Taekwondo sparring is a great way for kids & adults to gain
confidence, utilize their Taekwondo skills in a "real world"
environment (versus just hitting pads or static practice dummies) and lose their fear being
hit. This page provides you with free videos of basic Taekwondo sparring
techniques and strategies. Practice these moves at home so you can surprise &
defeat your
Taekwondo sparring opponents!
Taekwondo Sparring Techniques & Tips
Attacks - Basic sparring techniques to use when you are the sparring
aggressor.
Roundhouse kick - How to use a roundhouse kick in Taekwondo
sparring.
Axe kick - How to use an axe
kick in Taekwondo sparring.
Back kick - How to use a back
kick in Taekwondo sparring.
Hook kick - How to use a hook
kick in
Taekwondo sparring.
Spinning hook kick - Use a spinning hook kick to counter an
opponent's roundhouse kick. This video uses a roundhouse kick as
"bait" to lure your opponent so you can use a spinning hook
kick.
Block punch - How to use a punch in Taekwondo sparring.
Combination Attacks - Use
multiple kicks during sparring in order to win. Don't stop after a
single kick.
Combination kicks - A variety of combination kicks that you
can use in order to be the aggressor in Taekwondo sparring.
More
combination kicks - Sparring combination kicks such as a
push kick with a jumping double roundhouse kick, jumping double
roundhouse with a tornado kick and a high roundhouse with a back
kick.
Counter Attacks - How to
score a point when you are on defense in sparring.
Counter to an opponent's roundhouse kick - Defense against a
roundhouse kick. Counter with a block,
punch and roundhouse kick. One of the basic Taekwondo sparring
Taekwondo techniques that you must practice.
Counter to an opponent being "too close" - If an opponent is
on top of you, counter with a hook kick. Personally, I like to
punch my way out & then counter with a kick.
Olympic Sparring
- Study Olympic athletes in order to see how they combine
offense and defense in Taekwondo sparring. Watch the best
Taekwondo athletes in the world in order to improve your
sparring strategy and techniques.
2008
Olympics - Numerous matches (i.e. USA vs. Korea). Videos
from Olympic.org
2004 Olympics -
Korea vs. Greece. Heavyweight gold medal match. Key tip from
this match - Use a back kick or spinning hook kick on an aggressive attacker.
Taekwondo Sparring Strategy
Move to the side!! Don't just move forward and backwards. Moving
to the side (when an opponent attacks) allows you to score
easily. For example, when an opponent throws a back kick, you
should shift to his open side (versus just moving backwards to
escape the kick). This will allow you to avoid the kick, be
close enough to throw an effective roundhouse kick and catch
him/her in a position where it is hard to block your kick. In
this example, if the opponent throws a right leg back kick, you
would shift to the right (the opponent's left) in order to score
a point.
Sparring Tips - Taekwondo sparring tips from Taekwondo Australia, NSW
Counterattacking has a better
chance of scoring than attacking for advanced competitors.
The most frequently used attacks
are roundhouse kick, back kick and axe kick.
Successful competitors can
effectively counter these kicks.
The side kick and front kick are
rarely used in competition any more and are highly unlikely to
score points.
Olympic Sparring Rules
According to the sparring regulations from the
World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), you get one point for a
valid attack on the trunk protector, two points for a valid
turning kick to the trunk protector, three points for a valid
kick to the head and four points for a valid turning kick to the
head.
Match score shall be the sum of points of the three rounds.
IMO
- Fancy techniques give you more points but they also can leave
you vulnerable and obviously are more difficult than simple (and
more reliable) techniques. Olympic organizers are trying to make
Taekwondo sparring more exciting and thus they are encouraging
spectacular head kicks. Stick with the basics until you have
completely mastered more advanced techniques.
Complete Sparring # 1 - This Taekwondo DVD
teaches basic sparring techniques (i.e. kicks and various
sparring drills).
Complete Sparring # 2 - This Taekwondo DVD teaches
sparring counter attacks, various defenses and footwork. It is
the follow-on DVD for Complete Sparring # 1.