Point Sparring

The guy who refereeing the match is (well, "was" but may going back beginning of 2014 with my 3 kids) my Sensei

this is not "best of the best" sparring ... just an example of point sparring.



what do you have to say about this "point" sparring ?

all I can say is it's a sport with lightning fast reaction mixed with light contact (sometime full contact)

So will you expanding my mind by explaining what are your thoughts about this "point sparring" ?

Do you point sparring at all ?

 

Point sparring is just playing tag.

 

Point sparring is a game that martial artists play. 'old school' is was a lot more applicable to the street, and had no pads, and hurt. A lot. Now days, it is a game, nothing more. Evidenced by the stupid 'hammer strike' the guy in blue was getting points with. No one does that technique like that, anywhere effectively.

Some people like it, and I say more power to them, do what you like. It can help you with speed and distancing, so it does have some useful attributes. However, it is not fighting, and a lot of really good sparring people think they they can fight just as well. A lot of the techniques and strategies will not work in a fight. Just be clear on what you are doing, and for what reason.

My two cents, anyway.

 

I've had 6 year olds spar with better technique and with more grit at my dojo. Talking personally, it's a waste of time, energy and potentially dangerous. And I hate when people bounce up and down on the spot for no reason!

You fight how you train.

 

closing in with bouncing or shuffling is making the moves more unpredictable to execute techniques ... far away from opponent bouncing is definitely waste of energy

 

um im still struggling with something nice to say

Drives me nuts stupid bouncing and tagging

 

I'm not all against point sparring, but that electronic systems that olympic TKD uses and the Shotokan point system really makes it hard to take point sparring seriously

 

This.

 

I understand the concept but it might just be me but it's never seemed unpredictable when I've sparred against someone doing that. If anything it telegraphs their entire rhythm to me so it's easier to predict when they'll attempt to strike. And definitely from far away. It's just bobbing on the spot I can't stand. It's like they're playing Mortal Combat or something and feel compelled to be constantly animated.

 

I don't do point sparring and when it comes to training for a physical encounter I don't consider it any use, plus it tends to produce bad habits and the type of wimp behavior shown in this video.

 

When I'm in range, I'm attacking. If I'm not in range, I get there and attack. My reasoning is that bouncing always wastes energy, might as well be attacking!

 

(at the beginning) THAT IS WHAT THE CUP IS FOR !!!!!!

 

What I think that has to be taken into account is the purpose of the fighting for each individual. If point sparring is just playing tag, so, just let it be... many people want to fight something and try to 'evaluate' their skills in the techniques of the art but do not want to do it extremely in a way that they can get hurt more seriously. So... not everyone trains to be able to fight, as you like to say "in a real situation" or "effectively".

I think point sparring sometimes takes away they meaning of the fight, but it's a safer way. Imagine kids and seniors going full contact. I wouldn't fight full contact for sportive reasons.

 

...exactly. At least, if you are going to do point sparring, show some carry/push through for emphasis. Then, by God, please recover to a fight position instead of turning your back and sauntering away.

 

Well there are some advantages to point sparring...

1. You can work on "flaws" in your technique, in the video above, the guy in black and red took a while to realize that your hands a better in the guard position than by your side, and the guy in blue (eventually) learned that if you keep coming in with hammerfists, your opponent will (in this case eventually ) wise up to it and defend/counter attack.
2. As alluded to above, as soft and taggish as it is, you are not fighting a compliant Uke, you are fighting someone who is not going to let you hit them and who will hit back.
3. Because of point "2", it is a perfect tool for training with kids, or for introducing combat to beginners. So they can start to get a feel for what will/won't work in a non threatening way.

The disadvantages have been basically outlined by the other post, so really don't have to repeat them.
But the sad fact is, because of Health & Safety requirements and Insurance and all the other little things that go with running a dojo, this level of point sparring is about the only way that an instructor can give his students SOME kind of contact sparring without his premiums going through the roof or getting his butt sued.

 

I think it would still be safe but more effective if they made a less contact version of sanda sparring for karate,

 

And for God's sake, they are wearing a black and red and a shiny blue costume with green gloves and hats... this can't be taken seriously..

 

Heck why stop here... most of us hate point sparring.
For those who "like" or tolerate point sparring... I was just thinking that there could be some hybrid type of point balance system.
Would go like this ( and by the way, I use some of these when I have to ref/score this crap):
- If the strike doesn't have a "real" impact... it "don't" count... ergo: touching has no impact to the light saber point.
- Don't stop at the first contact... it isn't a "magic death blow"
- Once there is a good interchange of strikes, score the entirety of it. Example: 2 point blue, 5 point red where blue struck first, but red is a counter attacker, and purposefully took the first strike to counter with a barrage...etc.
- It would be flurry scoring, but would go back to the first rule.
- Additionally, this would prevent this "turning your back" crap... because it would be an "engagement session" with breaks in action only called by the ref... could be if one is getting overwhelmed, or when there was a natural break, etc.
- If there is no significant break in action, do sub-round breaks simply to let judges score... maybe 5 seconds break once within round.

Haven't thought through a hybrid like this much, but I generally hate point sparring... and it could be "saved" with something like this... I might not "totally" despise it.