Sparring

SPARRING (Matsogi)

Sparring is the physical application of attack and defence techniques gained from pattern and fundamental exercise against actual moving opponent or opponents under various situations. It is, therefore, not only indispensable to promote the fighting spirit and courage, to train the eyes, to read the opponents tactic as well as maneuvers, to forge, toughen or develop the attacking and blocking tools, to test his or her own skills and ability, to learn other movements hardly to be gained from pattern or fundamental exercise.

In fact, nearly all students are anxious to move into this phase of instruction. Not only does training become more interesting but for the first time the student begins to achieve a degree of satisfaction through actual application of these techniques.

The danger lies in a student who has not built up a solid basic foundation, developing bad habits that are extremely difficult to lose when a student progresses. Therefore, the instructor should en- courage the beginner to learn the necessary patterns and funda- mental movements before participating in class sparring, especially tournament.

General information

1. The sparring is started from a stance on line AB facing each other.

2. Blocking is begun with the left hand or left foot while attacking with the right hand or foot. There are only few exceptions to the above. A student should familiarize himself equally with both sides.

3. All kicks throughout this volume are considered to be executed with the ball of the foot for front snap kick, side front snap kick, turning kick and twisting kick while the back heel is used for reverse turning kick and pick shape kick.

See: System of Sparring (Matsogi Goosong)