Sparring

 

WHY SPARRING IS IMPORTANT
In our ever increasing violent society, it is imperative that the Martial Arts Schools provide their students with the skills to defend themselves. A program must not be too heavily weighted with kicking and punching and very little self defense, nor should it be comprised of all self defense and none of the skills of kicking and punching.

BENEFITS OF SPARRING
The benefit of sparring for the student is that they will become confident that they can protect themselves when some bully starts throwing wild punches and kicks.

Most of the time the student will be able to avoid the attack through the retreating and avoidance drills they have practiced in sparring class. However, should their back be to a wall or caught in a corner, they will have the skills to counter the bully's attack and defend themselves.

THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SPARRING
Sparring at our schools is taught in a non agressive manner beginning first with basic skills such as blocking, striking, avoidance, and retreating techniques. These are taught with no contact between partners.

At the next level we train the students with partners, still no contact but using drills that simulate a possible attack scenario. At this point the student is learning terms like distance, range, reach, angles, and redirection.

At the Intermediate Level, once we are confident that the student has mastered the basics, we begin to allow light contact sparring to specific target areas such as the chest, shoulder, or stomach. Again, these are practice drills. No free style sparring or contact to the head at all.

Once we are confident that they have developed beyond the basics and have the ability and self control to apply their skills, we put the student into an advanced curriculum. At this point in their training they will be allowed in a controlled sparring drill to free style spar with light contact.

It is REQUIRED that each student wear full protective gear consisting of feet and hand protectors, head gear, mouth piece, and a safety cup for the boys. Chest and shin protectors are available, but not mandatory.