Sparring Question? Advice needed...

[velcrow]

So a friend and I are going to get together to 'spar' twice a week. Does anyone have some tips of how we can make this enjoyable and productive training time?

What are some sparring 'drills' that you recommend?

We are both learning Kenpo at a place that does not do sparring on the days we attend. So we are learning the techniques/forms/stances and doing striking and conditioning on shields/bags -- but we would like to gain whatever benefits sparring will bring as well.

Thanks in advance!

[administrator]

Congratulations on having a partner that wants to take training seriously. Too many kenpoist ignore the importance of sparring.

We have a Kenpo Freestyle DVD series that is loaded with drills. The Master of the Ring Manual is a 430 page book that gives a complete study of all aspects of sparring and sparring drills. I would encourage you to begin there for developing a planned approach to freestyle training.
Kevin Lamkin

[The Tabasco Kid]

I just got the sparring DVDs and have a of question from the first one.

The lecture discusses the necessity to get the strike moving before moving other body parts to prevent the opponent from reacting and getting out range.
In Alternating Maces, the study guide emphasizes that the left punch needs to be moving before rotating into the right forward bow. Is this due to the need to avoid telegraphing the strike, to ensure that the body mass is behind the strike, or both?

Also, does this apply when practicing the freestyle techniques (B1a, B1b, etc)? It seems to me that the clearing hook in B2a and B2b would have to be started at the same time as the strike. Correct?

[administrator]

Is this due to the need to avoid telegraphing the strike, to ensure that the body mass is behind the strike, or both?

Mainly to avoid telegraphing. You need to be rooted to obtain maximum back-up mass.

does this apply when practicing the freestyle techniques (B1a, B1b, etc)? It seems to me that the clearing hook in B2a and B2b would have to be started at the same time as the strike.

Frankly, those are not the best freestyle methods to practice. However, you are correct, the clearing hook is executed simultaneously.

Kevin Lamkin

[The Tabasco Kid]

Frankly, those are not the best freestyle methods to practice.

Then what's best?

[administrator]

Material found in Master of the Ring, and the Joe Lewis method of Freestyle.

Kevin Lamkin

[warrior-scholar]

As an owner of both materials I will heartily agree. If I had to have just one I would go with MOTR since it comes from a Kenpo background and is more attuned to actual combat. However, Joe Lewis' manual contains gold...pure gold.

[The Tabasco Kid]

What are the major shortcomings of the original freestyle techniques. I just started playing with them and they seem, from my itty-bitty point of view from the next-to-bottom ladder rung, OK.

[administrator]

The American Kenpo freestyle techniques are basically Kenpo one-step sparring tactics. They are OK to use. But you have to know the strategy of how to use them to make them work.

I have seen numerous American Kenpo stylists beat in tournaments trying to rely on those techniques alone. In open tournaments, most fighters use better distancing skills that American Kenpoist. That's why most American Kenpoists prefer their own closed tournaments.

The Joe Lewis method and the methods in our Master of the Ring will allow you to take any combination and be more applicable in open tournament fighting.

Kevin Lamkin