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Japanese name
Kanji 乱取り
Hiragana らんどり


The exact meaning of randori depends on the martial art it is used in. In judo, jujitsu and Shodokan Aikido, among others, it most often refers to one-on-one sparring where partners attempt to resist and counter each other's techniques. In other styles of aikido, in particular Aikikai, it refers to a form of practice in which a designated aikidoka defends against multiple attackers in quick succession without knowing how they will attack or in what order.

In Japan[edit]

The term is used by Aikido, Judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu dojos outside Japan. In Japan, this form of practice is called taninzu-gake (多人数掛け?), which literally means multiple attackers.

In Judo[edit]


In Tenshin Aikido[edit]

In Steven Seagal's Tenshin Aikido Federation (affiliated with the Aikikai), the randori is different from that of Aikikai—the attackers can do anything to the defender (e.g. punch, grab, kick, etc.),also the randori continues on the ground until a pin.

In Kendo[edit]

In kendo, jigeiko means "friendly" free combat as in competition, but not counting the points.

In Karate[edit]

Although in karate the word kumite is usually reserved for sparring, some schools also employ the term randori with regard to "mock-combat" in which both karateka move very fast, parrying and attempting acts of extreme violence with all four limbs (including knees, elbows, etc.) yet only ever making the slightest contact. Total control of the body is necessary and therefore only the senior grades can typically practice randori. In these schools, the distinction between randori and kumite is that in randori, the action is uninterrupted when a successful technique is applied. (Also known as ju kumite or soft sparring)

In ninjutsu[edit]

Randori is also practiced in Bujinkan ninjutsu and usually represented to the practitioner when he reaches the "Shodan" level. In ninjutsu, randori puts the practitioner in a position where he is armed/unarmed and being attacked by multiple attackers.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Original text of this speech available at The Judo Information Site at http://judoinfo.com/kano1.htm

External links[edit]