Sparring

[Ali]

Keep your hand high~~~~

 

I do sparring yesterday and hurt by a left hook

[Guy_Who_Fights]

I agree, mai tai. Pros can be equally bad for dropping that hand.

[baronbvp]

Good point, mai tai. Work on the stuff you're not good at against a weak opponent.

Also, if you are trying to practice a specific thing, then ask your sparring partner to indulge you. For instance, if you want to to practice keeping your guard hand up while you punch, have them do what Guy Who Fights said -- punch you each time you drop it. If you want to work on defense-offense-defense, have your opponent strike-defend-strike against you. Then return the favor.

It's amazing what you can learn when you focus on a specific area, instead of going all out every time.

Last, fight people who are better than you. (You will for awhile anyway). Have them tell you what they see you doing right and wrong while you are actually fighting them. Talking while fighting also forces you to B-R-E-A-T-H-E.

[faith driven]

at your level the best way to become effective at sparring is to be a real defensive fighter. Do this by keeping the basics in mind, hands up, don't focus on one part of your opponent. Stay controlled and wait for your opponent to make a mistake then exploit it.

one mans failure is anothers success

[SevenStar]

I disagree. Don't only be defensive - you will not learn that way. sparring is not a ring fight - it's merely another training tool. And you know the old addage - you fight how you train. if you are too busy focusing all of your effort on not getting hit, you will never really attack back properly. Not only that, but as I said, sparring isn't about winning of losing, but rather it's about learning. you need to try your new strategies and techniques you learn there. If you don't, you will see that later in your career, you will have trouble advancing because you really can't incorporate anything new - you are too focused on trying to win.

just relax, stay focused, have fun and keep your hands up. you will get better over time.

faith driven, where in tn are you?

[karategirl06]

Keep your hands up, use combos, stay on ur feet, ect. Just keep practicing!! Sparring is the best thing in karate there is!

[Mr Pockets]

Get in, do your combos, then get back out. (Of range, that is.)