Sparring Workshop

I want to host a sparring workshop in early April. This workshop would mainly be for those interested in attending the tournament at the end of the month but will be open to all students.

We currently have testing scheduled for April 1st, so I think the following weekend, April 8th would be better. I’ve sent an email to the Senior Center requesting the Large Meeting Room for both of those days. If we don’t get it, we can make do with our normal one.

How do you prepare?

Get your sparring gear.

Purchasing your gear well before the workshop will allow you to take that day to get used to wearing it. For the competition, all students are required to have:

• Headgear (Helmet)

  

• Handgear
• Footgear
• Mouthpiece

Additionally, males are required to wear groin protection of some sort.

Optional equipment:

• Shin guards
• Knee pads
• Elbow pads
• Chest protectors
• Female groin protection

Where can you buy sparring gear?

The easiest place is in the school store here. I won’t tell you that you can’t buy it somewhere else, but it makes sense to help support your school. I charge only the manufacturer’s suggested retail, and I cover shipping costs. Can you find gear cheaper online? Probably.

Practice Kicking

• Front leg kicks
• Hook kicks
• Round kicks
• Side kicks
• Kicking speed from a dead stop

What will we practice in the workshop?

We’ll start with warm-up drills then we’ll work some bag drills with full gear, and we’ll do some partner drills to get used to ranging.
After that, we’ll spar. We’ll mix things up, men, women, kids, all belts, and everyone will spar everyone else several times. By the end of the day, you’ll be used to your gear, be used to sparring, and you’ll be ready to start digging deep and learning what it’s all about.

What will it cost?

I usually charge around $30 for workshops like this, but we haven’t done one in a while, so I’m offering this first one for free. No charge at all, even if you buy your gear from someone else.

So, bring plenty of water. If you do Gatorade or other sports drinks, that’s fine, but please don’t bring or buy soda. Have a little more respect for your body. I’ll make Chia Fresca, and you can try that if you want a more natural “sports drink.”