Kumite Karate in the early days was employed fighting actual armed enemies and in itself a deadly weapon. In recent years, sparring was made possible as the concept of delivering a technique to the opponent requires just short of contact, was developed and recognised. During sparring sessions, there must be mutual trust between partners that, where any attack that targets a vital point, is forbidden. This is also said to be the 'morality' of Japanese martial arts. Example of a One-Step Sparring (Ippon Kumite)     The attacker (Left) in Zenkutsu Dachi stance readying for Upper Punch (Jodan Zuki) The defender (right) executes an Upper Block (Age Uke) ....and followss up with a middle punch (Chudan Zuki) Sparring can be can defined into two groups. One, free/simple sparring where partners spar freely with each other, and yakusoku kumite (pre-arranged sparring). In pre-arranged sparring, pairs of students are instructed to carry out clearly defined offensive or defensive techniques. With repetitive rehearsed sparring movements, pre-arranged sparring is designed to improve timing, rhythm and judgement of fighting distance. Karate students practising free sparring Free sparring is a completely free form of sparring in which the movements of both opponents are not pre-arranged. Sparring may resemble boxing, except that the attacks are pulled just short of contact. Free sparring is not encouraged until a Karate student has a firm grasp of the basics, a high level of fitness, and has been practising pre-arranged sparring with good focus and control. The actual free-sparring is one of watchful, relaxed alertness with a free exchange of blows, blocks and counters until one of the players gets in with a focused attack at an opening of his opponent.