"Sparring" .... my new world

[sensei8]

I felt this was the place to put this! Sparring at my school is something that is called "continuous sparring"! We don't do sport or "point sparring". Sometimes I wish we did because it gets rough which I hate, but it is more relevant for self defense.

This is a sparring session from black belt testing. The first matchup is with a guy with a broken toe (black head gear) and the second matchup, the big guy just turned 15 a few days ago, he huge. He's also got autism, so that why he responded the way he did when he was struck in the throat! Video here... http://youtu.be/h85lwpfF-3w. Just uploaded it today, testing was a few days ago.

A blind side spinning back fist? Ouch. Need to know, by sight, where the spinning back fist is going at all times.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Practice practice practice is all i can say about it. I've done karate for 13 years and kumite for 12 of them and I have done plenty of it over the years.

Don't expect to be great at it straight away, you'll develop the skills as you get more time on the mat doing it.

Like others have said you shouldn't focus on winning or losing, focus on getting better at it and learning different techniques/combinations and have different ways of fighting. Which develops over time.

[AdamKralic]

lots of great advice here.

It can never be said enough: spar more.

Don't even worry about anything at first. Just do more of it. Pain is the most wonderful motivation. You will take a hard shot or a dozen You will not want to keep taking shots. You will learn how to decrease the chances of your opponent landing hard shots. You just will. That is why we feel pain.

I am perhaps overly fond of side kicks...but they are a great tool imho to avoid pain. Useful both in offense and defense...defensively is where imo one "gets" their usefulness first. A well timed defensive sidekick to the solar plexus of an overly aggressive opponent will make said opponent less aggressive.

Foot work is another crucial "technique" Probably the most crucial. Footwork is one of those easy to understand...lifetime to master type deals. But you just need better footwork than the guy across from you really!

Drink lots of water. Hydration is key.

Enjoy yourself.

[Safroot]

Practice practice practice is all i can say about it. I've done karate for 13 years and kumite for 12 of them and I have done plenty of it over the years.

Don't expect to be great at it straight away, you'll develop the skills as you get more time on the mat doing it.

Like others have said you shouldn't focus on winning or losing, focus on getting better at it and learning different techniques/combinations and have different ways of fighting. Which develops over time.

yes PRACTICE is the answer

[Safroot]

lots of great advice here.

It can never be said enough: spar more.

Don't even worry about anything at first. Just do more of it. Pain is the most wonderful motivation. You will take a hard shot or a dozen You will not want to keep taking shots. You will learn how to decrease the chances of your opponent landing hard shots. You just will. That is why we feel pain.

I am perhaps overly fond of side kicks...but they are a great tool imho to avoid pain. Useful both in offense and defense...defensively is where imo one "gets" their usefulness first. A well timed defensive sidekick to the solar plexus of an overly aggressive opponent will make said opponent less aggressive.

Foot work is another crucial "technique" Probably the most crucial. Footwork is one of those easy to understand...lifetime to master type deals. But you just need better footwork than the guy across from you really!

Drink lots of water. Hydration is key.

Enjoy yourself.

That's great advice ... I wanna concentrate and develop my foot work more , any advice regarding this ?!!!

Hydration is a new info for me ... sure I will take it in to consideration

[AdamKralic]

lots of great advice here.

It can never be said enough: spar more.

Don't even worry about anything at first. Just do more of it. Pain is the most wonderful motivation. You will take a hard shot or a dozen You will not want to keep taking shots. You will learn how to decrease the chances of your opponent landing hard shots. You just will. That is why we feel pain.

I am perhaps overly fond of side kicks...but they are a great tool imho to avoid pain. Useful both in offense and defense...defensively is where imo one "gets" their usefulness first. A well timed defensive sidekick to the solar plexus of an overly aggressive opponent will make said opponent less aggressive.

Foot work is another crucial "technique" Probably the most crucial. Footwork is one of those easy to understand...lifetime to master type deals. But you just need better footwork than the guy across from you really!

Drink lots of water. Hydration is key.

Enjoy yourself.

That's great advice ... I wanna concentrate and develop my foot work more , any advice regarding this ?!!!

Hydration is a new info for me ... sure I will take it in to consideration

Hydration 1/2 way through an intense workout will give a large energy boost...the opposite applies if you do not stay hydrated.

As to footwork: It is a MASSIVE subject. People have given you footwork tips in this thread that I'll second (or third)

1. Do not take more than 2 steps backwards. A person retreating straight back WILL get hit by an aggressive opponent. I can prove it to you now. Who runs faster? Guy A who is running backwards...or guy B who is running the normal forwards way? B of course. It's not close. You cannot run backwards to avoid attacks. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

2. Move left or right. This is best as you do not need to take a lot of steps left or right...just one good one at the right time. You will then still be close...close enough to counter attack.

3. Circular movement. Not as good as #2...but pretty safe. If you get up in a fight...circle around an opponent in the direction of their back. That is the side/angle that they will have the fewest offensive options on. Also useful if you just need a bit of time to collect your thoughts...to slow down an opponent...etc. You can attack off of this movement...if for example they do not keep up and you see a good slice of their back...blitz it. (the side of the head...not the back as that is illegal in most dojos from what I know)

There is way too much to cover or to even be useful to yourself to type here. You would not remember it all...footwork takes time.

[Safroot]

Hydration 1/2 way through an intense workout will give a large energy boost...the opposite applies if you do not stay hydrated.

As to footwork: It is a MASSIVE subject. People have given you footwork tips in this thread that I'll second (or third)

1. Do not take more than 2 steps backwards. A person retreating straight back WILL get hit by an aggressive opponent. I can prove it to you now. Who runs faster? Guy A who is running backwards...or guy B who is running the normal forwards way? B of course. It's not close. You cannot run backwards to avoid attacks. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

2. Move left or right. This is best as you do not need to take a lot of steps left or right...just one good one at the right time. You will then still be close...close enough to counter attack.

3. Circular movement. Not as good as #2...but pretty safe. If you get up in a fight...circle around an opponent in the direction of their back. That is the side/angle that they will have the fewest offensive options on. Also useful if you just need a bit of time to collect your thoughts...to slow down an opponent...etc. You can attack off of this movement...if for example they do not keep up and you see a good slice of their back...blitz it. (the side of the head...not the back as that is illegal in most dojos from what I know)

There is way too much to cover or to even be useful to yourself to type here. You would not remember it all...footwork takes time.

Solid post and great advice

I will try to incorporate this in my next sparring sessions. Thank you so much

[cheesefrysamurai]

Hydration 1/2 way through an intense workout will give a large energy boost...the opposite applies if you do not stay hydrated.

As to footwork: It is a MASSIVE subject. People have given you footwork tips in this thread that I'll second (or third)

1. Do not take more than 2 steps backwards. A person retreating straight back WILL get hit by an aggressive opponent. I can prove it to you now. Who runs faster? Guy A who is running backwards...or guy B who is running the normal forwards way? B of course. It's not close. You cannot run backwards to avoid attacks. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

2. Move left or right. This is best as you do not need to take a lot of steps left or right...just one good one at the right time. You will then still be close...close enough to counter attack.

3. Circular movement. Not as good as #2...but pretty safe. If you get up in a fight...circle around an opponent in the direction of their back. That is the side/angle that they will have the fewest offensive options on. Also useful if you just need a bit of time to collect your thoughts...to slow down an opponent...etc. You can attack off of this movement...if for example they do not keep up and you see a good slice of their back...blitz it. (the side of the head...not the back as that is illegal in most dojos from what I know)

There is way too much to cover or to even be useful to yourself to type here. You would not remember it all...footwork takes time.

Solid post and great advice

I will try to incorporate this in my next sparring sessions. Thank you so much

me to!!!! so much great advice in this thread!!!!!

[Safroot]

1. Do not take more than 2 steps backwards. A person retreating straight back WILL get hit by an aggressive opponent. I can prove it to you now. Who runs faster? Guy A who is running backwards...or guy B who is running the normal forwards way? B of course. It's not close. You cannot run backwards to avoid attacks. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

2. Move left or right. This is best as you do not need to take a lot of steps left or right...just one good one at the right time. You will then still be close...close enough to counter attack.

3. Circular movement. Not as good as #2...but pretty safe. If you get up in a fight...circle around an opponent in the direction of their back. That is the side/angle that they will have the fewest offensive options on. Also useful if you just need a bit of time to collect your thoughts...to slow down an opponent...etc. You can attack off of this movement...if for example they do not keep up and you see a good slice of their back...blitz it. (the side of the head...not the back as that is illegal in most dojos from what I know)

There is way too much to cover or to even be useful to yourself to type here. You would not remember it all...footwork takes time.

I tried to follow your advice today in my sparring session and it really worked ... Thanks again

[Canadian77]

lots of great advice here.

It can never be said enough: spar more.

Don't even worry about anything at first. Just do more of it. Pain is the most wonderful motivation. You will take a hard shot or a dozen You will not want to keep taking shots. You will learn how to decrease the chances of your opponent landing hard shots. You just will. That is why we feel pain.

I am perhaps overly fond of side kicks...but they are a great tool imho to avoid pain. Useful both in offense and defense...defensively is where imo one "gets" their usefulness first. A well timed defensive sidekick to the solar plexus of an overly aggressive opponent will make said opponent less aggressive.

Foot work is another crucial "technique" Probably the most crucial. Footwork is one of those easy to understand...lifetime to master type deals. But you just need better footwork than the guy across from you really!

Drink lots of water. Hydration is key.

Enjoy yourself.

That's great advice ... I wanna concentrate and develop my foot work more , any advice regarding this ?!!!

Hydration is a new info for me ... sure I will take it in to consideration

Hydration 1/2 way through an intense workout will give a large energy boost...the opposite applies if you do not stay hydrated.

As to footwork: It is a MASSIVE subject. People have given you footwork tips in this thread that I'll second (or third)

1. Do not take more than 2 steps backwards. A person retreating straight back WILL get hit by an aggressive opponent. I can prove it to you now. Who runs faster? Guy A who is running backwards...or guy B who is running the normal forwards way? B of course. It's not close. You cannot run backwards to avoid attacks. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

2. Move left or right. This is best as you do not need to take a lot of steps left or right...just one good one at the right time. You will then still be close...close enough to counter attack.

3. Circular movement. Not as good as #2...but pretty safe. If you get up in a fight...circle around an opponent in the direction of their back. That is the side/angle that they will have the fewest offensive options on. Also useful if you just need a bit of time to collect your thoughts...to slow down an opponent...etc. You can attack off of this movement...if for example they do not keep up and you see a good slice of their back...blitz it. (the side of the head...not the back as that is illegal in most dojos from what I know)

There is way too much to cover or to even be useful to yourself to type here. You would not remember it all...footwork takes time.

I agree, some great advice in your two posts, AdamKralic. I will take this to heart as well. I can use all the advice I can get! The first part is very helpful to hear too, about not worrying about anything and just doing more. Perhaps that's what I need to focus on. I tend to overthink it, and with no idea what to think OF, I just go blank. I'm trying to hard to get a technique in, not listening to any instincts - - do I even have any sparring instincts?? Lol. Hopefully you're right, pain will be a motivator to teach me. I'll definitely keep your other ideas in mind as well.