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Writer's pictureKing Calisthenics

What Is Sparring? (And How To Make The Most Of It)

Pretty much every martial art in the world involves some form of sparring to varying extents. This is a form of training where fighters can put their skills to the test by practicing against an opponent.


Sparring can be incredibly beneficial and is a great way to practice your skills. But what exactly is sparring, and how can you get the most out of it?

 

Don’t worry – we’ve got all the answers right here!


In this handy guide, we’ll teach you about what sparring actually is, as well as some handy tips and tricks to help you get the most out of sparring.


So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!


What Is Sparring, Anyway?


First things first – what exactly is sparring? As we touched on before, sparring is a form of training in martial arts, where you and a partner have a practice fight to prepare you for competitive matches.


This is different to shadow-boxing, which is a solo training method without an opponent.

Sparring is designed to help you practice different techniques against a human opponent so you can work on putting your skills to the test.


It’s a great way to learn how to actually fight properly, without the pressure of a competitive match. Sparring isn’t competitive and is only meant for training and practice.

There are many advantages to sparring.


Aside from giving you the opportunity to actually use the moves you’ve learned, having a human opponent to practice with means that you can get a far better feel for how these techniques work in practice.


It is also a great way to practice defensive techniques, as your sparring partner is much better at fighting back than a punching bag.


How To Get The Most Out Of Sparring: Tips & Tricks


So now that we’ve covered what sparring actually is, let’s take a look at how you can be getting the best out of your sparring sessions.


In this section, we’ll take you through some of the best tips and tricks for getting the most out of sparring.


Practice, Practice, Practice


Everyone knows that practice makes perfect, and sparring is no exception to this rule.

Regularly practicing your sparring skills is the best way to see improvement, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting frequent practice.


Sparring is a tool for learning and improving your skills – it’s not just a way to fight a human opponent, it’s meant to help you get better at fighting.


Make sure you concentrate on working on techniques and practice regularly to get the best out of your sparring.


Focus On Your Opponent


One of the easiest mistakes for a beginner to make is taking their eyes off of their opponent.

Every second your attention isn’t focused on your sparring partner is an opportunity for them to attack, so it’s crucial that you keep your eyes on your opponent at all times.

 

While it can be hard to avoid turning away or ducking from a punch when you’re starting out at sparring, it’s important to keep your head up and your attention on your opponent.


This isn’t just useful for helping you keep your focus, though. It also helps you to improve your footwork, teaching you the proper way to move without having to stare at your feet.


This can feel a little unnatural at first, but keeping your head up will help you learn the proper footwork in no time.


Learn Breathing And Pacing


If you don’t pace yourself properly, it’s easy to wear yourself out quickly while sparring.

It’s important to keep breathing; this might sound like silly advice, but it’s easy for beginners to hold their breath or breath too fast when they start out sparring.


Regular, controlled breathing is vital for longer sparring sessions, and it’s crucial that you learn how to pace yourself before you fight in an actual competitive match. Stay relaxed and keep breathing, and you’ll find yourself in a much better position.


Listen To Your Coach


Again, this might sound obvious, but you need to remember that your coach is there for a reason.


Your coach knows what they’re doing, and is there to help you improve and learn.

All the advice in the world won’t help if you don’t pay attention to it, so make sure you’re actually listening and learning from what your coach is saying.


Find The Right Sparring Partner


The right sparring partner can make a world of difference. Try to find an opponent that you feel comfortable with and can help you develop your skills.


A more experienced opponent can be a great way to learn, as they can help instruct you as you go.


It’s much harder to gain anything by sparring someone with less experience than you, so fighting a better opponent will help you get much more out of your sparring session.


Switch Things Up


Don’t just repeat the same few techniques when you’re sparring; keep switching things up with new moves and combinations.


Again, sparring is meant to help you train – you’ll get the most out of it if you practice a variety of different techniques.


This isn’t just important for learning individual techniques, however.


By switching between different moves you’ll be able to get a better feel for how to chain combinations of different moves together.


Try changing your strategy from offensive to defensive, or work on evasion before switching into a combo. Variety is the spice of life, and helps you develop a better range of skills.


Don’t Get Caught Up On Winning’


Lastly, remember that you’re not here to win. Sparring isn’t competitive, and you aren’t going to get any awards for trying to �?win’ at training.


Focus on improving your skills, and leave the winning to a proper match!


Final Thoughts


There you have it! Now you know a bit more about what sparring is, as well as the best ways to get the most out of your training.


All you have to do now is put these tips and tricks into practice!

 

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