Explosive

[tbubb1]

Hey, we spar in my school and I've noticed that I severely lack in the explosive power area required to spar. I'm too layed back and waiting for some momentum from the opponent to flow with...

I'm told to keep light feet but I really don't find that helpful at all, and I'm told to remain in ready stance but I feel more comfortable in neutral...and keeping my feet flat on the ground.

Obviously sparring isnt for me then, but I do find it fun sometimes. I look at Hapkido for the joint locks, and you can't use them in sparring.

One of the main reasons that I don't spar well anymore (I used to own as a young kid) is that I feel as though I don't have the explosive energy that you need. After the first two kicks or so I feel as though I need to fall back because I don't have the power to follow it up, and when someone comes in with a kick into a few punches, if I can't blow them away with a side kick or scare them with a fake axe kick, I pretty much let them punch me.

I'm just curious if anyone has any advice? Danke schön.

[Fish Of Doom]

ask in other martial art's threads also, some are quite the sparrers and may be able to help you(though i can't do much because i quasi-suck at sparring and don't know hapkido rules)

Fish of Doom

[Trae]

Are you saying that you're weak? :)

I'm weak. I'm white belt (only 3 months of training) and I've had a very light sparring last week, with a bunch of green belts. Needless to say I was owned nicely.
The worst problem wasn't even the fact that I had close to no technique available it's the fact that I'm simply out of shape. After 15 seconds of throwing punches and kicks, I must've lost a liter in sweat.

Hopefully in the next few months when I lose the fat, and grow some muscle I'll be able to compete.

What I'm trying to say is: are you out of shape?

Furthermore, you mention that you don't think that sparring is for you. One of the attractive qualities of hapkido (for me) it's universal usefulness. I can't help but think that one day the sparring might provide useful. That is, keeping the other person out of reach and damaging them before they get close and tie you down so his/her friends can pound on you.

[angry]

I'm not quite sure what everyone is having trouble with here or if there all the same issue? So these are pretty general.

Sparring is an aerobic exercise and to have intensity you need a fair bit of aerobic capacity. ( Get lots of oxygen into you blood etc..) There are lots of ways to improve aerobic fitness, so I won't go into that. I would suggest sparring (light contact) for around 20 minutes 3 or 4 times a week as a great way to get fit.

(Yes, you can have rest break to get your breath but don't let yourselves cool down or let that heart rate drop down to rest levels during the 20 minutes!)

As for explosiveness, it can be improved by polymetrics and other strength build exercises, even weight lifting. Read up on various methods and try some.

Try speaking with your instructors and or get a training plan done up for you by a sports health professional (doctor, physio, person trainer etc...)

Sparring is a game you should be using to improve your perception and reaction of attacks and your handling of them. Relax and have a bit of fun with it and in a couple of years you be great. (Yes, it takes time like everything else!)

[iron_ox]

Sparring is a game


Great post angry and I don't want to take just this bit out of context, but...sparring is just a game.

Hapkido is about self-preservation, not about "sparring" - save that for competition based martial sports, like Taekwondo.

For real expolsive power, try doing techniques in slow motion against a FULLY resistant opponent, if they work, you have good technique. Explosive power will come with this type of practice.

Hapkido is about dealing with real situations, it really is not suited for sparring of the type you describe. Reaction time can be built by simulated attacks that grow in speed and intensity - just be safe.

I've seen lots of fights, and NEVER one where people did anything close to what is considered sparring.

[tbubb1]

k thanks everyone

[angry]

Iron-ox, as long as your simulated attacks are planned and the defender knows what is coming they are going to be much more ready. If your attacks are not pre-arranged and are random, this is a very effective training method, but sparring will always have its place in a martial arts school.

I use sparring to teach quick feet movement and good visual awareness etc.. Strikes, throws and takedowns can be done while sparring if you set rules accordingly and supervise closely the sparring, but these are best learn through other types of training and then put into practice during sparring.

As for fights not looking like sparring.... I have seen fights like a boxing match and others more like animals tearing at each other, but it all seems to come down to what is each persons fighting style is. Yours will have change through learning hapkido. This gives you confidence to face an opponent with a greater likelihood of surviving

[iron_ox]

Hello angry,

Well, maybe that's a reason to get to Austrailia - seen fight on five of the seven continents, never one that looked like sparring or boxing... :)

I agree with most else, but still don't use sparring at all in my dojang. Students at the intermediate and upper levels, and certainly after dan rank train in fast, unplanned attack defense - the attackers (mostly me) just have to watch themselves so that they don't get hurt. :)

[Pineapple Man]

Hey, we spar in my school and I've noticed that I severely lack in the explosive power area required to spar. I'm too layed back and waiting for some momentum from the opponent to flow with...

I'm told to keep light feet but I really don't find that helpful at all, and I'm told to remain in ready stance but I feel more comfortable in neutral...and keeping my feet flat on the ground.

Obviously sparring isnt for me then, but I do find it fun sometimes. I look at Hapkido for the joint locks, and you can't use them in sparring.

One of the main reasons that I don't spar well anymore (I used to own as a young kid) is that I feel as though I don't have the explosive energy that you need. After the first two kicks or so I feel as though I need to fall back because I don't have the power to follow it up, and when someone comes in with a kick into a few punches, if I can't blow them away with a side kick or scare them with a fake axe kick, I pretty much let them punch me.

I'm just curious if anyone has any advice? Danke schön.

youre probably just thinking too much the best way to keepan opponent away from you is to keep hitting them dont do one or two kicks keep going
and dont try to think about it too much just keep hitting them
:bang: