Kyokushin Sparring

[Kyonovice]

Hi everyone

First post.

I have been told I am going to start doing some sparring soon in my lessons as, despite being a novice, it is needed for my first grading (is this true for most Kyokushin clubs?)

I've not done sparring in Kyokushin before and, having watched some clips of knockout sparring, it seems brutal! What can I expect? I Have been told by Sensei that it's points knockout and that it was developed by someone who became a bit disconcerted with how knock down was going (2 guys slogging it out blow for blow) and introduced this system where by they still score points for a clean strike but the aim is to ultimately knock down your opponent.

So, what can I expect? What "rules" are there and what equipment should I really have???

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[JR 137]

There are a ton of Kyokushin groups nowadays doing a lot of different things. The only way to know what to expect is to ask your sensei. We'd all be guessing.

[Kyonovice]

Thanks, I will speak to him when I next go training. I am little apprehensive about it to be fair, not done full contact before!

[hammer]

I'm sure this depends on the school, but where I go the sparring during a shinsa for lower ranks is "spirited contact" which is enough to make you feel it but not enough to leave lasting marks.

Worst I had on my last test where I did several rounds was a shot in the solar plexus that I didn't evade/deflect or prepare for...was winded for a few seconds.

What level of kumite have you done so far? Most times in class we only go light contact (to learn and not worry about getting injured).

[Kyonovice]

I'm sure this depends on the school, but where I go the sparring during a shinsa for lower ranks is "spirited contact" which is enough to make you feel it but not enough to leave lasting marks.

Worst I had on my last test where I did several rounds was a shot in the solar plexus that I didn't evade/deflect or prepare for...was winded for a few seconds.

What level of kumite have you done so far? Most times in class we only go light contact (to learn and not worry about getting injured).

Only ever done "semi contact" before which watered down to pulling the technique before impact.

[sensei8]

There are a ton of Kyokushin groups nowadays doing a lot of different things. The only way to know what to expect is to ask your sensei. We'd all be guessing.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

I believe that you'll be slowing introduced into sparing, and that you'd not be going full throttle until the appropriate time, and not sooner.

Please let us know how things are going!

[hammer]

Interesting...guess I've always thought of Kyokushin sparring as being more knockdown than points-based. Our variations in class have more to do with the level of contact than the tactics.

I did point sparring (no to light contact) in TKD and it's quite different from what I do in Kyokushin...and not just because Kyokushin doesn't allow hand techniques to the head.

[Kyonovice]

There are a ton of Kyokushin groups nowadays doing a lot of different things. The only way to know what to expect is to ask your sensei. We'd all be guessing.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

I believe that you'll be slowing introduced into sparing, and that you'd not be going full throttle until the appropriate time, and not sooner.

Please let us know how things are going!

Ossu

Will do, hopefully my sensei does ease me in gently as I don't particularly want to end up black and blue

[sensei8]

There are a ton of Kyokushin groups nowadays doing a lot of different things. The only way to know what to expect is to ask your sensei. We'd all be guessing.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

I believe that you'll be slowing introduced into sparing, and that you'd not be going full throttle until the appropriate time, and not sooner.

Please let us know how things are going!

Ossu

Will do, hopefully my sensei does ease me in gently as I don't particularly want to end up black and blue

Fastest way to lose students is to make them black and blue; conditioning is important and a beginner isn't conditioned. Old school mindset was...condition WHILST being made black and blue. However, that mindset, has changed, not entirely, to protect the student and the student body. Not the physical body, but the number of students enrolled in a dojo.

I can't emphasis enough, and I agree with JR 137...ask YOUR SENSEI!!

[Kyonovice]

I will speak to him on Friday