tournaments
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My Sensei says he would like me to compete in the sparring at a local tournament but i'm not sure if i should has anyone got any tips on sparring they can give me? they would be much appreciated.
tournaments
I am not a competitor, Maygan, so salt my responses to your taste.
1) Be sure you know the rules for this tournament; do not assume they are the same rules you spar under even if it's within your own style. Get them in writing and study them.
2) You need both offense and defense. Defense alone never won a match, but offense alone leaves you open for injury.
3) Tournament fighting is aerobic and anaerobic; you need a good aerobic base. But you need a base that fits your activity...in other words, jogging won't do it, bicycling won't do it, swimming won't do it. Spar, spar, spar, but watch the contact; you're trying to build your endurance, timing, and technique, not show how tough you are or unnecessarily risk injury before the competition.
4) When warming up at the tournament do not warm up with your best/favorite moves. Some opponent may be watching.
5) Be sure you have plenty of fluids and fresh fruit during the competition. (I like fruit juices, some honey, grapes, bananas - that's me; might not be the right combination for you....) Don't let yourself get too stiff from standing around.
6) Watch the other competitors to see if they have favorite combinations or giveaways as to what they are doing.
7) Remember that this is a sport, a competition among friends. Do your best but have fun. If you compete, you win. If you do better than you expected, you win more. If you learn from it, you win even more.
8) Try Gary Khoury-sensei's Forum for advice; he's the man re: tournaments on these Forums.
Good luck; tell us about it afterwards.
student
[This message has been edited by student (edited August 05, 2001).]
1) Be sure you know the rules for this tournament; do not assume they are the same rules you spar under even if it's within your own style. Get them in writing and study them.
2) You need both offense and defense. Defense alone never won a match, but offense alone leaves you open for injury.
3) Tournament fighting is aerobic and anaerobic; you need a good aerobic base. But you need a base that fits your activity...in other words, jogging won't do it, bicycling won't do it, swimming won't do it. Spar, spar, spar, but watch the contact; you're trying to build your endurance, timing, and technique, not show how tough you are or unnecessarily risk injury before the competition.
4) When warming up at the tournament do not warm up with your best/favorite moves. Some opponent may be watching.
5) Be sure you have plenty of fluids and fresh fruit during the competition. (I like fruit juices, some honey, grapes, bananas - that's me; might not be the right combination for you....) Don't let yourself get too stiff from standing around.
6) Watch the other competitors to see if they have favorite combinations or giveaways as to what they are doing.
7) Remember that this is a sport, a competition among friends. Do your best but have fun. If you compete, you win. If you do better than you expected, you win more. If you learn from it, you win even more.
8) Try Gary Khoury-sensei's Forum for advice; he's the man re: tournaments on these Forums.
Good luck; tell us about it afterwards.
student
[This message has been edited by student (edited August 05, 2001).]
tournaments
Maygan
Aside from what sensei "wants," what is that you want? You don't sound that enthused. If your heart's not in it, I would strongly suggest you don't do it.
Also, if your reason for not being sure is due to inexperience in sparring, you may want to just spar in the dojo just to develop more experience, skills, confidence and interest without the added pressure of the "competition." If you just jump in without that base, you may still learn something and even enjoy it. But the chances are less for that to happen.
david
Aside from what sensei "wants," what is that you want? You don't sound that enthused. If your heart's not in it, I would strongly suggest you don't do it.
Also, if your reason for not being sure is due to inexperience in sparring, you may want to just spar in the dojo just to develop more experience, skills, confidence and interest without the added pressure of the "competition." If you just jump in without that base, you may still learn something and even enjoy it. But the chances are less for that to happen.
david
tournaments
Well, I competed in a tournament a few weeks ago. (all karate styles)
If your tournament is anything like mine, don't expect any set of rules, because they'll make them up right before sparring starts. (before the all the sparring starts) But student is right, ask around, to make sure you know what the rules are because they might assume you know them already. In short for this, train like you normally do for the tournament.
When you're in the ring, relax and let the fight happen. Thinking about what you're doing will slow you down too much.
Beyond all the above, good luck. I encourage you to compete as well, it can be a great learning experience.
Adam
If your tournament is anything like mine, don't expect any set of rules, because they'll make them up right before sparring starts. (before the all the sparring starts) But student is right, ask around, to make sure you know what the rules are because they might assume you know them already. In short for this, train like you normally do for the tournament.
When you're in the ring, relax and let the fight happen. Thinking about what you're doing will slow you down too much.
Beyond all the above, good luck. I encourage you to compete as well, it can be a great learning experience.
Adam
tournaments
Thnkyou everyone i will write to say how the tounament goes but i still have a few weeks left once again thanks!
-
Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
tournaments
Maygan
First, I agree with checking in on Gary and his forum. Gary makes the whole sparring thing approachable for the average karateka.
Second, the advice depends a lot on the level of competition. Are you a white belt? Black belt? Something in-between?
* In white belt sparring, you will find the greatest variability in competition, and the greatest risk for injury. Some of the injuries come from uncontrolled flailing. Some of the injuries come from inexperienced fighters walking into techniques.
* In the black belt competition, folks are generally good and know what they are doing. A black belt usually won't hurt you unless (s)he wants to. Remember that!
* Competition in the intermediate ranks is something in-between those two extremes. In my tournament sparring days, I had the most fun sparring in the green and brown belt ranks.
Another consideration is your weight. When I sparred, I usually was at a weight that allowed me to go either light or heavy weight. I always sparred with the big boys, because I had the reach and was generally faster. It was frustrating (and unrealistic) getting beaten by lighting fast love taps in the lightweight division. I always felt like I could take the punishment if a heavyweight wanted to slam me. You will have your own issues, depending on your size and abilities.
If you've never been to a tournament, I say go. Every time I have taken students to tournaments, I am surprised at how even mediocre ones can come home with a trophy - even though Uechi style is a minority in the Mid-Atlantic region. It's a great validation for your training methods and effort. And when you go, you will be impressed by some and amused by many. It's all part of the perspective game that everyone should take part in now and then.
Good luck, and definitely post about your experience.
- Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Glasheen (edited August 06, 2001).]
First, I agree with checking in on Gary and his forum. Gary makes the whole sparring thing approachable for the average karateka.
Second, the advice depends a lot on the level of competition. Are you a white belt? Black belt? Something in-between?
* In white belt sparring, you will find the greatest variability in competition, and the greatest risk for injury. Some of the injuries come from uncontrolled flailing. Some of the injuries come from inexperienced fighters walking into techniques.
* In the black belt competition, folks are generally good and know what they are doing. A black belt usually won't hurt you unless (s)he wants to. Remember that!
* Competition in the intermediate ranks is something in-between those two extremes. In my tournament sparring days, I had the most fun sparring in the green and brown belt ranks.
Another consideration is your weight. When I sparred, I usually was at a weight that allowed me to go either light or heavy weight. I always sparred with the big boys, because I had the reach and was generally faster. It was frustrating (and unrealistic) getting beaten by lighting fast love taps in the lightweight division. I always felt like I could take the punishment if a heavyweight wanted to slam me. You will have your own issues, depending on your size and abilities.
If you've never been to a tournament, I say go. Every time I have taken students to tournaments, I am surprised at how even mediocre ones can come home with a trophy - even though Uechi style is a minority in the Mid-Atlantic region. It's a great validation for your training methods and effort. And when you go, you will be impressed by some and amused by many. It's all part of the perspective game that everyone should take part in now and then.
Good luck, and definitely post about your experience.
- Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Glasheen (edited August 06, 2001).]
tournaments
As my dear friend student said, salt to taste, I haven't competed for about 30 years.
One thing that you have to keep in mind when you go to a tournament is that there is a nasty beastie running around called politics. I hear it is still haunting some tournaments and it can cause some heartbreak if you are not careful.
If you are competing in a tournament (open to all styles) and the field is almost all one style, say Tae Kwon Do with a smattering of other styles, expect that there might be some bias in the judging. I have seen it, experienced it and lost to it.
Do not let it get you down. If you score a solid point, your opponent will know it.
Back in the days of no contact tournaments, this was not the case. Some tournaments were run with refereeing similar to pro wrestling, unfortunately.
Be glad that the business of running tournaments has become cleaner than it was "back when." From what I understand, the political animal is getting a little anemic these days, at least in sparring.
I agree with everything student said about the physical aspects of the issue. He knows what he is talking about. GEM Shihan also made solid points with his comments as did david. If your heart's not in it, it's not for you.
Watch every bout that has someone in it that you MIGHT have to fight. A good memory for techniques and style is a fighter's greatest weapon.
I fought a certain TV star in a tournament back in the late 60's. Made one point on him and got handed my backside, neatly wrapped in a little bag soon after. 10 YEARS later, I ran into him at a Comsumer Electronics Show. His comment - "1968, Washington DC. You're the kid with the backfist." That's why he was a six-time world champion.
Watch and learn and don't be intimidated. Sometimes doing something off the wall against a straight ahead fighter can throw them for a loop. Be creative, but don't try to be too fancy.
Stay grounded, mobile, agile and aggressive.
I hope this rambling word-bath helps.
Respectfully,
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
One thing that you have to keep in mind when you go to a tournament is that there is a nasty beastie running around called politics. I hear it is still haunting some tournaments and it can cause some heartbreak if you are not careful.
If you are competing in a tournament (open to all styles) and the field is almost all one style, say Tae Kwon Do with a smattering of other styles, expect that there might be some bias in the judging. I have seen it, experienced it and lost to it.
Do not let it get you down. If you score a solid point, your opponent will know it.
Back in the days of no contact tournaments, this was not the case. Some tournaments were run with refereeing similar to pro wrestling, unfortunately.
Be glad that the business of running tournaments has become cleaner than it was "back when." From what I understand, the political animal is getting a little anemic these days, at least in sparring.
I agree with everything student said about the physical aspects of the issue. He knows what he is talking about. GEM Shihan also made solid points with his comments as did david. If your heart's not in it, it's not for you.
Watch every bout that has someone in it that you MIGHT have to fight. A good memory for techniques and style is a fighter's greatest weapon.
I fought a certain TV star in a tournament back in the late 60's. Made one point on him and got handed my backside, neatly wrapped in a little bag soon after. 10 YEARS later, I ran into him at a Comsumer Electronics Show. His comment - "1968, Washington DC. You're the kid with the backfist." That's why he was a six-time world champion.
Watch and learn and don't be intimidated. Sometimes doing something off the wall against a straight ahead fighter can throw them for a loop. Be creative, but don't try to be too fancy.
Stay grounded, mobile, agile and aggressive.
I hope this rambling word-bath helps.
Respectfully,
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
tournaments
HEY EVERYONE,
SO I TOLD YOU ALL I WOULD TELL YOU HOW THE TOURNAMENT WENT. IT WENT GREAT!! I GOT 2 2nd PLACE TROPHEYS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONLY 2 OF US BUT I STILL FELT GREAT AFTERWARDS. THANKYOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT WORDS OF ADVICE I REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME.
LOVE MAYGAN
SO I TOLD YOU ALL I WOULD TELL YOU HOW THE TOURNAMENT WENT. IT WENT GREAT!! I GOT 2 2nd PLACE TROPHEYS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONLY 2 OF US BUT I STILL FELT GREAT AFTERWARDS. THANKYOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT WORDS OF ADVICE I REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME.
LOVE MAYGAN
