Sparring is a process where more advanced students practice what they have learned in as real a situation as possible whilst maintaining control and safe practice. It is an important element of all of our styles that involve striking including: Kickboxing, Kick Jitsu, FMA and Freestyle Karate.
Within our classes all sparring is supervised by an Instructor of Black Belt Level. Two students wearing the required amount of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will spend a number of timed 3 minute rounds practicing the techniques they have learned in the format of a light contact match.
The purpose of sparring is for students to move away from doing a technique in a controlled environment such as Grading and to practice it in a situation where someone else is able to defend themselves and attack you.
This enables the student to try out techniques and combinations, figure out what works for them and what doesn't, practice breaking through your opponents guard whilst assessing the effectiveness of your own and combine techniques into combinations and test their effectiveness.
You are welcome to spar at any level but are advised to wait until you have a couple of belts before you begin. All students undertaking an Adult Black Belt must spar to pass the Grading.
Due to the close fitting nature of the equipment it is not hygienic for the club to provide equipment. Anyone wishing to spar must provide their own PPE. The equipment you wear is mandated by the insurance company and if you do not have it you can not spar.
Our governing body C.M.A.A. require all students to wear the following when sparring:
Foot Guards (Covering heel and toes)
Shin Guards
Groin Guards
Gum Shield
Head Guard
Gloves (Covering fingers)
Chest Guards (Optional)
Every precaution is taken to avoid students being injured in any of our classes and our risk assessments are available to all students upon request. Injury is unlikely as all sparring is light contact and is supervised at all times by an experienced instructor. Martial Arts is ultimately a contact sport and there are occasionally minor bruises and cuts etc but these are dealt with immediately by the instructor.
Before purchasing any equipment please speak to your instructor. It is very easy to spend a lot of money on equipment which is unsuitable or not worth the price. Your instructor will be able to show you a set of sparring kit, talk you through what you need and has a handout with rough prices you should expect to pay.