This is a new section to the site. We will be posting different articles regarding our martial arts training. These articles are meant to help better your understanding of certain parts of our Kung Fu, Modern Arnis, or Tai Chi teachings.

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One Step Sparring Vs. Free Sparring by Sifu David Ng

Many of my students often ask, "When can we glove spar more?", and my answer usually will be, "We will spar when we spar…" I know that is not the answer they want to hear. Free Sparring or Glove sparring is a very important tool in Martial Arts training. But many students, especially beginner and intermediate students, place too much emphasis on this training tool. After learning proper stance, handwork, kicks, mobility, joint locking, strategy and technique, one can truly start to receive the true benefit from Free-Sparring. At the same time one needs to start light free sparring to help develop the above-mentioned concepts. One of the main problems of Free-sparring is that it is still a game of cat and mouse…or glorified tag, even though in our kwoon, we continue to spar, and throw and grapple even after we get hit. But it still is a game of strategy between two opponents expecting things to happen. Yes, it is important to develop timing, speed, and flow. Yes, one must learn to be hit and be able to fight back after getting hit and not have the OH! SHOOT (you know what I mean) Factor kick in… But don't think that sparring is the only true training for self-defense. It helps but free sparring alone won't make the grade. This is where one-step sparring helps bridge the gap. Also known as one step techniques, this training tool is one of the major keys to developing self-defense techniques, skill, and reaction. It is classic and modern training at its best. Every serious martial art style or system relies on one-step technique to develop "fighting" or self-defense skills. One-step technique relies on the old "Action/Reaction" concept of training the body. In most cases, we will be in a situation in which we react to someone else's action. There is no time to set up and square off and there is no time for cat and mouse sparring. You do your technique as a reaction. If it isn't working you react with your flow and follow up techniques. This is where Free Sparring training may kick in…but once a situation gets to this point, you must seriously think of escaping. Remember to break down the meaning of SELF-DEFENSE. From my experience as a Police Officer, as well as other students' experiences, that I have learned about through our discussions, when a situation arises you must react fast and hard. You won't have time to toy around and "play". The training that has prepared us the best for those situations are the "ONE STEP SPARRING TECHNIQUES." I have had a couple of students that also benefited from hard free-sparring, when their opponents threw and landed punches, but it just didn't hurt because we hit harder in sparring than most people do on the street. Their reaction of technique came from the one step sparring principle of the opponent attacked and they defended fast, hard, and direct. What can we learn from this lesson? 1. Don't ask when can we free-spar more? (Just kidding!) 2. Practice your One-step techniques. Start slow and build up to true reaction speed and add follow ups. 3. Keep notes on Specific One-step Techniques. Build a library of concepts attack and defense techniques. 4. When you do train free-sparring start slow and light and build up to fast and hard so you can use some of your one-step techniques in free sparring. (Within reason…remember you can't train if you are hurt!) 5. And Finally Practice Your One-step Techniques with your partner not just in class. (Practice makes Perfect!) We will cover weapons sparring in another article.                                                                                                  Sifu David Ng