Sparring in shotokan

[Valn]

While sparring in shotokan do you guys wear protection such as helmet, gloves and so on?

 

Right now, I have only sparred in goju ryu and our sensei makes us wear gear. I guess that give him a good reason to strike hard.

[Karateka_latino]

I remember we used gloves and foot protection sometimes, and others we didn't wear any protection at all.

 

From white to purple belt, you were allowed to kick to the waist up, and punching too but not on the face.

 

brown and black belt, could sweep, kick everywere including the face, and you could punch body, on the face was allowed punch too , but only touching, not really hitting full force and only if you were wearing protection, otherwise , punching the face wasn't allowed.

 

 

[Valn]

In my dojo the sparring goes like that:

 

Once you have yellow belt you suppose to go spar with just anybody. You can get hit anywhere above the belt. They say don't hit the face area such as the nose, teeth and so on, but in reality it seems my sensei ends hitting me in the nose, temple and jaw.

 

In addition, I never liked sparring with my sensei that much because he says "I'm not punching hard" but in reality in puts in way more force necessary to get the job done.

 

Do you guys think its fair when you are yellow belt and spar with brown belt and a 7 degree black belt? On the good side you learn faster but you tend to lose a lot.

 

Finally one thing that piss me off is that I never hit people in the nose or jaw because I know where I'm aiming, but somehow the other guys with higher ranks seems careless.

[iamrushman]

i feel the instructor and higher belts should have control and teach you to be a better fighter by example..but not use you as a punching bag till you achieve more experience. then you are more of a challenge,

 

 

[Valn]

Here is another thing that I hate about sparring.

 

*My sensei doesn't tell me all the combination that works.

 

*I never seem to practice a lot of technique since its all about hitting.

 

*Sparring doesn't like karate at all.

 

Here is a quote from Nakayama

"The inexperienced person, however, attracted by and knowing only the surface aspects, will end up using his arms and legs mechanically, and the sparring will look like that of fighting ****s or become a free for all. When this happens, the unique characteristic of karate do destroying the enemy wil a single poweful blow is lost."

 

[ This Message was edited by: Valn on 2001-08-28 06:24 ]

[moobrack]

Well in sparring at my school I wear a headguard,a groingaurd(optional), and handmits.Sometimes I wear feetpads and a gumshield.

 

 

[BlueDragon]

In my dojo the only protection that is mandatory are chest protectors for the women and elbow pads for everyone since alot of people including me were breaking thier feet on elbows. Names are literaly picked from a hat to decide the matchs. There aren't any rules on where you can kick but there is a certain understanding that you won't kick someone in the face as hard as you can.

 

I have begun wearing gloves mainly because I was sick of breaking my fingers and I've always worn a cup.

[KUGB_Chris1985]

in the my Shotokan club and the KUGB, the only protection is a Box (groin guard) and a gum shield. and chest guard for women.

 

but all members have to use good control

 

 

 

[ramymensa]

Do you guys think its fair when you are yellow belt and spar with brown belt and a 7 degree black belt?

Honestly? i don't think it's apropriate. I would feel too scared. Hopefully the higher ranks can control their techniques better than the beginners and that should be in favour for sparring with "brownies". Unfortunatelly there isn't always control and a yellow belt (a beginner, who practiced Shotokan for a small period) wouldn't stand a chance.

 

In our club we may spar even when absolute beginners, but it's more like a game. We are not supposed to put power in that, it's more like touching the "surface".

 

After becoming green belts, we start "the real thing", but still with control, especially on the jodan level.

[Pacificshore]

When I trained in Shotokan, we either went with paps or not. If we didn't use pads, then control was the name of the game. If we wore pads, then light contact was allowed. In terms of sparring a higher rank, I would expect better control from that person, especially if it's an instructor. Also as an instructor sparring with lower rank students, it is my job to insure their safety first of all and secondly teach them proper sparring techniques. I would generally leave open target areas for my students to recognize and attack appropriately. In and when I counter it is to let them know their guard is down or simply to keep them honest. As they progress then there is less and less target openings given and they have to work and getting me to expose a target area. Don't get discouraged about sparring, train hard and work on any or all the combinations you know, and in time it'll come together for you!!!