Developing Strategy ?

[Safroot]

Hi Guys, is there such a thing as " developing sparring strategy " ?! if yes, any advice how can I work on developing it ?!

[DWx]

It's a bit of a broad question. Do you mean strategy during a fight? or just in general?

[Safroot]

It's a bit of a broad question. Do you mean strategy during a fight? or just in general?

General fighting strategy which then can be modified according to your opponent !

[Tempest]

In Judo there is a concept called Tokui Waza, essentially your favorite or most reliable technique. Strategy for the fight tends to begin when you leave behind the idea of defeating your opponent and embrace the idea of doing a particular technique.

Develop a hammer, something you can reliably score with first. It will likely be something you can do quickly under stress. Try drilling after an exhausting conditioning workout to start to ingrain this.

Simultaneously, work on defending the attacks that land against you the most. Spend extra time working on the defenses to those attacks. Defenses should also serve the purpose of putting you in the position to launch your next attack and if possible disrupt your opponents balance and structure some as well.

Once you have 1. A defense against the attacks that land on you the most often and 2. An attack that you can reliably score with, then you have the beginnings of a strategy.

This is where the real work begins, because each fight is unique and the variations on even a basic strategy are nearly infinite, and that is before you start adding in combinations of techniques. DO LOTS OF SPARRING AT THIS POINT. Helps to have a partner that is interested in your development.

Adapting your strategy to different opponents is largely a function of how much you know ABOUT your opponents. Is he taller than me? Is he shorter than me? Does he like to go left or right? Did I watch his last fight? What does he like to do?

This is just an intro, but should be enough to get you started on developing sparring strategy.

[Safroot]

In Judo there is a concept called Tokui Waza, essentially your favorite or most reliable technique. Strategy for the fight tends to begin when you leave behind the idea of defeating your opponent and embrace the idea of doing a particular technique.

Develop a hammer, something you can reliably score with first. It will likely be something you can do quickly under stress. Try drilling after an exhausting conditioning workout to start to ingrain this.

Simultaneously, work on defending the attacks that land against you the most. Spend extra time working on the defenses to those attacks. Defenses should also serve the purpose of putting you in the position to launch your next attack and if possible disrupt your opponents balance and structure some as well.

Once you have 1. A defense against the attacks that land on you the most often and 2. An attack that you can reliably score with, then you have the beginnings of a strategy.

This is where the real work begins, because each fight is unique and the variations on even a basic strategy are nearly infinite, and that is before you start adding in combinations of techniques. DO LOTS OF SPARRING AT THIS POINT. Helps to have a partner that is interested in your development.

Adapting your strategy to different opponents is largely a function of how much you know ABOUT your opponents. Is he taller than me? Is he shorter than me? Does he like to go left or right? Did I watch his last fight? What does he like to do?

This is just an intro, but should be enough to get you started on developing sparring strategy.

Thanks Tempest, That was exactly my question and your advice is highly appreciated and the good thing is I am currently working on my defenses

[sensei8]

Study your opponent

Study yourself

Make a plan

Carry it out

This is what we hold truest to our hearts as a Shindokanist!!

This strategy is our direct response to whenever we must engage an opponent.

[Safroot]

Study your opponent

Study yourself

Make a plan

Carry it out

Sounds like a good strategy for me !

[MatsuShinshii]

Experience is the key factor.

In the Dojo you have the benefit of knowing your opponents. You see their size and understand how they use it to their benefit and what techniques they utilize more than others.

This is the simplest way of developing a strategy. By watching an opponent you get the feel for how they deal with different opponents and what they most likely would do in a given situation. This gives you the advantage if you use this to develop how you will attack and defend as you already know what they most likely will do.

In the street against an unknown attacker this is not the case. This is where experience comes into play. Being able to read your opponent and to pick up on his attack methodology quickly enough to understand how to deal with it only comes with years and years of sparring (not tournament point sparring) with opponents of all sizes and skill ranges.

The easiest thing for one to do is to identify what works for you whether standing or on the ground and perfect it. Find the techniques that work for you and perfect them and then add to what you already have.

Practice your applications over and over until they become second nature and natural. Over time and years of practice your muscle memory will take over and you will react without thought. This forgoes a need for prior planning.

Like Sensei8 said, knowing yourself (Strengths and weaknesses) is paramount and is the key to success. You can't always know your opponent, however you can know the type (size, attitude, the way they move, etc) and quickly assess their skill and what you will use to deal with the threat. This will greatly increase your odds of coming out on top.

However you must first understand yourself.

Can you strike well, have good reflexes, know how to handle yourself if it goes to the ground, etc. If you don't know your limitations and strengths it really doesn't matter if you know your opponent.

Plan one get experience sparring/fighting a variety of opponents.

Plan two identify what your good at and what your not good at.

Plan three improve what your not good at and perfect what you are good at.

Plan four practice, practice, practice.

Plan five learn to analyze your opponent and have a plan.

plan six practice practice, practice for years until things become automatic and then you don't need the plan.

[Safroot]

Experience is the key factor.

In the Dojo you have the benefit of knowing your opponents. You see their size and understand how they use it to their benefit and what techniques they utilize more than others.

This is the simplest way of developing a strategy. By watching an opponent you get the feel for how they deal with different opponents and what they most likely would do in a given situation. This gives you the advantage if you use this to develop how you will attack and defend as you already know what they most likely will do.

In the street against an unknown attacker this is not the case. This is where experience comes into play. Being able to read your opponent and to pick up on his attack methodology quickly enough to understand how to deal with it only comes with years and years of sparring (not tournament point sparring) with opponents of all sizes and skill ranges.

The easiest thing for one to do is to identify what works for you whether standing or on the ground and perfect it. Find the techniques that work for you and perfect them and then add to what you already have.

Practice your applications over and over until they become second nature and natural. Over time and years of practice your muscle memory will take over and you will react without thought. This forgoes a need for prior planning.

Like Sensei8 said, knowing yourself (Strengths and weaknesses) is paramount and is the key to success. You can't always know your opponent, however you can know the type (size, attitude, the way they move, etc) and quickly assess their skill and what you will use to deal with the threat. This will greatly increase your odds of coming out on top.

However you must first understand yourself.

Can you strike well, have good reflexes, know how to handle yourself if it goes to the ground, etc. If you don't know your limitations and strengths it really doesn't matter if you know your opponent.

Plan one get experience sparring/fighting a variety of opponents.

Plan two identify what your good at and what your not good at.

Plan three improve what your not good at and perfect what you are good at.

Plan four practice, practice, practice.

Plan five learn to analyze your opponent and have a plan.

plan six practice practice, practice for years until things become automatic and then you don't need the plan.

Wow, That's a very good explanation & advice I really appreciate the time you spent to write this very informative reply

I am currently working on plan one & my next goal is plan two

[MatsuShinshii]

Experience is the key factor.

In the Dojo you have the benefit of knowing your opponents. You see their size and understand how they use it to their benefit and what techniques they utilize more than others.

This is the simplest way of developing a strategy. By watching an opponent you get the feel for how they deal with different opponents and what they most likely would do in a given situation. This gives you the advantage if you use this to develop how you will attack and defend as you already know what they most likely will do.

In the street against an unknown attacker this is not the case. This is where experience comes into play. Being able to read your opponent and to pick up on his attack methodology quickly enough to understand how to deal with it only comes with years and years of sparring (not tournament point sparring) with opponents of all sizes and skill ranges.

The easiest thing for one to do is to identify what works for you whether standing or on the ground and perfect it. Find the techniques that work for you and perfect them and then add to what you already have.

Practice your applications over and over until they become second nature and natural. Over time and years of practice your muscle memory will take over and you will react without thought. This forgoes a need for prior planning.

Like Sensei8 said, knowing yourself (Strengths and weaknesses) is paramount and is the key to success. You can't always know your opponent, however you can know the type (size, attitude, the way they move, etc) and quickly assess their skill and what you will use to deal with the threat. This will greatly increase your odds of coming out on top.

However you must first understand yourself.

Can you strike well, have good reflexes, know how to handle yourself if it goes to the ground, etc. If you don't know your limitations and strengths it really doesn't matter if you know your opponent.

Plan one get experience sparring/fighting a variety of opponents.

Plan two identify what your good at and what your not good at.

Plan three improve what your not good at and perfect what you are good at.

Plan four practice, practice, practice.

Plan five learn to analyze your opponent and have a plan.

plan six practice practice, practice for years until things become automatic and then you don't need the plan.

Wow, That's a very good explanation & advice I really appreciate the time you spent to write this very informative reply

I am currently working on plan one & my next goal is plan two

Just remember that everything that happens within the Dojo is a learning experience. People are unpredictable and you will never know what someone might do. However you can develop a plan to meet their attack and if you fail this is a good thing. This is an opportunity to look at why you failed and you are able to work on those deficiencies and improve. Then try, try again. You will eventually start to pick up on subtle clues and before you know it you will succeed.

Good luck and hang in there. It all come with time and practice, practice, practice.