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Level of Difficulty: 2nd Kyu and Above - Sr. Brown Belt
Randori-Ni Kumite is taught to the intermediate/advanced Yukyusha Budoka after they have consolidated the intermediate techniques and material. As mentioned earlier, before moving on to the Randori Kumites some Sensei like to review all the technical material at the 10th through 5th Kyu levels in order to provide another chance to consolidate the material. Before learning Randori-Ni Kumite many Sensei have the student learn Sankakutobi Shodan Ichi Kumite first. This was the practice of Shihan Wayne Donivan of the Kentokukan school of Shorinjiryu.
Many students at this level are now becoming very comfortable with the basics and their relationship to form and bunkai (application). Of course, students must make sure that as they continue to learn the higher material that they continually refreash the junior materal so that they can call it back when needed. Naturally, any junior material is now performed with the confidence and technical maturity of this higher level of training. When returning back to review the older material students will see that they are able to perform some techniques, that previously gave them problems, with much more fluidity.
Randori-Ni Kumite is generally taught when the student is either learning Naihanchin Ichi Kata or Koshiki Bassai Kata. This level also often preceeds a full review of all the Yukyusha (color belt) material in preparation for the Shodan exam. Thus, if the student has been diligent in performing the ongoing review of the junior material while attending to the previous levels of study then he/she is in a good position to pass through the general review much quicker. Necessarily, if the student has not been diligent in the ongoing review at each level than the subsequent review level will be difficult and much time will be spent to re-learn past material that has been forgotten. There is no other way around the general review level. However, not all Sensei include a general review level at 1st Kyu. Many Sensei assume that their students have been maintaining the material from earlier levels and simply follow through the curriculum and begin to prepare for the Shodan exam. So students must make sure they undersand their own syllabus and prepare for the oncoming review if there is or isn't one.
Randori-Ni Kumite builds on the lessons of the Randoi-Go kumite and takes those lessons to the next level. It further emphasizes the light footed approach to Budo that is the hallmark of all Shorinjiryu schools. It also introduces the concept of sweeping foot movements which is shown in one of the opening movements of the Kumite which is meant to unbalance the attacker. In like fashion, the kumite teaches a sliding escape form evidence at the mid-point of the Kumite performed by Shihan Henderson.
More importantly, Randori-Ni teaches the student how to evade an oncoming attack not by hard blocking or escaping completely out of the way but rather by moving into the vortex of the technique. This is evidenced near the end of the Kumite during the roundhouse and back roundhouse exchange. If you look closely you will notice that both the offensive and defensive sides lean into the attack and block the oncoming movement below the apex of the technique. This is the same mentality or thought process that mentions that it is often calm at the center of the tournado. That is, when evading a technique the budoka has two options: 1. escape away and let the technique pass by, or 2. move in and avoid the technique by jamming the attacker or positioning yourself in the dead zone (shikaku). Randori-Ni teaches the student how to move into the Shikaku and obtain superior positioning. Further, by positioning oneself in the shikaku and evading the main thrust of the technique the defender also places themselves in a position where they may execute a sweeping or throwing technique. This is the philosophy of many of the techniques found in the study of Aikido. In fact, this Kumite has a variation where the last technique is a take down by way of a throw and is very dynamic. This variation is usually taught to students at the Shodan or Nidan level once they have consolidated the throwing forms routine (Nage Waza) and understand the concets of the 3rd leg and the basic tenkan movement of Aikido.
Like Randori-Go Kumite this Kumite also allows the student to execute several combination techniques in sequence enabling the player to switch back and forth from offense to defense something that was limited in previously studied kumites. As well, Randori-Ni Kumite also reinforces the ever present Shorinjiryu triangle step.
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Randori-Ni Kumite
The other very important point that all students should understand in this kumite which helps it to stand out from the junior material is the twist punch exchange that occurs 60%-75% through the sequence. Here, we see Shihan York begin the exchange while Shihan Henderson blocks the attack. The punching then switches back and forth for a total of 3 exchanges. The important thing to notice is the footwork. As you can see, both Shihan Henderson and Shihan York are performing the step in twist punch. This is the twist punch technique that is utilized or is perfomred while completing a cat step. It is primarily used whenever you wish to make up distance while performing a twist punch. The exercise included in this kumite has the players switch back and forth so that the lesson of the movement is completely understood from a bio-mechanical standpoint. This is an essential lesson of this kumite and the student should ask their Sensei specifically about this dynamic and swift exchange.
At this level of study the movements of the student should be fluid and there should no longer be any pauses or unnatural hesitations. Moreover, this fluidity will be reinforced in the upcoming review stage. If the student feels that the swifter movement has not developed then they must go back to the earlier material and focus again and review all the Yakusoku Kumite forms.
Above you see Shihan Henderson and Shihan York performing Randori-Ni Kumite including the proper entrance along with the proper bowing form. Notice that both the formal bow and fighting bow are performed. Also notice that there is an offensive and defensive side to the kumite, as with all kumites, and that the offensive side (Shihan York) moves forward while the defensive side (Shihan Henderson) moves back. At the end of the Kumite, the footing is reversed so that the players are positioned roughly in the same position from where they began. This is an important element in the correct performance of Kumite practice. Also notice that the Kumite starts off in a Cat Stance and should end in a Cat Stance position.
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