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.

What is sparring?
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.

Will I be injured?
Students are expected to exercise self-control while sparring, to avoid injuring anyone. Contact is light when it is permitted at all. In addition, students wear protective pads during sparring matches (foam headgear, gloves and boots, as well as mouthpieces and protective cups).

When do I start sparring?
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 camouflage belts and above are required to spar. Orange and yellow belts are allowed to attend sparring class with the instructor's permission.

Is sparring the same as fighting?
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, 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. (See the ATA tournament rules.)

Street fighting, unlike testing or tournament sparring, has no rules. For the safety of its students, ATA Martial Arts does 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.

Read Chief Master Dan Thor's article on Sparring: Principles and Strategy