Competition Sparring vs Grading Sparring

[Tosh]

Right I've been feeling this rant coming on for a while so I'll post it here and see what the response is.

I AM SICK TO DEATH OF PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMING ALL TKD SPARRING IS FOR COMPETITON :woo:

I don't kniow how this workd in other martial arts but for me there is a distinct difference between the definition of competition sparring and grading sparring.

For me the definition of competition sparring is as follows:


Using a linited set of attack and defences using control to attack areas on the body which score you points. The eventual winner being the competitor with the most points.

Grading sparring:

Using full range of attack and defencive manouvours exercising control and correct tool/attacking target choice. The best performance judged by who made the most correct choices and did not expose themselves to counter attacks.

I'm interested on your definitions here.

[Helm]

So you want my definitions of grading and competition sparring?

Pretty much the same if we're doing contact sparring, as we're being trained for competition so we should show relevant skills...however the outcome of the grading isnt decided on who scores the most points, indeed no-one actually counts the score, so using the full range of attacks and tactics counts most, to show you are competient in both attack and counter-attack and can spar taller/shorter fighters and use appropriate tactics.

[KarateKid1975]

In my TKD school, grading and competition sparring is the same. Except grading, they don't score or count points and it is for a short amount of time. Usually 30 seconds for three rounds, depending on how many are testing. You may have to spar more people. Competition sparring, they do count points and it is for a longer period of time. Usually one minute to a minute and a half, two rounds.

In my TSD school, both grading and competition was different. Competition sparring was point sparring instead of continuious sparring. In class or grading, we would spar for a minute straight (without stopping for points) for three rounds. And no points were counted there either.

[Labatt]

Competition:

Holding nothing back, going buck, going crazy, going pycho, going for KO's.

Grading:

Showing techniqe, power, concentration, and TECHNIQE

That's my definition

[ROBERT]

I would like to add a type of sparring:

Competition:

Going all out on only the legal target areas. Not as interested in good form or defence. Just trying to score more points.

Grading:

Using all that you are taught in a controlled enviroment. Able to target any part of opponent.

Self defence:

Utilizing all you have learned to successfully defend against many different types of attacks(not just taekwondo attacks). Also not limited on targets to strike.

Robert

[TkdWarrior]

guys we are missing something
where's bare knucles sparring?? :D ;)
-TkdWarrior-

[Cain]

Uh, Tkdwarrior, maybe we do that only in here.......at least that's wat I know from my stay on MAP......

|Cain|

[Tosh]

Originally posted by ROBERT


Self defence:

Utilizing all you have learned to successfully defend against many different types of attacks(not just taekwondo attacks). Also not limited on targets to strike.

Robert

Smal lchange here for me

.....where you are not the instigator of the attacks.

A -la one step sparring.

[TkdWarrior]

cain didn't get yea...dude...mind explaining..
yes i agree one step sparring is good too...
-TkdWarrior-

[Cain]

I mean bareknuckle sparring, hell I got almost charred to death after Yoda had flamed me about it :D

|Cain|

[TkdWarrior]

LMAO
it's called bare mouth boxing :D

-TkdWarrior-

[Cain]

Unfortunately.......ok fortunately :D

I am not allowed to punch to the face

Except sometimes we spar with gloves but use only backfists

|Cain|

[neryo_tkd]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KarateKid1975

Competition sparring, they do count points and it is for a longer period of time. Usually one minute to a minute and a half, two rounds.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


a minute to a minute and a half???? that's it????
:confused:

[Tosh]

Originally posted by neryo_tkd
[QUOTE][i]

a minute to a minute and a half???? that's it????
:confused:

In my experience colcour belt sparring is usually 90 seconds for each fight and at regional comps you are probaly expected to go through anwhere between 4-12 rounds to go gold.

Usually Black belt sparring consists of 2 rounds 2 minutes each. Well for ITF sparring anyway! :D

[neryo_tkd]

I live in Europe, so the situation migt be completely different than over there. I am aware of the differences between ITF and WTF (I myself train and teach WTF) but here the rounds at the ITF competitions last as long as the ones at a WTF competition, meaning 3 rounds x 2 minutes or 3 rounds x 3 minutes depending on the fight. Semi-final and final fights have 3 rounds x 3 minutes. there are no differences between coloured belts and black belts at WTF competitions. the competitors are divided into weight divisions. but there are rules as to what coloured belt can take part in a certain competition. sometimes the lowest belt that can compete is the green one, sometimes the blue one and sometimes the red one.

[Kwajman]

I think of AAU, ATA, or the olympics when I think of point sparring. Not much punching, very little aggressiveness, just looking for an opening. Grading is much more real, tho not perfect, its more of a kick-punch combination of open techniques.

[neryo_tkd]

very little agressiveness???? :confused:

are you sure about that???? :confused:

[Tosh]

Originally posted by neryo_tkd
I am aware of the differences between ITF and WTF (I myself train and teach WTF) but here the rounds at the ITF competitions last as long as the ones at a WTF competition

The difference in this country (UK) is largley down to time management.

With around 100-200 competitors turning up , adults /juniors,coloured belts and blackbelts you are talking about a serious time issue :D.

In Europe however I have still only experienced (ITF here) coloured belts going for max 2*120 second rounds. But these events are usually split for coloured and b belts.

Guess it's down to time management rather than a change in rules or fitness. :D

[neryo_tkd]

hey Tosh, i have noticed that you keep mentioning separately the coloured belts and the black belts??? why is that? don't they fight amongst each other?

[TKDX_Clock]

Grading:
Technique, style and combos

Comp:
Points, pain and pressure

[Smokemare]

To me there is only one real difference between grading and competition sparring and it probably applies to both ITF and WTF. All the other differences are due to the one difference that sets it apart. That difference is:-

Competition Sparring is competitive. That's all there is to it, you are competeing against another person. In grading sparring that's not really the case - your objectives are to make yourself look like a competant fighter and making your opponent look like a competant fighter - it's really more of a team effort to make both of you look good. I don't know about the rest of you but if I'm competing and my oponent makes a mistake leaving themselves open I'd bury them without respite. If the same happened on a grading I'd score with one or two good shard techniques, then hold back to allow my opponent to regain their composure.

Of course if a technique is risky and can leave you open, you shouldn't use it when competing. If punches don't tend to get scored - why use them? That's why competition sparring can look limited, because of the pressure and the repurcussions of leaving yourself open you need to use only the most effective techniques with enough variety to score points. (If you only use a right leg 45 kick you won't do too well.)

Just my two cents worth - as I can't say enough, Tae Kwon Do is subjective by it's nature...