Koga managed to take his grip and threw Bouras with a beautiful Sode Tsuri Komi Goshi.

For the full length video of this fight: Koga Vs Bouras – 1996 Olympic Final, -78Kg

Another important part of Kumi Kata is the movement. Bouras, in the fight above, was moving all the time, not standing for one second, as Koga, eventually would have taken his grip and performed one of his famous effective attacks. So while taking your Kumi Kata, it is also important to move your opponent to create an opportunity for an attack, while preventing him from taking his preferred Kumi Kata.

For conclusion, fight for your grip! When you’re facing a strong opponent, do not succumb to his grip. Move, create space, break his grip, and take your grip while moving to create opportunities for yourself.

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