sparring in hung-gar kung-fu is it a good idea?

[Ninjitsu]

Well I don't think its safe using most of the Animal set in sparring. Unless you wanna rip out someones jugular, then by all means go ahead.

[KF Dude]

GTF - I've been practicing for awhile. Hung-Ga is heavy on theory & principles not so much on specific tactics. No technique is writen in stone. Movement can be altered or changed depending upon the situation - even the inherently dangerous ones.

Here's an example using different arts. An Aikido or Judo martial artist altering the angle of a throw that prevents the opponent from rolling out & has them land on thier neck. Both systems are known for 'gentle' techniques but could be modified to become 'too dangerous' to spar with.

I look at sparring as another training tool. I pick one maybe two techniques & run only them during the entire session. I find it helps instil confidence in a tech when you can successfully pull it off on your uncooperative partner who knows exactly what you are going to do. Who wins is irrelvant, I'd rather get taken down in the school than outside on the street.

Different lineages have different spellings.

Ninjitsu - Animal techs are no different from any another. Read above.

[GTF]

KF dude how long did you train before you started sparring because it may be the case that we only sparr at a certain level for example there are no black belts in my class so we may only start after black belt level, this would explane why i dont see any one ever doing sparring, just a thought.

also do you sparr in your regular classes or do you do it seperately for example with friends from your club at home or something, but i can imagine that expert supervision is important when sparring with any martial art.

i am going to my hung-gar class tonight so i could ask my intructor in more detail about this subject.

i also found out from another topic on this web-site that there is sparring using weapons have you ever done this before.

thanks again for your coments.

P.S was sparring something that you can decide to do or is it part of the cilibus.

[KF Dude]

gtf- I started to spar with 6 months worth of training. I was horrible. I used name it beating class because that's what I took. Nothing was done to me with malcious intent just on recieving end of a properly executed technique, even with broken power it still hurt. With time & correct training I got better, no secrets just daily practice. My progression went something like this:

-beating

-block then receive counter beating

-block no beating then counter attack

-attack then receive counter beating

-attack then coutner opponents counter - no beating

-attack finally I'm the one giving the beating

Spar classes are held weekly. It's not forced, only those who are interested participate. Informal bouts happen during open floor nights. We also do weapons sparring subsituting edged weapons with rattan sticks & poles. Since there's a high level of trust & respect through out the school we police ourselves when it comes to sparring. Sifu is always observing giving well heeded advice or instruction. The beginners have strict rules in place do to the lack of control.

[GTF]

i asked my sifu about sparring last night and he said that he does'nt like to use sparring in hung-gar but he uses it alot in wing-chun and karate so it looks like in the foreseable future i will not get to sparr with hung-gar but i am giving serious consideration to starting karate as well as hung-gar when i get to around my yellow belt because karate seems to resemble hung-gar.

he did say that we will do alot of training involving pads and things just that i havnt seen this because i am new so at least we will get the oppertunity to do some things at full speed and power which may be slightly more realistic.

one point my sifu did make and he aplaid this to all martial arts is that sparring is not totaly the same as being in a real fight because there are rules and no one has hidden weapons and there is protective gear etc.

also can sparring in one martial art make you any better at using the techniques in another because i supose that it will still improve one's relexas because this is one of the reasons that i may take karate as well.

[elbows_and_knees]

he did say that we will do alot of training involving pads and things just that i havnt seen this because i am new so at least we will get the oppertunity to do some things at full speed and power which may be slightly more realistic.

but pads don't hit back. there is a difference between hitting something full speed and hitting SOMEONE full force who is resisting, doesn't want to be hit and is trying to hit you back.

one point my sifu did make and he aplaid this to all martial arts is that sparring is not totaly the same as being in a real fight because there are rules and no one has hidden weapons and there is protective gear etc.

This is true. But on that same token, do you really think that hitting a pad is the same as being in a real fight? Do you think that walking through your drills with a partner is the same as being in a real fight? The people who always say "sparring isn't the same as a real fight" always seem to overlook the fact that what they are doing really isn't that realistic either.

also can sparring in one martial art make you any better at using the techniques in another because i supose that it will still improve one's relexas because this is one of the reasons that i may take karate as well.

It can. principles are the same across several styles.

[Adonis]

focus pad training, heavy bag training, light sparring, and full contact sparring are all great training tools to develop your ability. so is scenerio trianing and stress adrinline training.

[Adonis]

focus pad training, heavy bag training, light sparring, and full contact sparring are all great training tools to develop your ability. so is scenerio trianing and stress adrinline training.

[elbows_and_knees]

I agree. but that doesn't convey the same feeling of carrying out the technique on a person. the feel, the timing, the force necessary, etc.

[GTF]

elbows_and_knees as you said that sparring in one martial art can help with another i will take up karate soon as well. thanks for your coment.