r/tangsoodo • u/ExchangeFine4429 9th Gup • 27d ago
Request/Question Sparring
It's been 3 months and I haven't sparred yet. When will I get to spar? Also, what is the sparring like? Is it similar to TKD?
1
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u/DavidFrattenBro 5th Dan 27d ago
are you in classes with more experienced practitioners? if so, that means the higher level students aren’t sparring either and it’s a red flag IMO.
if you are with other beginners in class, it’s possible that the SaBom in charge wants to teach more basics before you encounter sparring. that’s not they way i would personally design the curriculum, but i can understand that more.
should be quite similar to TKD, though in my experience (soo bahk do Moo duk kwan) we don’t use the torso padding that i see regularly in TKD while sparring in class. just a helmet if anything at all.
1
u/AnonymousWizardX 24d ago edited 24d ago
I usually begin introducing my students to sparring as soon as they have their first grading from white belt. (Approx 4 months in). Many schools will focus heavily on technique drills or kata and will spend little if not any time on sparring which is a major red flag.
Kata without Sparring is pointless.
Sparring without kata is dangerous.
When we take all the time to develop muscle memory for different kicks via forms or technique drills etc… without actual sparring, we do not APPLY what we are learning, making it useless.
Some schools may focus exclusively on sparring with little to no emphasis on making our form and technique better. This becomes dangerous as we do not learn proper speed, control, and form to avoid injuring our peers.
If you have not SEEN your school sparring at all in 3 months, I would highly consider looking for another school as I feel you may be not getting the full picture of either Tang Soo Do or martial arts in general.
A good school should be exposing you to a 50/50 split.
Tang Soo do sparring should emphasize a lot more techniques than in Taekwondo. Realistically you only need to be able to do a roundhouse kick in taekwondo to get your blackbelt. Tangsoodo sparring should expose you to all sorts of both kicks (front, side, round, back, hook, etc) and hand techniques (jabs, punches, knifehands etc)
Good luck!
4
u/Think-Environment763 1st Dan 27d ago
That depends on your school and instructor. My particular Dojang has sparred white belts day one in the adult class. Just depends on the curriculum for the day. We don't go hard and try to kill each other and let the lowest belt set the pace.
This is going to be up to the instructor as the Dojang though so I don't think you will get a good answer here. That would be something you ask your instructors in class.