Jiyu means "freestyle", ippon means "one" and kumite means "the meeting of hands". So, jiyu ippon kumite means "freestyle one-step sparring".

In jiyu ippon kumite, the attacker and the defender assume freestyle sparring stances and are free to move around.

There is no specified distance between the attacker and the defender and both should adjust their distance according to the other’s moves in order to maintain a safe distance like in actual combat.

The attacker will attack when he or she is ready and the defender needs to be ready to defend at any time.

Similar to kihon ippon kumite, there can be only one attack at a time in jiyu ippon kumite and the defender will defend with a blocking or taisabaki technique and follow up with a counter-attack.

There are many more jiyu ipon kumite techniques than kihon ippon kumite and they are also more advanced and include close quarter as well as throwing techniques.

Jiyu ippon kumite builds up from the kihon ippon kumite foundation and includes many techniques from kihon ippon kumite but done in a free fighting stance.