SKDIA are one of the only Full Contact Shotokan organizations around.

Kumite means "meeting of hands." In karate, the term is translated as "sparring." Sparring is any form of combat training with a partner. Kumite is the only facet of karate that requires a partner to practice with.

Beginner and intermediate students usually train Sanbon-kumite or Yakusoku-kumite "sparring with announcement." In this type of kumite, the attacker announces what the attack and target will be. The defender must then block or evade the attack and launch an effective counter-attack. Contact is generally not permitted in yakusoku-kumite, at least not for beginners. The idea is to make contact with the other's karategi, or uniform, not the actual body.

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Advanced karateka practice Jiyu-kumite, or "freestyle sparring." In this type of sparring, attacks and combinations are thrown at will by both partners, without announcement. Jiyu-kumite can be controlled contact, light contact or full contact depending on rank. Usually the lower rank will set the contact amount.