Sparring...

[Ahoym8e]

What's a good way to get more sparring in your classes without insutling the teacher?

Much of our grappling classes are spent actually grappling, but sometimes I wish we had more sparring in our JKD class. Not that I don't like the drills, but I really like working with a non-compliant opponent too.

I could ask classmates to stay after class, but we would then have to pay for gym time, I think. This may be the best option, although I'd like an instructor to be around to point out weaknesses/errors every now and then.

Should I take private lessons and ask the instructor to spar, or would that be pretty senseless since he is so much more advanced and it would be like me beating my head against the wall?

[Tom Yum]

Ask yourself if you know how to throw a proper jab, cross, hook, push kick and thai kick. You could show someone how to do all those techniques in one week and they could probably perform them for you. Have someone honestly critique your techniques.

It takes about a year to develop solid fundamentals - throwing techniques with good body mechanics, keeping your hands up, being relaxed, understanding footwork and defense.

You could spar with your instructor which would be good, but at this stage sparring drills would be just as beneficial as sparring in a lot of ways.

Some people learn techniques, but need to learn how to employ them in a more dynamic situation. Sparring drills teach you how to move, get rid of your flinch reflex and can help you relax cause if your too tense you fight slower and gas out too soon (less than 3 rounds).

Within my first year of training, I would get in front of a mirror and practice my techniques and run my mental checklist. Is my chin tucked? Am I pawing my jab after I throw it? Is my jab snapping? Am I keeping my right hand up? Are my arms loose? Is my body loose? Are my legs coiled? Am I sitting into my cross and bringing it back quickly and lightly? Are my hips powering my punch? etc...

More sparring is good, but bumping up your fundamentals on your own will make your sparring sessions more valuable.

[Uber_Tap]

Do you do any sparring in your JKD class? If so, you should go with the idea that your teacher is probably bringing you along at the appropriate speed.

Tom Yum makes a great point, it's all about the basics. Once you start sparring full out on a regular basis you don't have time to worry about your technique, so you need to make certain the foundation is already there. The most important thing I learned from sparring was timing, and you can't have good timing when sparring until your basics are bullet proof.

[Tom Yum]

Yup.

Really focus on your fundamentals - proper, clean technique. You might be a little too tight and unfocused, so you want to learn how to loosen up and throw everything concisely. Remember its not going to happen overnight, but you want to try and get it right from the start.

From there on out, its about sparring on a regular basis and conditioning.

[Ahoym8e]

Yeah, I have to work on my fundamentals, staying relaxed, etc.

As a class we spar every now and then, but it is usually almost entirely without kicks. We wear big gloves and try to punch through holes in the opponent's defense. I’ll use a foot jab (push kick?) every now and then to mix things up, but it’s not common.

I have reasonably good mechanics (god knows I train on the bag enough, with periodic critiques from an instructor), and with real novices I can usually just power right through the defense, but the whole point is to be skilled enough to not have to rely on pure strength to get a shot in. That's why I want to practice against an opponent, to get the timing and movement practice I need. I can knock out the bag every single time I try, but it is difficult (for me) to slip a quality punch past a set of waiting gloves, and at the same time make sure I'm not too open myself. There’s nothing like an embarrassing smack in the face over and over to make you close the hole.

Anyway, I realize I need to be a bit more patient, but I'd sure like to spar a little more than I am. Aside from the beat up lips I usually have afterwards it is really fun as well.

[Uber_Tap]

Sparring is great, my favortie aspect of the martial arts. As for landing a quality punch, that comes with time. For instance, you need to learn to set your apponents up. One of the most basic princeples of all sparring is deception. Try throwing a few solid kicks into the abdomen of your opponent, great if they connect but not a problem if they done't. After you've done this a few times they start to anticipate you throwing that technique so you will be able to fake that gut kick, and when they drop there hands in anticipation pop them in the head. This goes back to the timing aspect I talked about in my previous post. You seem to be rather new to the martial arts so just be patient, all of that stuff will come in time.

Also, if you are just dead set on sparring some more speak to your instructor after class. You don't want to put him on the spot in front of everyone, but if you just let him know how interested you are he probably won't be offended. Just don't approach it as if you are challenging the instructor's knowledge of what you need, just pose it as a question.

[PackerX]

My instructor teaches JKD, BJJ, and CSW, among other things. CSW and BJJ rolls/spars every class, usually for anywhere from ten to twenty minutes at the end of class. JKD spars rarely, and when we do, it's restricted. For instance, we'll start out just boxing, then just kicking, then get into anything goes. The logic behind it is this:

In BJJ and CSW, there is a heavier emphasis on sparring. This gets the students into actual combative situations earlier, but in the long run, they know fewer techniques. They may be good at what they do, but it's not a lot. Also, the turnaround time is a lot quicker. People do not stick with it as long, as it is punishing. Also, the curve goes up quickly, but since there is more emphasis on sparring, the casual student feels that they've already learned everything they're going to learn and don't need to take more punishment.

JKD is broken into steps. The first is learning the techniques. The second is starting to put the techniques into context. Situational sparring. The third phase is all sparring. So while the JKD student doesn't have the practical combat skills early on like the BJJ and CSW guys do, in the long run, they will be more efficient (that last part is my opinion, not from my instructor).

But I'm at work and going to lunch, so that's all for that.

-Packer

[Tom Yum]

It'll probably draw attention, but that's okay too. Just refer them to your school and do your instructor a favor!

I find that sparring in public can draw weirdos out of the woodwork, but I guess it depends on where you are sparring.

[brokenelbow]

They may be good at what they do, but it's not a lot.

But it may be enough!

I've sparred alot in different formats and the conclusion I've come to is it's more of a testing than learning activity. Some of the worst fighters I've seen spar the most, but not as bad as the ones that don't spar at all.

BJJ needs partner work, strikers have the luxury of working a heavy bag, pads and other apperatus to play with. It's also our weakness.

[Uber_Tap]

Mike makes a great point about taping your sparring. When I first started sparring I was getting no response from my front leg round house kicks. Obviously a front leg round house is more of a jab than a power technique, but mine was weak. Our Sensei taped one of our sparring sesions and made a few copies so each of us could watch it. I'm a relatively big built guy(I'm 5ft6 and weight 205, pretty solid) so I should be able to punish guys with anything I do. Once I watched the tape I noticed that I wasn't turning my hips into my kicks(something my sensei had told me a thousand times, but I didn't realy understand until I saw it for myself). After seeing this and spending a lot of time on the heavy bag, I would say my lead leg is as strong as most peoples rear leg round house. I get a reaction now, people are concerned about my lead leg where as before they paid no attention to it. You may have sound technique, but taping your sparring will certainly let you know if have areas to approve upon.

[wardancer]

What's a good way to get more sparring in your classes without insutling the teacher?

Much of our grappling classes are spent actually grappling, but sometimes I wish we had more sparring in our JKD class. Not that I don't like the drills, but I really like working with a non-compliant opponent too.

I could ask classmates to stay after class, but we would then have to pay for gym time, I think. This may be the best option, although I'd like an instructor to be around to point out weaknesses/errors every now and then.

Should I take private lessons and ask the instructor to spar, or would that be pretty senseless since he is so much more advanced and it would be like me beating my head against the wall?

MA training is a service which you pay for.
If you do not feel, you are getting your money worth after telling your instructor you feel more sparing is needed, move on to another club.
In my bjj club, you get to 'roll' after 5 lessons.
We have an open competition with the rest of the country clubs every 3 months. So I have always a target to look foward to. Sparring time always increases once you get closer to competition.
I think you want more than 'practicing' on willing partner and want to step up the next level.
Joining a competitive team is the option.

[Ronson]

Patience Ahoym8e,

Your drills with compliant partners will lead to awesome fighting skills.

Daniel-son was impatient with paint da fence and sand da floor. What he didn't realize was that he was learning Ka-ra-te and would eventually beat the evil Cobra-Kai (who did alot of sparring).

I'm just playin'

If you want more sparring, pay for a MA that does more sparring, like MT, boxing, MMA, Marriage...

[Tom Yum]

If you want more sparring, pay for a MA that does more sparring, like MT, boxing, MMA, Marriage...

Boy do you pay for that last one...lol

[Uber_Tap]

Ronson, that's a bad example. Sparring doesn't exhist in marriage. It's simply you as a man being beaten sensless on a daily basis. Sparring indicates that you have an opportunity to occasionaly defend yourself and fight back by maybe having your wife concede defeat in an argument from time to time, but we know that isn't the case.

Man + Marriage = always wrong.

By far the most difficult art to master