Structure for ringen sparring

[leam hall]

Actually my well-rounded 260 pounds can do quite a bit of damage. You get that much scholar moving and it's hard to stop. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Also keep in mind that a missed technique at the wrong angle can do just as much harm as a good one.

[david welch]

Also keep in mind that a missed technique at the wrong angle can do just as much harm as a good one.

And yet we spar with wooden wasters, put on safety glasses, and just declare the head off limits. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Remember, we don't have to do it all at once, but we have to do all of it.

Figure out what your group is comfortable doing for the standing ringen part, and as much as you can. That is what we are working on in Knoxville... a framework that forces us to practice ringen the way it is written in the fight books, as much as we safely can.

The stuff that you are not comfortable with doing standing, like the locks or something, work on these where you are drilling on the entrance to the technique and getting your partner set up, and then try finishing these laying down.

Finally, the stuff that is just too dangerous to do at all, or that can't be done laying down like the throwing somebody on their head, Work the entrance and setup with your partner, and finish on a wrestling dummy.

If you work on it, you can find ways to safely practice all of it. This is no different that working with sharpes, wasters, and padded swords. (except we are wrestling, you know what I mean. <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" /> )

[Jaron Bernstein]

That makes you a better fighter than me. I have a hard time translating drilled, pelled and flourished techniques into something that actually works on an opponent, even the ones I practice a lot.

[Mike Cartier]

Jaron try working the techniques in several ways to in grain it into your programming. For difficult techniques we try to drill it at various speeds with wood or steel. We will also take paddeds and start with a 2 step sparring enrionment where one opponent will only attack with zay a Zornhau and at 50% speed allowing the reciever to work the technique and slowly ratchet up the speed until the attacker is using a close to full power and full speed strike but limited only to the strike you want to practice your strike on. It helps put you in the kind of pressure you will face sparring but allows you some control.

[Andrew Kesterson]

If I may borrow an overworked military mantra, "As you train, so shall you fight."

The best fighters understand that newbies need to take new techniques slowly, but there comes a point when the safety bases have been covered, the partners trust each other (and know how to reach each others' "ow s**t that hurts" signals), and the speed can be cranked up. The training is good for basic understanding at slow speed, but to really "get it", you've got to turn up the pressure and really get on each other.

This stuff is at least slightly dangerous, even when we do it "safely". That's why we all sign waivers before stepping onto the mat.

[Jaron Bernstein]

OK, I will try that. We normally do our 2 person drills at a slower speed while we spar at full speed. That may explain the disconnect between why it works in drills but not sparring.

Andrew,

Yeah, we have had a few injuries in our local study group. We do spar with intent. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[M Wallgren]

Well, I like the proverb "Train Hard, Fight easy!"

hehe ...

Martin