Rules for free-fighting and sparring.
General Rules
Free-fighting means applied techniques
without parameters such as time, space, points, target limitations, or # of
combination attacks. Sometimes structure
will be applied for training purposes, but the purpose is to develop
co-ordination, balance, breathing, focus, situational awareness, precision, sensitivity,
and control with partners.
We often free fight without pads to
condition the body, reveal poor techniques, and develop control. We use pads so we can hit a little harder and
follow through with techniques but even then with MODERATION.
Free-fighting can often lead to ground
techniques and this is ok. The
instructor will stop the match if something is inappropriate. Using your environment, shirts, pillows, the
mat, or the Sun is allowed and encouraged.
“FREE FIGHTING” implies a greater use
of strikes and takedowns than “GRAPPLING”, which is oriented to ground work –
staying on the ground or in contact with your partner until submission or
exhaustion.
I. Rank
1.) No
free-fighting before orange
belt without direct
instructor supervision.
2.) Orange belts must be supervised by at least a green belt.
3.) Green belts and above may
free-fight without direct supervision but an instructor must be on the
premises.
4.) Red belts and above may fight all they want to with or without anyone
around.
II. Equipment
1.) At
2.) At Green belt students are encouraged to wear protective gear
including a groin protector and mouthpiece for contact fighting. Also, sparring gear is recommended if you don’t
like mold and spiders.
3.) At Red belt protective fighting equipment is required including mouthpiece,
headgear, hands, feet, and groin.
Remember, we do not always use this equipment but you should own some.
4.) At Black Belt you may wear what you want at your own risk.
III. Strikes
1.) Students are taught that there is a
difference between free-fighting a partner and R/L self-defense/combat.
2.) Many things that we learn cannot be used
safely on another person at full speed, therefore;
3.) No blind techniques.
4.) At WHITE belt no
contact.
5.) At
6.) At Green belt
students may contact body and head with any soft weapon or jointed attack.
* soft
weapons include palm, instep, arms, padded backfist,
padded ridgehand.
7.) At Red belt
students may use bone supported weapons and attacks with moderation.
* bone support means linear
skeletal structure ie; back kick, straight punch,
front stomp, elbow etc.
8.) NOTE : Attacks to
the face are always limited.
9.) NOTE:
Attacks to the spine, neck, knees, and groin are NOT ALLOWED at any time.
IV. Weapons
1.) White Belts
use no weapons.
2.) Orange Belts
may begin training with the Jo, or short staff.
Sparring is only on a ONE-STEP basis.
3.) Advanced Orange Belts
may continue quicker one steps, and may slow
free-fight under direct instructor supervision.
4.) Green Belts
may free fight with the weapon of their last rank (Jo staff). Padded or wood is ok.
5.) No wooden weapon shall strike the head or
neck area at any time.
6.) Advanced Green Belts
may one-step and slow spar with Nunchaku, Bo staff, wooden/practice
tomahawk, escrima.
7.) No fighting with Bow and Arrow at any time.
8.) Red Belts may
free fight with any weapon including wooden knife, Green belt weapons, and Rope
(Hojo Jutsu).
9.) Red Belts may
begin training with Shinai, Sai,
Tonfa, and Bokken.
10.) Throwing weapons must be designed for
practice to use on another person (rubber shuriken, metsubishi,
bola, etc)
For a list of trainable weapons
visit our TOOLS page
