Sparring Tips

Breath control

• Make a sharp exhale during the technique with a momentary stopping of breath at impact. Inhaling tends to relax muscles, while exhaling contracts them.
• Do not hold breath during a technique.
• Do not inhale during a technique. It impedes movement and results in a loss of power.
• Breath through abdomen, it keeps the center of gravity low.
• Use disguised breathing. Disguised breathing is a psychological strategy used to conceal signs of fatigue or to feign fatigue to deceive an opponent into attacking too soon.
• Be aware of the opponent’s breathing, watch for habits such as taking in a short quick breath before attacking and try to attack when the opponent is inhaling
• Breathe deeply, fully, and slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth to help you remain calm and help you focus your attack.

Empty the mind

Be natural, instinctive, and detached from intellectual processes and free of distracting thoughts. Maintain full alertness at all times, concentrate the mind, and show no weakness under stress. Free-sparing is not only a physical battle, it is also a psychological duel between two opponents.

When the match begins, be ready to abort any strategy you have in mind in favor of an instinctive response. Avoid being too rigid, have a flexible and receptive mind and be patient to see what happens. When the opportunity arises, react without hesitation and with conviction. If you are defeated, you have no cause for regret. If successful, remain calm and prepare yourself for the next round.