ISKA CONTINUOUS SPARRING

[Mike1969]

OK, In my recent posts, I discussed how I have been looking for a new Karate school/style. Now, I'm positive I know what i want to accomplish. ISKA continuous sparring is what I want to compete in. What style Martial Arts would be best to prepare me for this type of competition? I'm guessing Taekwondo, however head punches are allowed in ISKA and I already have a strong Kickboxing background in my current school, plus it looks like everyone wear TKD gear in ISKA and I wear boxing/kickboxing gear. If anyone has done any continuous sparring, please shed some light. Thanks

[Harkon72]

Maybe a modern karate style like Wado Ryu or Shukokai would do the trick. Or maybe a Chinese based style like Lau Gar, they do continuous sparring.

[maisweh]

its not the style, its the school. you want to do continuous sparring, you should find a school with people who compete in the league you want to compete in. i very, very highly doubt that a traditional school like you mention will do well in ISKA continuous sparring.

[Mike1969]

its not the style, its the school. you want to do continuous sparring, you should find a school with people who compete in the league you want to compete in.

Well that makes sense, I just never thought about it. thanks

[bushido_man96]

That's solid advise. TKD, if its Olympic style, is good for continuous sparring; they usually fight 3 rounds, 3 minutes each. Something more along the lines of Boxing or Kickboxing might suit you better, though, training for more rounds.

What are the rules and regs of this ISKA "continuous" sparring?

[maisweh]

Light Contact Sparring in a Continuous Manner. Under no circumstances should light contact continuous Sparring simulate full contact kickboxing.

per rules on the US Open website.

keep in mind that these people arent very "good" as we would think, but thats continuous sparring. sport karate school should do the trick.

[AdamKralic]

Well this is NASKA. They do both continuous and point sparring in competition.

It's karate basically. In my neck of the woods these style tournaments are the vast majority of events. Kung fu fighters compete, Tae Kwon Do fighters compete in them...karate fighters compete in them.

I do agree that the previous example by the poster above myself was a bad example of what to expect. Those fighters were horrible. Slow, no defense, stood there and just traded.

My example is more like what one could expect from good fighters. VERY fast. Lots of counter attacks. Foot work is actually crucial as opposed to optional.

Edited June 19, 2013 by AdamKralic

[AdamKralic]

I love this fight as a lesson in reverse punches and efficiency.

[maisweh]

adam, thats a good example of ippon kumite, looks like WKF or AAU. i dont think any of the good high level point fighters in NASKA do continuous because it doesnt pay and each tournament is different and they dont follow points like they do in point sparring.

this

this is a good rule of thumb if you plan on doing it.

not to get your hopes down, but i strongly suggest finding a good sport school if you plan on doing that type of competition. most schools who say they "can" teach that to you and dont compete on a regular basis are normally outclassed in tournaments.

this and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej3iQSUj7Y4

[AdamKralic]

I liked that first linked fight...nice example. The continuous tournaments in NASKA count points. Basically it's who gets the most points in 2 minutes/3 minutes...whatever.

I've seen tournaments with a WIDE variety in scoring/rules. But yes generally there are far more point sparring matches than there are continuous point matches.

Also agree on finding a school that regularly competes in such events. At the very least you'd need a school that has a traveling team. (though in my experience this is a double edged sword) On one hand the sparring training the school gives you is good basic technique...but it is different than the training one gets with the traveling team. To get on the traveling team you have to stand out...but to do that? You have to spend a lot of time on techniques that the traveling team will "beat out of you" quickly.

Most specifically guard stances. You simply cannot get away with a stance that shows "two boobs" (my terminology is visual...sorry) You need a perfectly sideways "one boob" stance. Whereas in the regular classes most students are 1.5 - 1.75 boobs. The guard of the hands is different too. Regular class? Similar to boxing guard. Traveling team? Lead arm is extended almost straight out with the rear arm guarding the solar plexus.

Then there is the fighting itself. Regualr class seems to teach a "jousting" technique. (two fighters advancing straight at each other) Traveling team uses angles and circular movement.

So...just a head's up as to what I'd look for in determining if the school taught techniques that will keep you alive against a guy that can slide kick across a ring fast in a tournament setting.