Weapons Sparring

[Vash]

How many here who train weapons, traditional or no, do any type of free sparring with them.

My school, we don't. We have two-man drills, but not free-sparring.

After I get my heal on, I intend to suggest this also.

[Kristoffer]

very limited free sparring with weapons.

[yenhoi]

I play stick(s) all the time.

Lots of "reality" scenarios with the dagger also.

[Kristoffer]

What kind of protection gear do u use yen?

[CaptinPickAxe]

Me and Meatshake wanted to start Bo sparring, but the ****bird broke his bo yesterday.

[Starchaser107]

might i recommend flexible rattan staffs.

[yenhoi]

Padded headgear with cage mask, gloves, forarm guard, elbow and knee pads (dont help much..) padded sticks.

A couple of times have geared up motorcross style and gone at it with the bamboo.

Looking into rubber sticks, seen them and grappled with them a couple times but never been whacked.

[yenhoi]

Also... limited targets... progressive sparring.

Begginiers start with only being allowed to hit the other guys stick, hand, and knee.

[Kempo Guy]

I have done full-contact stick fighting (during my JKD days)...

These days I train in Kenjutsu (Iaijutsu) which is primarily kata type training, but once a month we suit up in Bogu (Kendo armor) and use fukuro shinai (different from a Kendo shinai) and do free sparring. It's an interesting exercise... as long as it doesn't evolve into Kendo (not that I have anything against Kendo). We try to use the principles and techniques used in the kata.

KG

[taijiquan_student]

We practice free swordplay. We use historically weighted (2 lb.) wooden (oak) jian, and go at it. The only rule is nothing goes to the head. Other than that, anything is fair game, including fists and feet and sarcasm. Some people wear gloves to protect the knuckles and fingers, and some wear eye goggles. I don't have a pair of goggles yet. I have gloves but always forget to bring them to class.

Bruises aplenty. If you think having a fist or kick flying at you is scary, try a 2 lb. hunk of oak.

[Judge Pen]

I've done some limited weapon free sparring, but not near enough. Mainly staff and shortstick sparring. Some knife v. open hand sparring, too.

[chen zhen]

in my old JKD club, we did freesparring with kali sticks, from day one. only protection was a ski-glove on your weapon vielding hand, and shin guards. that was only for Lago-Mano training though. full-contact weapons sparring was done with full body armor.

we also did knife sparring in the same fashion, done with hard plastic knifes. coz rubber knifes gives u false confidence, plastic knifes will punish u if youre hit, giving you a better sense of reality.

[Ming Yue]

We start sparring empty hand, but later will move into single and double stick, as well as staff sparring.

weapons vs open hand
single vs single, double vs double, staff vs staff....
single vs staff
single vs double
double vs staff

like that.

[apoweyn]

Single stick, double stick, stick and dagger, long staff, knife... I think that's it.

And there are basically two routes to go in terms of equipment. Pad the person or pad the weapon.

In my school, we wore the typical FMA body armour. Metal grill helmet (similar to kendo helmet), padded vest, lacrosse gloves, forearm pads, knee pads, etc. (Not quite ready for the Dog Brothers.)

Now, I'm collected padded weapons so I can spar with less specialized armour. Regular sparring gear plus padded weapons should (I hope) do the trick.

[MC Taiji Hips]

I'm planning to start sparring with rubber knives that have lipstick on the blade. I also would like to start sparring with kali sticks...I have 'em, but just kinda neglected them.