Whacking good time

What is free sparring?

It hasn't been part of Karate all that long in the big picture of things. It popped up after the Second World War, both as a training method and a form of competition.

I assume the Karateka of the time, most of whom had some training in Judo, wondered why there was no similar fighting element. In Judo one competes frequently, both in training and in sport.

Rules were developed. For example, heavy contact is usually not permitted. Most associations define correct scoring distance to the face be from light touch to one cm away. Body contact usually means a whack, but one that does not injure.

The first big event was called the All Japan Tournament, and was held in 1957. The winner the first year instantly became the most famous Karateka of his generation. He had only started training upon entering University, and won the tournament at age 26.

Some worry about fighting encouraging sloppy technique. I've never seen that. Back in 1958, the previous year's All Japan fighting champion returned to the mat, winning the Kata competition. You can't win Kata with sloppy technique.

His name was Hirokazu Kanazawa. He is currently head of the world wide organization SKI, and remains one of the world's most respected Karateka.

The fighting in the 1958 tournament was most unusual, and never repeated. Kanazawa was again in the final, and faced his friend and training partner Takayuki Mikami. They fought to the only draw ever in the All Japan Championship. Declared co-winners, they both attained the status of immortal legends. When I was a coloured belt in the 1980s, I was told of that match as a classic of good Karate.

The year after, Mikami returned and won both Kata and Kumite.

In more modern times, the big competition is the World Championship put on by the World Karate Federation. This group used to be called the World Union of Karate Associations, and has been holding the event since 1970.

It is their rules that dominate most free sparring practise.

To score a point, form must be correct, as well as target, focus and distance. You can only understand this if one tries to score while chasing a moving target, and having the points judged. One delivers technique after technique that the judges do not acknowledge. It puts you in your place really fast.

It forces control that other training does not. If you are too far away, no score. If you are too close and accidentally whack your partner, you face a foul.

It forces you to have a more effective guard than any other training method. Fail to do so, and you get scored on.

It is also fun, if introduced correctly. It can be terrifying if it is not. I used to hate sparring, having been introduced to it for my very first time at a tournament. I was a free fighting virgin facing Brown Belts. It sucked, and hurt.

I used a number of drills that made sparring safe and fun, introducing all its benefits, and minimizing its shortcomings. In my clubs I've produced many good tournament fighters, all of which did equally well in Kata.

Nothing beats a good fight.

If the student is well prepared.