Your Sparring Rules

[NightOwl]

Hm- standard class we have separate standing and ground fighting sparring sessions.

For standing, as soon as someone goes to the ground it is over; for groundwork a sub or 30 second long pin ends things. While I suppose an ippon or sub 'wins', these sparring matches are for resistance training and it doesn't really matter who comes out on top or not (part of the fallacy is that sparring is for sport and not training).

As for actual matches, I've never been in one so I only know the general rules. A throw or takedown is ippon, or point. If there is no clear takedown and things go to the ground, then there is roughly 30 seconds allowed for either a point by 30 second long pin or win by submission. In the past a lot more time was allowed for groundfighting, but the rules were changed to make things more dynamic for the Olympics.

[DWx]

We tend to separate sport and selfdefense. In sport rules you actually get more points for high section and jumping techniques so "non-practical" methods are promoted here. Also hand techniques are limited to just punches in sport rules. Any kick you want can be done but it must be above the belt.

We do have a more relaxed rule set for SD. No pads generally (although headguards if we're on the hard floor). Take-downs, grabs, gouges (no contact here though) allowed.

[NewEnglands_KyoSa]

For sparring in class it is very casual and we wear no gear. No contact for under Black and light(stressed) contact for above black. one's supposed to bow in recognition after recieving a clearly well placed hit . we usually go for like two minute rounds and switch partners about 6-8 times. kicks above the waist, no open hands for under blacks, no spinning back fists for anyone. thats pretty much it though. in class, the rules are pretty much implied, but keep in mind this is the 'adult' class, so everyone here is supposed to be mature in age or high in rank.

[a_ninja]

Well I take shotokan karate and We are not allowed to kick or punch anybody in the face, but we can kick and hit to the side of the head, and we cant target anything below the belt.

[kenpo4life]

No pads, no gloves and daido juku rules apply. Basically the only thing we dont do is strikes the knees and the spine. No spiking on the head during takedowns.All other strikes, including the groin are fair game. All clinches and submissions are allowed

[unknownstyle]

depends on rank, here is a breakdown.

white and blue belts are allowed hard contact to the body. no head at all. shin blocks are usually toned down on white belts.

green belts are allowed hard contact to the body, medium contact to the head, light contact to the groin and we add sweeps at this point.

brown belts are allowed hard body and head contact, medium contact to face and groin. and we add hard leg kicks, takedowns and submission fighting.

at blackbelt hard contact applys to everything, with the exception of the joints and throat. we also focus alot on nerve strikes. at black belt level you also dont wear protective gear of any kind. and the only gear you wear at the other ranks is gloves

[Zanshin]

We have two types of rules / Kumite methods

1. WKF (World Karate Fed.) rules for tournaments that we enter.

2. Dojo Kumite which is "Jiyu" kumite or free/continuous fighting.

Both are great, but for me now, I am getting into the "Jiyu" stuff.

Its a bit like Randori in Aikido.

[mortalflesh]

My club has what we call a "fight night", basically for green belts and up with medium to full contact depending on who's sparing and their comfort level. I tend to disagree on the Green belt and up thing but the argument is that the lower belts don't know enough not to get themselves or someone else hurt...makes sense I guess.

In the very first club I was in many moons ago, it was light contact for lower belt, medium contact for middle levels (green, blue) and heavy contact for higher belts...worked great and was lots of fun.

[Ozpunker]

In sparring it's pretty much limited contact. You don't get hurt too bad but you sure as hell know that you have been hit!! We usually wear foot/shin guards, boxing gloves, groin protectors and mouthguards. Some people opt for the full face helmets. Kicks and punches allowed everywhere. No knees or elbows allowed (Although when I spar with the guy that used to teach me Mauy Thai, we usually throw in a few softs knees)

When it comes to point sparring, We follow ISKA rules.

[marksmarkou]

At my Mauy Thai gym - Full contact to body thighs and head. No Hip type throws no ground grapling.

At my Judo Gym - Throws and ground grapppling. No striking.

At my Karate gym - We use small mits so the contact is not to heavy but basically we spar MMA style, all strikes, grappling, submissions are allowed. except strikes to groin, throat eyes spine and joints. Occasionaly we spar with the sole purpose of staying on our feet, and if we fall we try and get up as quick as possible without wasting time ground fighting. We also spar one against many attackers (manily two, three or sometimes four). Very different to sparring with just one person. kicks are hardly hrown as there is not itme for them, if they are used, its just aimed towards groin, knees etc. Great for reactions and awareness practise.