ITF-Legacy-Project

Sparring is the physical application of attack and defence techniques gained from pattern and fundamental exercise against an actual moving opponent or opponents under various situations. ¹⁾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 own skills and ability, to learn other movements hardly to be gained from pattern or fundamental exercise.

²⁾ 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 encourage the beginner to learn the necessary patterns and fundamental movements before participating in class sparring, especially tournament.

Sparring is classified into prearranged, semi-free, free, foot technique, model and prearranged free sparring with the following sub-categories. ³⁾

Sparring --+-- prearranged -------+-- 3-step --+-- alone
           |                      |            +-- with companion
           |                      +-- 2-step 
           |                      +-- 1-step
           +-- semi-free
           +-- free --------------+-- 1:1
           |                      +-- 1:2
           |                      +-- 2:2
           +-- model              +-- other combination
           +-- foot technique
           +-- prearranged free --+-- 1:1
                                  +-- 1:2
                                  +-- 1:3 or more

**Note: This volume only contains a small amount of information regarding sparring. For further content jump to volume 5.