Sparring

SPARRING
	From the moment most children start karate the thing they want to do most is spar. They have seen all the high flying kicks and techniques on TV and the Movies and they cant wait to try and use them. It's great to see this enthusiasm, but we have to remember that sparring is not really a game. Children can and do get hurt. Jumping into sparring is not allways the best approach. In original Okinawan Karate and many eastern martial arts, students had to study basics and forms for years before being allowed to spar. The techniques they were learning were deadly, and the instructors wanted to guage their commitment and personality before letting them use the skills they were learning. Nowadays the martial arts has become much more of a competitive sport. Many students persue it as earnestly as their siblings practice soccer, hockey and baseball.

The first step to sparring is to learn an exercise called "give and go" Each student takes turns launching one attack with a kick or a punch. The opponent make one block and then they attack with one technique. Students are encouraged to go back and forth, punching and blocking, give and go unitll they can exchange punches and kicks fluidly without tiring and keeping a constant pace. There is no hard contact in this exercise. Only a building awareness of what it takes to anticipate and return an attack.

Some kids think sparring gear allows you to flail and kick with impunity. This is not the case. Getting kicked and punched while wearing sparring gear can still result in injury. In fact more fingers get broken wearing sparring gloves then do with them off. because the instructor cant always see if the hand is open or not under the gloves. The same goes for foot potectors, toes will see break if you kick with poor form. Face protectors will not always prevent a broken nose.

For all these reasons sparring has to be introduced at least several months into the students martial arts training. Beginners throwing wild techniques will invarably get hurt, or hurt someone else and perhaps drive them away from practicing at a time at a time when they need confidence more than any other.

sparring gear
	The typical sparring set pictured shows the kind of equipment needed for sparring in the club and in tournaments or competitions. The head protector is made of light weight foam rubber with plenty of ventilation. The foam offers some protection against the light contact that is supposed to be used in club and tournament sparring. It does not offer protection against hard kicks and direct punches. The Gloves and boots are made of the same foam material. Students will often tape the boots to their feet because hard kicks can break through the foam straps that hold the boot in place. A mouthguard is shown. These are essential for preventing injuries to the teeth from kicks and punches. The mouthguard is usually soaked in boiling water for a few minutes untill it is softened. Then it is placed in the mouth (after a little cooling !) so it moulds to the shape of your teeth and gums. The chest protector shown provides protection for the ribs against kicks and punches, and also has target circles to aid the judges in scoring techniques.
	This sparring set is a little less expensive than the one above and uses a less fancy head protector but it is still made of the same foam rubber material. There is no protection for the nose or eyes. In soem tournaments, full face shields are used to achive this level of protection. If you or your child are involved in tournament sparring, check with the tournament organizers to see what sparring equipment is approved. Many martial arts clubs specify a certain brand and wont let you use anything else.
	Types of Sparring In the beginning the student goes through a number of structured exercises to prepare them for free sparring or "jiyu-kumite". At first the student is taught to walk forward in the front stance while punching. Their partner will match step with them and block the attackers punches while moving backwards. The attacker will attempt to connect with their punch. The defender will be expected to block the attack either by stepping out of the way or blocking the punch and moving the punch away from the target. This punching and blocking exercise leads to an exercise called "gohon kumite" which involves the attacker moving forward 5 times. Each time the defender steps back and blocks the attack. On the fifth attack, the defender steps back, blocks and them counterattacks with a punch or kick. After completing five steps forward, The defender switches roles and becomes the attacker, repeating the 5 step attack in the opposite direction. This exercise gives beginners a chance to practice their technique and timing. It also makes them aware of their distance or "ma" and where they have to step to properly execute a technique.
	Having mastered "Gohon Kumite" the students move on to "Sanbon Kumite". Now instead of stepping in 5 times the attacker steps in only three times. The pace of this exercise is quicker There is less time to mentally prepare for the counterattack on the third attack. Again the attacker and defender alternate roles, one does three attacks and then the other does three. The third exercise is "ippon kumite" which can take several forms. In its most formal, one person attacks with a predetermined technique and the defender blocks. A punch to the head might be defended with a high rising block. A low punch might be swept away and followed with a counterattack to the ribs. "jiyu ippon kumite" or "give and go" is a kind of sparring theat allows the participants to move around in actual sparring stances but restricts each person to one attack and one block. The competitors move around exchanging kicks and punches. Each allowing the other to block. This exercise develops the speed and timing necessary to spar safely.

At the culmination of these exercises is "jiyu kumite" or free sparring where the competitors can throw whatever kicks and punches they feel they can land. Free sparring requires the skills built up in the more formailized exercises just described. When students have good timing and control, no one gets injured in free sparring. Without control or timing or an appreciation of distance, the student will strike too hard, or not hard enough. They will not be able block or they will freeze instead of moving out of the way of attacks. Free sparring needs preparation to be done well. Sparring equipment provides only some protection. The participants have to be trained to know and respect each others limits.