swpthleg

I am competing in point sparring at a tournament in Erie PA on Jan. 31. My teacher seems to feel that point sparring once a week along with regular classes is adequate preparation. I disagree, I think it's nowhere near enough. What can I do, in my regular gym or at home, to train smarter? I work out 5 days a week, running or the arc trainer, and double up cardio on some days depending on what we're doing in TKD.

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the_beast

im know where near close to knowing what to do but i think the obviouse thing is to work on speed (like faster kicks and punches)

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I rock til i pass out

Dempsey Roll

... why would someone do point sparring. I just don't understand. What is there to be gained from training with LESS aliveness?

Hrm.

Anyways, try going to the beach at sunset and practicing your crane stance.

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"I don't want them to like me, because when I'm in the ring, punches fly to the face. It is not a tenderness time. I am not falling in love. And he knows that when the fight starts I am kicking faces."
- Wanderlei Silva

swpthleg

that's from the sport adaptation of gojuryu karate and has nothing to do with the type of taekwondo that I practice.

You've obviously never read my training log. I don't go to a competition school, I don't grapple much (yet) and olympic-rules TKD sparring is generally reserved for higher ranks. I am an advanced green belt.

I wish people would stop making generalizations about a martial art they're clearly not well informed on.

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recon6991

Like the first guy said it seems like it would be best to work on your hand/foot speed. If you've got a bag at home I would go to town on it for as long as sensible each day when you get up. But practice crispness, not punching like a drunk.

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swpthleg

My gym is supposed to get a bag anytime, and sometimes I can coerce my husband into holding my focus pads for me.

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milkkid291

You can always by a bag and hang it in the garage, outside, or whatever it suitable for your place.

You have any people at the gym with you that you talk to after class or friends? Have them come over and spar at home and go over techniques with them. Since this is your first time in a point sparring contest, I would try to find someone who has done it before and give you pointers.

In Isshinryu Karate, I luckily had my best friend who was 2 belts higher than me give me pointers for my first point sparring tournament since he has done many before me. One thing that I learned is that make your Kia (not sure what TKD practioners call it but the noise you make after every hit) is louder than your opponent's. It will grab the ref's attention on your strike and you will likely be called for the point.

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"When I hear athletes call themselves warriors, it does bother me a little bit. When I think of a warrior, I think of the Marines I've led in combat, those Marines that sacrificed so much...no showers, little food, no contact with their family, all for their love for their brother Marine and for their love for their country. That's a warrior, willing to lay his life on the line. I've had Marines that have laid their lives on the line for the man next to him, and for their family and country. That's a warrior. The guy who goes into some athletic contest who has no war experience, in my eyes, really has no right to call himself that. That's a coveted thing to call someone, and that's what I call my Marines. Those are warriors." - Brian Stann

swpthleg

yep that's what we call it too, it's from the Korean word "kihap" which just means "to yell" and that's an excellent idea. My teacher's son has competed a lot, he's a pretty good teacher himself but I don't get to spar with him much. My daughter is a good sparring partner b/c she goes crazy and takes shot after shot at me, but she's much smaller than an actual opponent would be lol.

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CornbreadBB

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! I love fighting 8 year olds who just keep coming at you...

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swpthleg

She's a tall 10 and she's a beast; she took first in sparring at her last tournament and is going with me to this one; the only mistakes she makes are curling up and dropping her hands, just like her mom. She also likes the hammerfist to the top of the head and right roundhouse, just like her mom.

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