Sparring Equipments

So it all started back in elementary school. I wanted to take Karate so badly. You probably know the routine. I saw “The Karate Kid” for the first time and was hooked. I wanted to learn those blocks. I wanted to learn those kicks. Uh, but without all the cleaning, sanding, painting and waxing of vehicles and homes. You can definitely leave that stuff out. What I needed now was a good Karate dojo. One with a teacher that had not been corrupted by the Americanization of martial arts. No sir; I didn’t want to end up in one of those cookie-cutter schools where the belts come easily. I wanted the real deal. Once I found it, I was practicing with some real karatekas and taking full advantage of sparring equipment. Yikes, I really needed those pads. They saved me from a lot of bruises.

Are you also a martial arts nut? What’s your style? Karate, Judo, Wing Chun, BJJ, or one of the hundred others out there? Regardless of what you love to practice, chances are you need to spar with real-life opponents. This is just part of the game. Now, I know that many of you out there may be saying “But we don’t spar in my school.” Well, this is a problem. Do you want you martial art to be effective? Do you want it to work when you really do need it? Of course you do. This is why sparring with quality sparring equipment is imperative. You have to go one on one with other fighter to know how to apply techniques, locks, combos and take-downs. If you don’t do this realistically, then your art probably won’t mean a lot. I only say this because you will have no real experience. Blocking and reacting to someone’s expected punch is one thing; defending against something you don’t know is coming is completely different. So basically what I’m saying is acquire that sparring equipment and get in the game.

It’s pretty easy to find decent sparring equipment now days. “Century Martial Arts” on the web carries quite a bit of it. Get on you Mac or PC and take a look-see. Find sparring equipment that applies to your martial art. Whatever you do, be sure to use the right pads when going full-on. You don’t want to get hurt. You simply want to hone your skills.