Sparring
How sparring works
Gear, rounds and light contact first. A sparrer always knows what the next minute holds.
- 01
Step 1: Gear on
Every sparrer wears headgear, a chest protector, a mouthguard and shin and forearm guards. A coach checks the straps before the round.
- 02
Step 2: A round, with a coach
A coach stands in the ring, calls the start and the stop, and pauses the round when either sparrer asks.
- 03
Step 3: Light contact first
New sparrers touch, not hit. Contact builds over several sessions, and only with a partner who has agreed to it.
- 04
Step 4: Then a talk
After each round the pair and the coach go over one thing that worked and one to practice, before the next pair steps in.
Who spars
Juniors spar in gear, at the body
Students in the Juniors class start with pad work and partner drills, then move to light-contact rounds in gear. Contact stays at the body, and a coach is in the ring for every round. Teens and adults join the sparring lab when the coach agrees they are ready.
Gear on for every round
A coach in the ring
Pad work before partner rounds
Gear
What a sparrer wears
The club has loaner gear for a first round. Students who keep sparring get their own, and the coaches help with sizing.
Headgear
Fitted and strapped before the round.
Chest protector
Worn over the uniform, in a color that tells the pair apart.
Mouthguard
Fitted before the first round and worn in every one.
Shin and forearm guards
Padded guards on both, worn for every round.
Foot guards and gloves
Padded, with the straps checked by the coach.
A bag for it all
Gear dries in the bag between classes, and the coaches wipe loaner gear down.
Questions about sparring
When does a student start sparring?
When the coach agrees. Most students begin in the sparring lab at green belt, after pad work and partner drills.
Does anyone have to spar?
No. Poomsae and kicking classes carry on without it, and a student can stay there as long as they like.
Who is in the ring?
A coach is in the ring for every round, and a second coach watches from the side when the lab is full.
Can parents watch?
Yes. The bench by the wall has a clear view of the ring, and we ask families to stay seated and quiet during rounds.
Come and watch a round
Try a class and see the sparring lab from the bench, or ask a coach any question first.