Sparring Drills
Sparring Drills (19)
Run and Fight
Lava Pit Sparring
King of the Ring I and King of the Ring II
Sock Sparring
I was watching a group of Navy Sailors one day playing flag football in Atsugi Japan and I decided that the idea of the Flag football game could be applied to sparring (Non injury).
I have my students use a tube sock (Clean) instead of a flag (You could make flags if you wish.) I have two students, with one sock each, drape the tube sock over the knot of their karate belt (Center line), half over/half under. The student(s) then spars like they normally would except that the object of the match is to get the other students sock (Flag). They bow in and out and to the instructor. They take their fighting stance and stop and start when instructed. As soon as one student gets the other students sock, you can stop the match, have the losing student replace their sock and start the match again. You can have one point matches, two point matches or three point matches etc. or even king of the ring matches (if you lose your sock your out, next student in and he/she challenges the winner of the first match.)
Variations:5yr to 7yr old students. Parents like it because it is less combative then actual sparring and they can do it at home with their student. Equipment is minimal - two socks. Ring size is up to the Sensei. Older and more experienced students find this game extremely challenging because there is only one way to score and they have numerous ways to block or evade an attack. Have Fun!
By Sensei Mike Tobin
7 and 7 Sparring Drill
This is a fighting / sparring drill that we call 7 and 7.
You need two students to do this drill.
In this drill we work on increasing a student's blocking ability and hand speed for both blocks and strikes (A.K.A. - Trapping Hands). The students also will learn to put combinations together. The students can only move as much as needed to throw a technique, however, have the students move as little as possible. Have the students square up facing each other with their right foot forward. Choose one student to be side “A” and the other to be side “B.” In the first level of this drill have side “A” throw one punch and side “B” then blocks that punch. Next side “B” will throw one punch and side “A” will block that punch. Now have side “A” throw two punches and then side “B” must block these two punches. Then it is side “B” that throws two punches and side “A” must block those punches. This exchange will take place back and forth until both side have fired seven punches at each other. Once that is done have the students switch their front foot and do the drill again.
The second level of this drill is to do the drill again, except this time have the students do this with kicks only. Side “A” throws one kick and side “B” blocks the kick, and so on until seven kicks have been thrown, switch their foot forward and repeat the drill.
The third level of this drill is to have the student do the drill, but they must do both punches and kicks, and once again do the drill on the opposite side. In this level, however, the student must do a mix, they cannot do just hands or just feet. For example we will look at side “A” only and we will assume that side “B” is doing their part: 1 punch. 1 punch and 1 kick 1 kick and 2 punches 1 punch, 2 kicks and 1 punch 1 kick, 1 punch, 1 kick, 1 punch and 1 kick 2 kicks, 3 punches and 1 kick 1 kick and 6 punches You can make the mix anyway you want to but they have to do at least one punch or at least one kick.
Keep your guard up and have fun with this drill!
Sifu Mike Meadows
Chief Instructor of Huo Ma Pai Kung Fu
115 – B Albemarle Ave S.E.
Roanoke, VA 24013
Partner Sparring
In this sparring drill you learn how to move around with a partner while sparring. You need at LEAST four students for this type sparring, and if you have five students even better.
Control is paramount to this drill and have the students spar at half speed and power to maintain safety. You have students “A” and “B” sparring against students “1” and “2” (and “3” if you have the numbers).
There is no points awarded just let the students spar for 2-mins then switch who is in the student “A” and “B” student spots until everyone in the group has had a chance to do both the “A” and “B” students and the “1”, “2” and “3” student spots.
This is drill helps the students gain experience of working with a “friend” in a self-defense situation. They also get to work on knowing where people are in a fight and its a fun way to get some card.
I hope you have fun and enjoy some “Partner Sparring!”
Sifu Mike Meadows
Chief Instructor of Huo Ma Pai Kung Fu
115 – B Albemarle Ave S.E.
Roanoke, VA 24013
Defender Sparring
Here is the scenario that we have all feared at one time or another. You are out somewhere with your significant other and / or family and you are attacked! What do you do? We train our way up to handling multiple attackers, but that's only part the way correct, we need to train with the ones we love. We need to give instructions on what they need to do (and not do) when and if you are attacked when you are with them. We need to train with the thought that whomever is attacking us is going after our beloved and we must defend them. It is one thing for us to fight for our selves, and another when its for someone else.
When you are in the situation and you fear that an attack is going to take place and you tell your loved ones to run, you mean – RUN! Tell them not to stand around and watch, go get help or what ever the “Emergency Plan” is that you have already talked about beofre the situation ever takes place. After all, you have a fire escape plan at home, work and school, and you have these things for hurricanes and other desasters. Being attacked and having a plan for your loved ones should be no different.
That being said, let's talk about “Defender Sparring.” In this drill we will have the attacker, the defender and the victim(s). Unlike the “real life situation” the victims will help get themselves into more trouble making the defender work harder. Instead of running away, the victim(s) wants to be a spectator to the whole ordeal and deliberately move into harms way, hence making the defender's job harder (NOTE – victim's do not run directly to the attacker). The victim can only use blocks against the attacker and cannot do anything else. The attacker's job is to get past the defender by using his martial skills (including sweeps and throws provided that all parties know how to do falls and rolls safely) to attack the victim. In that attack the attacker's goal is to grab and hold on to the victim for a three-count at which time the match is stopped.
They can hold the arm, sleeve, lapel, anything as long as its for a consecutive three-count. If the attacker grabs and holds on for a two count and the defender breaks the hold for the victim, the match continues. The defender's job is straight forward – defend the victim against the attacker. As the students get better at doing the defending throw in another victim who moves around independently from the other victim. You will still use one attacker at this point.
Once the student's skills have improved then drop it back down to one victim again, but add two attacker's. Keep in mind the attacker's main goal here is to get past the “Defender” and hold on to the “Victim” for a three-count. Besides this being a fun way to do some sparring the students will gain awareness of whose around them in a safe environment.
Sifu Mike Meadows
Chief Instructor of Huo Ma Pai Kung Fu
115 – B Albemarle Ave S.E.
Roanoke, VA 24013
Ninja Sparring
Ninja Sparring
Video Included
Place 8 -10 Century Blast Masters in a cluster.
Pick two students with full sparring gear to pair off, have them start at two opposite ends with both feet on the Blast Masters.
When the instructor says go, the students spar each other until one person's foot lands on the mat, then a point is awarded to the other student.
Spar till 5 points.
Tons of fun, junior students only.
Taming Aggressive Sparring Students
I find that children can be tentative and/or aggressive, when sparring. When the student is too aggressive, I find myself stopping the match and "saving" the tentative student, but doing his honor no justice...
so: I place colored dots (from Century) in a circle around the room, as I see a move that would cause me to stop the match, instead I call a color, the first one to step dive or otherwise "land" on the spot gets a point!
Therefore anyone can win and save face, still get freestyle sparring in and point sparring!
From Mike OHandley
East Taunton Kenpo Karate
One Sided Sparring
Have students spar with only one side of the body. Start with weak side then progress to strong.
Helps develop weak side and promotes more usable moves. Can do front side, back side, spin, reverse, jump, and swing techniques but only with one side.
May block with either.. Don't want any injuries!!!!
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