CIrcle Sparring

    In Tuesday night's black belt class we did some sparring. Not just regular sparring, circle sparring. I have never done this before (to my recollection at least) and it was.....interesting. 

   Take two opponents, one in a normal sparring ready position, and the other in a hula-hoop on the floor. Objective, to "knock" your opponent out of the hoop and claim it for your own. Rules, limited but flexible (we are all friends here), only request, try to not be a neanderthal, use technique not brute force. Outcome, chaos.

   Within seconds of starting I had already ran through my bag of "tricks" to limited success. I started to resort to the neanderthal approach, and not surprisingly, it did not work! Too say I got repeatedly tossed and thwarted would be like saying a tornado is just a bit of wind. As I tried to adapt I'm guessing I was making it pretty obvious to my opponents cause my success rate bordered on a big fat chunky zero. Showed me a few things..

    I am mainly defensive when it comes to sparring, I tend not to attack. I poke and wait for a response. Usually to my detriment. 

   I have problems adapting to my opponents plan of attack. If it doesn't fit my "expectations" I retreat. Usually to a hail of kicks and punches.

   So I need to spar more, much much more, with different opponents and different skill levels. I need to come in with confidence and more than just a one or one two combination. And I need to spar more, much much more (I know I am repeating myself - shows how obvious the solution is). 

   So while I am grateful for Tuesday's lesson, I am disappointed in my lack of progress when it comes to sparring. I need to spar more, just in case I hadn't mentioned that.

 

 

Push Ups  5600

Sit Ups  4888

Sparring  325 min

1609KM  349.25 km

Acts of Kindness 295 recorded

 Hand Form  85

Weapon Form  86

Mastery recited  6