First of all, let me describe point sparring. This is the type of sparring that is done with minimal to no contact. In Soo Bahk Do, there is no contact at the lower levels and maybe touch contact at the higher levels. The theory behind this is that you are showing that you can strike to a target area and control the strike so that it does no harm.
The rules of point sparring are as follows...
1. Sparring occurs in a two minute round and continues until a judge has determined that a point has been scored. The judge will stop the time and interupt the action to award the point to one contestant or another.
2. Target areas are all located above the belt with the front of the head and torso being open. Targets on the back of the torso or the back of the head or forbidden.
3. Different techniques are awarded different values of points. A simple punch or a kick that scores is worth one point. A jump kick or a spin kick that scores is worth two points. A jump spinning kick that scores is worth three points. If you block and counter with a clean and efficient counter, you may be awarded an additional point at the judges discretion.
4. Matches are decided by the first contestent to be awarded five points. All matches must be won by two points in order to show a clear winner.
5. Disqualification will take place for the following reasons; excessive contact (pretty much any), techniques to forbidden areas, blind techniques, and poor sportsmanship. For the former three, you will be given one warning before being DQed. For the latter you will be immediately ejected.
As you can see, this is very different then how we spar right now. We don't stop the action. We don't keep track of points. We use contact. And we spar with a fluid system of rules that depends on what I'm trying to teach at the time.
For the next seven weeks, we will be sparring with point sparring rules and I'm going to be teaching everyone how to judge so that they will better know what to expect. Further, my hope is that you will be able to draw your own conclusions regarding point sparring and understand why we don't do it this way.
The bottom line is that I think that point sparring is fun. However, its a stylized game of tag. If you want to win under these rules, you need to think of it like that.
The rules of point sparring are as follows...
1. Sparring occurs in a two minute round and continues until a judge has determined that a point has been scored. The judge will stop the time and interupt the action to award the point to one contestant or another.
2. Target areas are all located above the belt with the front of the head and torso being open. Targets on the back of the torso or the back of the head or forbidden.
3. Different techniques are awarded different values of points. A simple punch or a kick that scores is worth one point. A jump kick or a spin kick that scores is worth two points. A jump spinning kick that scores is worth three points. If you block and counter with a clean and efficient counter, you may be awarded an additional point at the judges discretion.
4. Matches are decided by the first contestent to be awarded five points. All matches must be won by two points in order to show a clear winner.
5. Disqualification will take place for the following reasons; excessive contact (pretty much any), techniques to forbidden areas, blind techniques, and poor sportsmanship. For the former three, you will be given one warning before being DQed. For the latter you will be immediately ejected.
As you can see, this is very different then how we spar right now. We don't stop the action. We don't keep track of points. We use contact. And we spar with a fluid system of rules that depends on what I'm trying to teach at the time.
For the next seven weeks, we will be sparring with point sparring rules and I'm going to be teaching everyone how to judge so that they will better know what to expect. Further, my hope is that you will be able to draw your own conclusions regarding point sparring and understand why we don't do it this way.
The bottom line is that I think that point sparring is fun. However, its a stylized game of tag. If you want to win under these rules, you need to think of it like that.