sparring rules

[Asmo]

[Tholf]

Unfortunately I don't get to spar in HG, although I do in the other stuff I train, although the rules sets for those (BJJ grappling, boxing) wouldn't translate appropriately to HG sparring.

I'm interested to hear what works for your and your sparring partners and what does not. Do you have set of effective "go to" techniques ie Asmo's "[number] Deadly (in sparring) Hands"?

For example, in boxing I have a few techniques that work well on a reasonably consistent basis, such as tapping an incoming jab to the left while stepping and slipping right, then stepping forward and hooking or jabbing with my left, following with a cross or repeated left hooks. Another is a half-committed jab to the face, followed by dropping and jabbing into the stomach, then a quick withdrawal.

[Asmo]

Well its a bit too early to make a final list , but Gung Ji Kuen's part (sorry I don't know a correct name for this) 'progressive' part (where you do 4x alternating catstance/bowstance forwards) has very useful techniques. Also tiger pressing, butterflypalms and short bridging (the end of Fook Fu Kuen) works well.

BTW, we start with bridges formed and start to 'sticky hand' and sense the opponent. We found so far this helped it to prevent become kickboxing like as well where we would just throw out punches/kicks.

I think however this also causes that we primarily use techniques that don't require a lot of stepping, hence the techniques from Gung Ji Kuen.

These sparring matches also help me to understand the concepts of the 12 kiu sao more.

I had hoped for more response ... PM, TenTigers? I thought you guys do a lot of this type of training and hoped for some input/pointers

[PM]

hello Asmo,

well, we have many stages of sparring and many different sparring "games" in our school - on the spot; with turning; with steps; strikes only; grappling only; strikes and kicks; strikes, kicks and grappling, tui shou/chi sau kind of "sparring" (man kiu). most of those are part of methodical and systematical preparation for the complete thing, ie. strikes, kicks, grappling and locking (tek, da, syut, na).

in my opinion, it is very important to train 2 different ways:

a) everything goes - even eye gouges, hair pulling, throat strikes, groin strikes... but slowly, just touch is ok. this type of sparring is meant to train whole range of techniqes we have

b) full contact, with full protective equipment. this type of training trains the real speed, power, aggressiveness etc.

anyway, both for school and out of school gong sau matches, we have this basic set of rules:

1) fair play!

2) 18 years+

3) fighting "ring" - cca 3 m in diameter, made by other guys standing in a circle

4) no weight divisions

5) mandatory minimum protection gear - mouth piece, grappling gloves, cup. any ther protection gear is up to the two guys having a bout (boxing gloves, headgear, shin protecors... )

6) clothing - light shoes, ppants, t-shirt. no heavy boots, rings, chains, bracelets, ear-rings etc. if the figther want to use kicks to the head, he has to fight barefooted.

7) referee - 1 neutral, plus each fighter is coached by one guy.

time - 2x2 minutes.

9) forbidden techniques - attacks to the eyes, palm strikes to the ears, fishook, throat strikes, groin strikes. all the other techniques (elboes, knee kicks, fight in the clinch, throws, ground fighting... ) are arranged between the two guys and their couches before the match

10) end of fight: the bout could be stopped by coach, fighter (tapping out, loud shout "stop!"), by using of forbidden technique.

11) victory - not decided, everybody knows. we do the matches to have more experience, no prices