Sparring Manifesto

[SanHeChuan]

Being a better writer that speaker, I wanted to create a consice, easy to understand handout to give to students to promote better sparring.

This is what I got so far:

Sparing

Free Movement timing and distance drill

Relax

Increases Speed
Reduces injury
Reduces fatigue

Control

Displays Skill
Wins Matches
Reduces injury

Strategy


Distance

* A technique thrown that does not threaten the body/head of the opponent

- One- Wasts energy

- Two- Frees the opponent from defending

- Three- Leaves opponent free to counter

* A technique that can not connect with an opponent can not hurt them

Timing

* Recognize and take advantage of openings in your opponents guard when presented

* Patience is required to capitalize on opponents mistakes with out making your own

* Don't force a technique in training

- The ability to land a soft, slow, controlled technique is a product of good timing

- An inexperienced fighter will try to use speed and strength to over come poor timing

Baiting

*Open your guard to encourage your opponent to attack the open area

- Knowledge of where the attack will occur will allow for a more effective response

* Throw a feint to open opponents guard for your attack

Attack

*Keeping opponent on the Defensive

- An opponent defending them selves from your combination attacks is less likely to counter effectively

* Vary level, speed, angle, and rhythm of attacks

* Develop practice and use multiple combinations

* A fast offense can defeat an opponent before he can counter

Defense

* Wait for an opponent's attack

- Opponent is most vulnerable to counter during an attack, why?

= You must halt your attack in order to mount a defense to a counter

* Use 45 degree angles to move around strait attacks

* Use straight angles to move through circular attacks

* Do not chase (reach for) incoming attacks with blocks

If you can say it better...
Have something to add...
Or disagree with any point...



Oh and the target audience is a point sparring group but I'm trying to keep things universal.

[SanHeChuan]

As a "teacher" not just in the martial arts my goal is to be able to break things down to the most elemental level (without losing meaning) in order to easily be understood.

* Aggression, Frustration, Anger should strengthen your resolve not your attacks

- Emotional content not anger

- Don't let emotion get the best of you

* In sport do not concern yourself with winning (ego)

- Do your best without regard to outcome

- Learn from mistakes and improve

- All competition is against your self, our opponents are just the tools through which we challenge ourselves and improve

I continue this rough draft...

Deny terrain and invite attack

Point sparring addition

* Turn your body to the side (if strike to the back are not allowed)

- One - Limits the number of directions from which you maybe be attacked

- Two - Limits target area for frontal assault

* Use front hand to guard Front kidney, Face, Side of head facing your back

* Use back hand to guard Side of body and head

[SevenStar]

sounds good. it sounds like it's geared to point fighting in some ways, though, instead of being general. When I was reading it, I thought "I wonder if he's talking about point fighting?" and then you confirmed it at the bottom of your post.

[dainos]

tire an opponent? only if they are out of shape.
do you train outside or inside fighters?
if they are inside the best distance is right next his opponent. the closer i am to someone when fighting the easier it is for me to do counters an block and circle around them. i like staying in close with the guy who are bigger and stronger than me. i get around them eaiser. it is very important for my brothers and sisters to not back up. that just sets you up.
ill take your best shot to get in your guard.

[Kapten Klutz]

As a beginner who is just starting light sparring I really appreciate this list, thanks. One question, when you say point fighting, do you mean that you stop as soon as someone lands a single techniqe instead of continuing with followups?

[SevenStar]

Originally Posted by dainos

tire an opponent? only if they are out of shape.
do you train outside or inside fighters?
if they are inside the best distance is right next his opponent. the closer i am to someone when fighting the easier it is for me to do counters an block and circle around them. i like staying in close with the guy who are bigger and stronger than me. i get around them eaiser. it is very important for my brothers and sisters to not back up. that just sets you up.
ill take your best shot to get in your guard.

he said that unnecessary striking from too far back wastes energy- that is correct.If I am in kicking range, why would I punch at you? there's no way I can hit you. You don't wanna take MY best shot to get in my guard. best strategy is to use footwork and make angles to get inside, don't just rush in. Also, as he stated, this is geared toward point fighting. You can't use your strategy and still win, as you would've been hit.

[SanHeChuan]

KK, Yes

dainos, read it again. My point was not to keep your distance, but to know your distance.

Anyone else,

I'm trying to start up a San Shou style class at this school. What changes should I make to the MANIFESTO?

I don't think I need to take anything in there out. I think it would all still be relevant to a Kickboxing format the only part I wouldn't use was the one in my second post I labeled as for point sparring.

I do think some additions need to be made.

Seven star, what struck you as being for point sparring rather than full contact? What tipped my hand?

[dainos]

Originally Posted by SevenStar

he said that unnecessary striking from too far back wastes energy- that is correct.If I am in kicking range, why would I punch at you? there's no way I can hit you. You don't wanna take MY best shot to get in my guard. best strategy is to use footwork and make angles to get inside, don't just rush in. Also, as he stated, this is geared toward point fighting. You can't use your strategy and still win, as you would've been hit.

so point fighting means one hit and your done? well that sucks. maybe i did my sifus quote wrong i think i did the last part wrong. he knows it works. cause he is alive(you dont stay alive very long when your in the speical forces if you dont know how to kill). so seven star what kind is your best strike? i pretty sure i could do something with it too withstand it with my conditioning. unless its a gun. umm our school is banned for tournys. we hurt other people too bad