Sparring

Some students can't wait to begin sparring and others think they would rather never do it at all. But sparring is an integral part of Taekwondo training, and even the most reluctant students soon find themselves blocking and kicking with ease -- and enjoying it.

Sparring is a practical application of Taekwondo techniques under controlled conditions. Students practice maintaining their concentration and composure while blocking and evading their partner's strikes and kicks. They learn to counter-attack with fluid combinations of kicks and strikes that are strategically selected and carefully targeted. And they do all of this with absolute control: particularly at the beginning levels contact is forbidden.

Students often wear pads during sparring matches (foam headgear, gloves and boots, as well as mouthpieces and protective cups). But they also are required spar without pads at times, in order to ensure that they rely on self-control rather than on protective gear.

Because sparring requires instincts, relaxation and an effective repertoire of techniques, students do not begin to spar until they have been training for several months.

Only camo belts and above are required to spar. Orange and yellow belts are allowed to attend sparring class with the instructor's permission.

There are three types of sparring: testing sparring, tournament sparring, and street fighting.

	In a testing sparring match, participants are encouraged to consider themselves partners rather than opponents. Their goal is to demonstrate their ability to apply strategically and smoothly the most challenging kicks, strikes and blocks that they know, while responding effectively to the movements of their partner.
	Tournament sparring is similar to testing sparring (see Tournaments), but students spar more conservatively and competitively because the goal is to score points on their partner while preventing their partner from scoring any points on them. Protective gear is required in tournament sparring, and judges are specially-trained to enforce tournament rules and protect contestants from injury.
	Street fighting, unlike testing or tournament sparring, has no rules. For the safety of its students, the Bartlett and Raleigh schools do not practice street fighting in its sparring classes. But students do have the opportunity to learn practical self-defense techniques -- joint manipulation, groundfighting and pressure points control tactics -- which complement their traditional Taekwondo training and prepare them for street defense should it become necessary (see Weapons and Self-defense).

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Last modified: June 12, 2000

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