Sparring with other styles can be an eye-opening experience. You will discover your weaknesses against other styles. As WC practitioners, I think we all know what we are good at. But when sparring with other styles, our opponent can show us where our weaknesses lie.
When I first sparred with a TKD practitioner, I was frustrated because I can't seem to bridge the gap. He was good at keeping his distance from me. When practicing with other WC practitioners, I don't have this problem because we both like to bridge the gap whenever possible. I solved the problem with the TKD practitioner by first observing him. I observed that he keep switching his lead foot. I also observed that he usually kicks with his hind leg. What I did was to bridge the gap whenever he switches his lead foot. Since he is in the wrong foot, he won't be able to retreat & I will be able to close the distance.
Another problem I had with TKD practitioners is when they fake a roundhouse kick at waist level, then quickly kick to the head. I try to counter the waist level kick with a gan sao & the kick to the head with a pak sao using my other hand. But my pak sao is not adequate to stop the kick to the head. My solution is to close the distance and change my gan sao to a tan sao and use my other hand to strike. The gan sao to tan sao movement will "scoop up" his kicking leg & make him loose his balance because he is standing only in one leg.
I just want to share my experience & I hope others will do the same.
Last edited by Wingman; 04-24-2003 at 08:16 PM.
Defend where there is no attack; attack where there is no defense.
Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.