Sparring is an important part of taekwon-do training. It allows students to apply what they have learned with a free-thinking partner. Contrary to popular belief, sparring is not an opportunity to "beat up" on one's partner, but rather a chance to find out how well you know taekwon-do in a real-time, interactive exercise. Sparring has numerous training benefits.
Maum Sin Yong insists that sparring be done only under the watchful eye of a qualified instructor.
There is always an instructor overseeing any sparring match to handle issues as they arise. In addition, students are responsible for safeguarding their partners. They must take into account their partner's physical limitations. They must steer their partners away from obstacles (walls, spectators, other sparring matches). Most important, they must verify that their partners are in satisfactory condition to spar. Dominating a bout with someone who is about to pass out is both dishonorable and dangerous.
There are many types of sparring. Maum Sin Yong begins by teaching step sparring and belt sparring.
Step sparring is so named because participants remain stationary except for stepping forward (or backward) as the individual techniques demand. Instructors use it to develop a student's range and control. It takes a lot of discipline and trust not to flinch or react when someone punches at your face; step sparring helps teach that. It is also a safer venue for students to experiment with technique combinations.
Step sparring requires at least two people. One attacks, the other defends and then counterattacks. (Black belts may be required to fend off multiple opponents.) Students are judged for correct stances, power, focus, technique and protocol.
In the beginning, each technique should be targeted to come within 2-3 inches of your opponent. This distance should decrease with skill level to touch at black belt.
Maum Sin Yong offers ten compulsory one-step sparring techniques. The compulsories are pre-scripted combinations, chosen to illustrate various principles of sparring. Students are expected to learn these ten combinations as part of their testing requirements, and to demonstrate them on both sides, right and left. As the student progresses, these compulsory step sparring maneuvers expand into two-step compulsories at green belt, and three-step compulsories at blue belt.
As students advance, testing requirements dictate that they not only know the compulsory routines, but also create their own custom step sparring routines. In custom routines, the student is expected to defend against multiple attacks and counterattack with up to five techniques. It is expected that custom routines incorporate techniques at the student's belt level.
At black belt, students may being incorporating takedowns into their custom routines. Black belts also spar against multiple opponents. To qualify for II Dan, students must defend against two opponents. At III Dan, three, and so on up to VII Dan. (Higher ranks are honorary.)
Although some students choose to bring hosin sul (self-defense) or moves from other martial arts into their routines, substance is preferred to style. Master Kramer wants custom routines to be practical application of solid techniques.
There is a variant called "reactionary step sparring", in which the moves are not discussed beforehand. Instructors may, however, restrict or specify techniques, such as requiring attackers to use hand techniques only.
Another variant is "continuous step sparring", in which attackers and defenders trade roles without pause. This is a natural precursor to free sparring (below).
Belt sparring is sparring using one's belt as the only weapon (though instructors prefer the term "tool"). The belt can also be used to block incoming blows. Belt sparring has been likened to a wet towel contest. The goal is to dart in, attack, and dart out to keep one's vulnerability to a minimum. Belt sparring teaches students good habits during free sparring: to circle one's opponent rather than retreating backward, to look for openings, and to remain aware of one's combat environment.
All portions of the student's body below the neck are a valid target in belt sparring, though instructors often impose additional restrictions during matches to improve a student's precision. For example, an instructor may restrict the target area to only the opponent's feet.
As with step sparring above, high-ranking students are occasionally required to defend against multiple opponents.
Free sparring builds on the techniques taught during step sparring and the maneuvers practiced in belt sparring. In free sparring, each partner can attack or defend at will (with a few restrictions for safety). It allow students to experiment with new techniques and combinations, increase their speed and accuracy, and to learn to stay lucid and calm under duress. To be good at free sparring, a student must know her own abilities, be able to spot her opponent's weaknesses, and then exploit them.
As free sparring holds the greatest risk of injury, safety is a primary concern. Maum Sin Yong requires participants to wear a mouthpiece. Males must also wear a protective cup. Many participants choose to wear pads as well (see picture).
Being a highly aerobic activity, students are encouraged to Kihap when striking an opponent as well as when receiving a blow themselves. A Kihap prepares the body for impact and promotes the flow of oxygen.
In each match, there will be one student who is more experienced (senior) than the other. While sparring, students are expected to spar to the junior partner's ability. Seniors are encouraged to teach their juniors as they spar while demonstrating good technique themselves. Free sparring performance is evaluated by choice of technique, crispness of delivery, and demonstration of indomitable spirit, integrity, and self-control.
"Top Gun"
Top Gun is a very informal "last man standing"-style elimination tournament. Students pair up and free spar as above. Students judge their own matches, and the student who scores the first uncontested point wins the match. Winners remain in play and begin sparring the next available partner, while losers exit the sparring space. Top Gun continues until there is only one student left undefeated, who is declared the winner.
Tournament sparring is an extension of free sparring, with additional constraints imposed by the tournament's rules. Participants must remain within the boundaries of a ring, and score points by landing legal techniques. Judges monitor the match, and pause it to award points when a legal technique scores or penalties when a rule is violated (such as a participant going out of bounds).
A typical match lasts just two minutes and five points wins a match. The tournament rules dictate what techniques are legal and how many points to award for each type of technique. The sidebar contains a typical point breakdown and a list of infractions worthy of a warning. Multiple warnings will result in disqualification.
It's important to become familiar with the rules of a particular tournament. Some tournaments allow additional techniques. The Colorado Karate Association permits sweeps, for example.
Some tournaments offer a variant of point sparring called "continuous sparring", in which judges do not pause the match to award points or give warnings. These matches end after a set time have elapsed (typically, 3-5 minutes). Warnings are given while participants continue to spar, and points are tallied after the match.
The meat grinder is a testing requirement that is introduced at red belt and continues up through black belt. During the meat grinder, the subject of the meat grinder defends against attacks from a steady stream of sparring partners.
To qualify for I Dan black belt, candidates face a meat grinder of 10 opponents. Each member of the meat grinder spars for 30 seconds. A timekeeper notifies the next participant about 10 seconds before he begins. This participant begins to "shadow" the defender's current sparring partner. When time is called, the old partner steps aside and the new partner steps in and begins sparring with the defender. This prevents the defender from getting an opportunity to rest.
The goal is simple: to push the defender to his limits in order to test his conditioning and his mettle. Defenders are expected to continue sparring through the mounting fatigue and the stress of enduring a continuous (though mild) barrage of blows.
Sparring partners are expected to show extraordinary control. They use fast, crisp technique and light contact to demonstrate holes in the defender's defense, providing a valuable lesson to the defender. Partners who endanger the defender are quickly and severely punished.
The gauntlet is an sparring exercise requiring many partners. The partners form up in two lines, providing a narrow space for the defender to travel. The defender starts at one end, advancing through a sea of kicks and punches to get to the other side. Partners attempt to land a blow as the defender passes, trying to slow her down. This exercise only works if all participants use good control and provides an excellent lesson in blocking attacks from any direction.
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