Sparing techniques

[Oraenor]

recently my sparing has become quite fierce and the only protection we use is small punching gloves and thats it.It has been up to the point where accidents that may happen will happen ie bruises and cuts. I am just wondering what other bare essentials do you guys use, however I am a firm believer that too much equipment is redundant as it will not let you learn from hard hits and can be restrictive as well as being costly.

[Kenpodog]

Hey Oraenor,
In our (American Kenpo) school we use hand gear, foot gear and head gear as well as protection for the family jewels .
Sparring is great, but we have to exercise control, that being said, accidents do happen (I'm currently recovering from bruised ribs and It's no fun missing class, but if it don't kill you.....).

[HtTKar]

(I'm currently recovering from bruised ribs and It's no fun missing class, but if it don't kill you.....).

You're missing class from bruised ribs???
you should be going anyways. If you dont want to participate, do your own thing off to the side. Skipping classes from bruises, who'd have thought?

[Kenpodog]

You're missing class from bruised ribs???
you should be going anyways. If you dont want to participate, do your own thing off to the side. Skipping classes from bruises, who'd have thought?

HtKar, I have watched some classes since it happened because my daughter attends the same school, however your quote
"do you own thing off to the side"??
Have you ever had bruised/fractured/broken ribs???
The first two weeks it hurt to BREATHE, I tried many times to do techniques at home very slow but it hurt every way I moved and I'm not even going to talk about that sneezing incident
I have learned a good lesson from this injury and not all martial arts training is "in the dojo", normally I go to class (about 5 times a week) to learn new material but it's good to step back from the training and think about what your doing with each move and how each new thing you learn builds on what you did previously.
So missing a few weeks of training "in the dojo" has given me the opportunity to step back and look at what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and to determine what I'll be doing in the future.

Skipping classes from bruises, who'd have thought??

Martial Arts is part of my life and I don't measure myself by how many classes I attend or how many I miss, that attitude is small.

[HtTKar]

A couple weeks for bruised ribs???
yes, I think probably everyone here has had broken bones (toes, ribs, nose,etc), bruising, and bleeding. Not to mention headaches that last for days from practicing Judo takedowns. This happens. A bruise does hurt...you learn to protect it even better when sparring.
Whats the worse that could happen from sneezing with a bruised rib? Whats the worse that could happen by going to the dojo, doing some pushups, and doing what you are able to? If you dont feel like being part of the class, move off to the side and show that you really want to be there to learn. I think that some schools (not all) would feel slightly disrespected if a student just took off from a bruise and didnt return for weeks.

[ddrive]

Good Point.

Hey Oraenor,
In our (American Kenpo) school we use hand gear, foot gear and head gear as well as protection for the family jewels .
Sparring is great, but we have to exercise control, that being said, accidents do happen (I'm currently recovering from bruised ribs and It's no fun missing class, but if it don't kill you.....).

That's a very good point. Me and my training partner(s) usually wear lightweight head gear, kenpo gloves, jockstraps and the thin-clothed, elastic shin-instep guards [they allow protection and more mobility than the footpads]. When it comes to sparring, most people go at each other full force, with the intention to blast their oppenent away once they see an opening. I know because I used to do this, and in doing so, lost a really cool training partner. Sparring isn't about breaking down your opponent, but building awareness/fighting skill through combat. Whether it's an exchange of strikes, complicated grappling/groundwork, you go for their openings with a force to make him understand that if you weren't his/her partner, you could have been seriously hurt. With that understanding between the two, and a lot hard work over time, will be able to sharpen their skills and the intensity of sparring will rise almost exponentially.

Any Questions?

[Kenpodog]

Sparring isn't about breaking down your opponent, but building awareness/fighting skill through combat. Whether it's an exchange of strikes, complicated grappling/groundwork, you go for their openings with a force to make him understand that if you weren't his/her partner, you could have been seriously hurt. With that understanding between the two, and a lot hard work over time, will be able to sharpen their skills and the intensity of sparring will rise almost exponentially.

Any Questions?

Well said

[danfaggella]

get urself a mouthgaurd!!!

light punching gloves will shatter someones face

[fwtaichi]

I myself use the full magilla... chest protector, boxing gloves, head gear, mouth piece, groin protector, hard plastic shin guards, and sturdy flat soled shoes. Sparring without those things is foolish and unnecessary. The gear also weighs a ton and so makes sparring a great workout.

[ddrive]

on the other hand.

I myself use the full magilla... chest protector, boxing gloves, head gear, mouth piece, groin protector, hard plastic shin guards, and sturdy flat soled shoes. Sparring without those things is foolish and unnecessary. The gear also weighs a ton and so makes sparring a great workout.

That's not exactly true. If the two have attained a good skill level, and overall good conditioning (ex. toughened shins, forearms, upper and lower body), their pain tolerance will be higher, and they won't need as much equipment.

[fwtaichi]

Pain tolerance can be useful but I prefer the protection route because I'd rather not be injured if I can help it. Just my opinion.

[ddrive]

True.

Pain tolerance can be useful but I prefer the protection route because I'd rather not be injured if I can help it. Just my opinion.

That's cool.

[hung gar kelmos]

I myself use the full magilla... chest protector, boxing gloves, head gear, mouth piece, groin protector, hard plastic shin guards, and sturdy flat soled shoes. Sparring without those things is foolish and unnecessary. The gear also weighs a ton and so makes sparring a great workout.

no offense but WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED ALL THAT.

you guys must not condtition at all
and yes it is neccary why are you in there
to learn self desfense so it will be useful in a real fight
my class has several parts to it
form training,condition sparring,and stance training and basics

now sparring you get control and hold back
my conditioning
um
no brusies for about 4 months ive been kung-fu for a year
brusied rib hah go to class any way some things i can understand
such as a broken bone or a nasty sprain,but a bruise thats just stupid
most people call me a crazy bastard but when i got my jaw broken from being stupid
i still went sure i stareved for a month and got weak but i stil went
and im glad id did

now about condititon it depends on what you do
for heavy conditioner then it is pain tolerance
now medium and light
that build tough skin and bone density
no reason to be stupid
so unstead of making a pain tolerance you make
natrual armor and you cant get rid of it easily

[Hardball]

I had great success employing the "CHARGER" strategy of fighting. Some call it blitzing.