Sparring

Boxing isn’t just about brute strength; it’s about skill and outwitting your opponent.
Lennox Lewis

Over the next 6 weeks we will be looking at the concept of sparring. The first 3 weeks we will be concentrating on hands only and then we will cover hands and legs.

The first few weeks we will cover different lines of attack whether they be straight or curved and how to move through the different ranges, with a high probability of not being hit(kicking range, punching range to close range and back again).

We will also cover the exploitation of your natural gifts, whether you, are tall, short, fast, a heavy puncher or have quick reactions. This always amazes me that so many combatants do not use their natural gifts. Therefore they never get to present a problem to their opponent which they have to answer. Remember we are attempting to teach you intelligent combat. In sparring, you should always attempt to ask questions of your opponent and force them to answer. The conversation should be like this:-

Fighter A: “Can you defend my Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “I’ll ask again, can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Straight Right”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Cross”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my low round kick”
Fighter B “Yes I can and I can crush it too”
Fighter A: “Ouch…Can you defend my fake low round house ,head kick”
Fighter B: “Here is my crush to your low round house and ..Ouch missed the head kick”

Now don’t get fixated by the above, use the strikes and combinations in sparring that fit your body type, skill, which feel natural to you. JKD is about honestly expressing yourself, if a particular combination doesn’t work for you in sparring don’t use it. My suggestion is to write it down in your notes as in your martial arts journey you may come across the technique again and because of your personal growth it now feels natural to you and becomes part of your major arsenal.

Furthermore we’ll be covering how to move around your opponent with a high probability of not being hit. We’ll be using the following drill as a basis and then in true JKD fashion we’ll break from it as Sifu Bruce says “Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle”

Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook (In left lead stance)

Jab, Cross

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab, Cross – on centre line punching (Straight left , Straight right)
2. Jab, Cross – off centre line punching (Wide Jab, Cross)
3. Mix and Match – all the above including the Speed Jab , the Stiff Jab and the flicker Jab
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab catch using rear hand (right hand)
2. Combinations of Jab catch rear hand and inside parries when necessary
3. Using any combination- Outside parry, inside Parry , Jab Catch , Waslik ,Heun Sau etc

Body Hook

Attacker
Using the Step & Slide footwork the attacker must be outside the Defenders right hand/arm and not in front. The Defender should also use their right arm as cover from the defenders possible punches.
Options (technical advancement)
1. Body hook to Liver
2. Body hook to Kidneys
3. Shovel hook to Liver or Solar Plexus
Defender
Firstly if Attacker is directly in front of your right hand (not outside it) give them a gentle cross punch to remind them of the consequences of poor footwook.
Options (technical advancement)
1. In response to Liver shot: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
2. In response to Kidney shot: Tilt elbow backwards onto punch
3. In response to Shovel hook: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
4. Suck in stomach (evasion)

Head Hook

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Lengthen or Curve hook to avoid defenders covering arm
2. Shorten hook to avoid defenders covering arm and hit chin
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Cover
2. Cover using Jamming technique on the Attackers Cross
3. Bob & Weave
4. Bob & Weave with groin slap or Jab to the Solar plexus
5. Snap Back (evasion)

As always when training, train intelligently, train sensibly, respect the Art, respect yourself and have fun.