What I learned today

[y2_sub]

We had a training session today , at the end of the session , I was sparring with another black belt infront of all the class , after 3 minutes or so , the other guy told sensei that he is tired and couldn't fight anymore , sensei told me to take it easy on him which i did , and then that guy connected with a real hard kick to the head , I managed to avoid it by leaning backword ( cause i lowerd my guard earlier) any way that was a cheap move , he just wanted to k.o. me in front of sensei and the class !!!

I WILL NEVER EVER TAKE IT EASY ON ANYONE ANYMORE

[niel0092]

That stinks man. I guess I'd say be sure to keep your guard up but if sensei says go easy just dont clock him too hard. If he cracks you like that again give him a little love tap back, he'll get the message

[jnpnshr411]

you should've knocked him down after that dirty move. Then he would learn and your sensei would understand.

[White Warlock]

Not keen with that latter bit of advice. Probably better to have requested him and your teacher to talk through this 'exploit' of trust.

And once again, i refer to this article:

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=12255

Yes, i'm shameless.

[jnpnshr411]

wow that is a wonderful article and makes a good point White Warlock. I see sparring this way- If you are hitting softly and arent trying to knock the wind out of me with every blow then I will return the same. But If someone wants to hurt me ( hard kick to the head) then I find it justified to return the same treatment.

Edited August 11, 2005 by jnpnshr411

[MasterH]

We had a training session today , at the end of the session , I was sparring with another black belt infront of all the class , after 3 minutes or so , the other guy told sensei that he is tired and couldn't fight anymore , sensei told me to take it easy on him which i did , and then that guy connected with a real hard kick to the head , I managed to avoid it by leaning backword ( cause i lowerd my guard earlier) any way that was a cheap move , he just wanted to k.o. me in front of sensei and the class !!!

I WILL NEVER EVER TAKE IT EASY ON ANYONE ANYMORE

Live and learn, you can take it easy but never let down your guard.

[monkeygirl]

Ditto, MasterH. The phrase "taking it easy" can actually be misleading...there's actually a bit of a fine art to "taking it easy" on a sparring partner. For so much of our training we have been the lower ranked students, "entitling" us (or so we think) to fight with everything we have, in accordance with the dojo's rules of course. However, there comes eventually a time when you have to step back and lower the level. Whether it's because you're fighting a lower rank, or a very young person, or someone who is obviously tired. It's irresponsible and immoral to take advantage of their weakened state embarrass/injure them. Usually you are in this position because you are the higher rank. Simply giving your opponent a shameless beating helps nobody's training: they learn nothing by being pounded ruthlessly, and you learn nothing from an easy fight. On the other hand, if you just stand there and pace/"let them beat you", you're not only embarrassing them, neither of you learns anything. In a practice situation, you must always fight at the weaker (whether physically or in lower rank/skill) opponent's level. Generally, instructors have the right to raise the level of the fight a notch or two when they see fit, and this is usually during testing, or to challenge a worthy student to push themselves harder. Like I said, it's a bit of a fine art.

Still, what that guy did sounds pretty cheap. It may have been an accident, albeit a reckless one. Sometimes when people are tired they end up throwing sloppy technique with ill-placed power behind it. As a matter of fact, that's how my right orbital was fractured over three years ago (can't believe it's been that long!).

Anyway, you should have a nice calm talk to your Sensei and express your concern about the situation. If the guy truly is looking for a cheap k.o. (for whatever reason), he could be a danger to the other students as well.

good luck

[White Warlock]

Good points MonkeyGirl

[MasterH]

Ditto, MasterH. The phrase "taking it easy" can actually be misleading...there's actually a bit of a fine art to "taking it easy" on a sparring partner. For so much of our training we have been the lower ranked students, "entitling" us (or so we think) to fight with everything we have, in accordance with the dojo's rules of course. However, there comes eventually a time when you have to step back and lower the level. Whether it's because you're fighting a lower rank, or a very young person, or someone who is obviously tired. It's irresponsible and immoral to take advantage of their weakened state embarrass/injure them. Usually you are in this position because you are the higher rank. Simply giving your opponent a shameless beating helps nobody's training: they learn nothing by being pounded ruthlessly, and you learn nothing from an easy fight. On the other hand, if you just stand there and pace/"let them beat you", you're not only embarrassing them, neither of you learns anything. In a practice situation, you must always fight at the weaker (whether physically or in lower rank/skill) opponent's level. Generally, instructors have the right to raise the level of the fight a notch or two when they see fit, and this is usually during testing, or to challenge a worthy student to push themselves harder. Like I said, it's a bit of a fine art.

Still, what that guy did sounds pretty cheap. It may have been an accident, albeit a reckless one. Sometimes when people are tired they end up throwing sloppy technique with ill-placed power behind it. As a matter of fact, that's how my right orbital was fractured over three years ago (can't believe it's been that long!).

Anyway, you should have a nice calm talk to your Sensei and express your concern about the situation. If the guy truly is looking for a cheap k.o. (for whatever reason), he could be a danger to the other students as well.

good luck

Kind of reminds me of an intermediate level (Green Belt) male about 18 to 40 years old, got the guts - can throw a punch or kick, but has no control, don't cream him but take it easy.

[Adonis]

sparring should be about learning and getting better not ego and hurting your training partner. So those cheap shots are very uncalled for.