Open Sparring?

TJS · Black Belt

Does anyone Have a School that has an "open" night for student andf people from other schools/gyms to come in and spar?

What do you think of this?

My instructor wants to start doing this soon and I think it's great to spar with people of other stlyes and disciplines sou you can experience new things and you dont get used to sparring people who fight just like you do.

What do you think the advantages and disadvantages to this are?

G95champ · Black Belt

We used to always have an open night for anything. Most of us younger guys would come in and spar but others would come in and do anything from bag work to kata to just hanging out. It was a pretty good thing.

As far as bringing in other clubs and non members for an open night of sparring you got to be careful. Because a TKD person spars under differant rules than a MT person does in class. A BJJ may control locks more so than a Wrestler etc. So without supervision and some restrictions it could get out of hand. (Fight Clubs LOL).

I would be really careful about letting in people from other clubs espically for a sparring match because you run into so much my school is better than you school junk and heads tend to get hot. However the idea is great and it worked really well for us. You are right the more differnat styles, sizes, ages, etc you can train with the better prepared you will be.
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(General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory."

TJS · Black Belt

Yes I see what your saying, A set of rules would be the hardest part.

You would have to come up with something that does not limit either party unfairly.

Kind of like what an organiztion like K-1 does.

G95champ · Black Belt

Yeah because the crowd you would draw are the "tough guys" anyhow and you know what happens when you get PRIDE into the mix. LOL. Before I would let guys from other schools into your open sessions I would have them watch your class a few so they know what YOUR rules are that way they know what they are getting into.

Its your dojo don't change your platform for other people.
_________________
(General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory."

delta1 · Black Belt

I train regularly with other schools/styles. I pay their walk in fee and train what they are training that class. When it involves sparing, I folow their rules. Most schools like to have another style train with them for the reasons you mentioned, and this works good. I've also trained with groups of martial artists who just get together and spar. This works well also as long as everyone respects others and the group works together to keep things in check. You do occasionally get someone with an attitude, but most martial artists are good about dealing with this.

The difference in an 'open night' at a school and the two scenarios I've just descibed is that you have a large number of martial artists from different schools and your instructor and school is responsible for what happens (read tha 'liable'). Some of the people who show up may not even belong to a school. There are a lot of ex martial artists who just like to show up and see if they've still got it. It could be a good thing, and might even bring in some new students. But I'd be careful. Set some definate rules, and have enough instructors or senior students there to monitor and keep control. I'd also charge enough to cover insurance and use of equipment.

It's great to work out with other stylists. But, unfortunately, these days, you are also sparing with their lawyer(s). So I'd set it up carefully doing it as part of your school.

TJS · Black Belt

Yea, My instructor is usally pretty good at keeping everyone in line.

When people stat to really pick it up he just asks them if they want him to put on the gloves for a while...

G95champ · Black Belt

If he is going to be there to supervise it then its a differant story.

The open sessions we had were unsupervised. Which was not a good idea because it was a bucnh of us HS kids running wild. LOL. Thank God no one ever got his head broke. LOL....
_________________
(General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory."

Beer-monster · Blue Belt

I am so envious. I'd love to try that but nothuing around to try. There is a Tae Kwon Do club, but I've already tried that. It was fun, but I'd like something different. Maybe I could set something up at uni.
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Mind, body and fist. Its all a man truly needs.

Treebranch · Black Belt

TJS I think that is a good idea. We train out in the open at a park. We always get someone who thinks what we are doing won't work. So we invite them to see for themselves, and they do. I think if a school has the confidence to allow free sparring it will definitely help to improve on the techniques. I have people saying " that stuff won't work in a real fight", and I'll gently take them down by taking their balance. I'M ALL FOR OPEN SPARRING.

_________________
"It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who
are willing to endure pain with patience."

"Always go for the submission"

broomhilda000 · Yellow Belt

Do you mean full contact sparring? Punches to the face and kicks?
_________________
Be as a tranquil pool of water in the woods. Calm, collected, reflecting on its surface all that is around it. Make your own mind such a quiet mirror reflecting the mind of the opponent. Even as your partner's impulse to attack passes through his mind it should be reflected in you.

The safest battle is the one that is never fought

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