Points vs Continuous

[Southwell]

Sparring is what I love most about my training,I do find that point sparring in tournaments is getting just to unreal,with the cartwheels and leaping backfists.I prefer continuous sparring,then you really test your skills. What do you prefer and why ?

[Budoka34]

I work both, but you have to keep in mind that neither really equates to a real conflict.

[Eliz]

Depends.

If "continuous" is referring to Olympic style, I'm not a huge fan of that. Lack of scoring hand techniques has always been my #1 turn off.

If you mean "open" matches (that is what we call them), that is my favorite. Open matches are measured by time, more so than points. What we are trying to achieve is to dominate the match overall. Any hand or foot strike to a legal area counts. This is just something some of the local schools get together and do for fun.

I like point sparring. I think it's great mental work as well as physical. Stopping after each point is scored, lining back up, and starting again with a fresh approach is a constant challenge for a lot of people.

[Oniw17]

If continuous fighting is like free sparing in TKD or like boxing(just with another style), then I think that it's A LOT better for you, for one; It's just so much fun, and for two; it's so much more like real life.

[Mannemarak]

For me continuous sparring is more about stamina than anything else, point sparring you get a bit more rest but not much and you might be able to clear your thoughts a little bit more, but in my opinion it does equally for me mentaly

[Tribalweapon]

continuous all the way. I find it a lot better when training for self defense

[Iron Monkey]

I prefer continuous because I love to do more and I love the KO's when allowed.

[kmtsd]

I'm a long-time point fighter with a new love for continuous fighting. There are good things and bad things about both... point fighting is a little strange because the fight is constantly interrupted... continuous forces you to keep going, combinations are more important, and you have to get used to being hit hard. I'm not that good at continuous yet, but it has really helped my point fighting... since I've started praticing continuous I've won three grandchampionships in point fighting... I attribute this to the fact that I have learned how to fight different fighters and understand both strategies.

[lhg9105]

I would agree that continuous sparring is a better, especially if your not limited to takedowns and submissions. The first time I sparred, I was gassed after 5 minutes. Over time it has taught me to relax and slow down my breathing.

[fightgrrl]

I'll go with neither...no fun getting DQ'd for "excessive contact" in a fight...
give me full contact in the ring please..."TAG" is not in my opinion, a fight.

Knockouts?...Yes, Please.

[OlympicTkD]

I'll go with neither...no fun getting DQ'd for "excessive contact" in a fight...
give me full contact in the ring please..."TAG" is not in my opinion, a fight.

Knockouts?...Yes, Please.

U can knock out in olymic Tkd

[garrett]

olympic sparring all the way, it is much better than point sparring although point sparring is usually at a faster pace

[Akuma]

I prefer continous...the start and stop of point fighting is jarring mentally. But I enjoy either! Peace.

[TKDGirl18]

Olympic style sparring rocks!

[AndrewSimonsen]

Olympic is more fun, neither are close to a fight. What my school does alot of the time is like Olympic with hand strikes.

[TKDGirl18]

My school must be weird then. When we spar the only time we use our hands is when were trying to do a cover punch to throw our opponent off balance so we can open them up with a kick. The only time we work on any punching or striking with the hands of any sort is with forms.

[AndrewSimonsen]

My school must be weird then. When we spar the only time we use our hands is when were trying to do a cover punch to throw our opponent off balance so we can open them up with a kick. The only time we work on any punching or striking with the hands of any sort is with forms.
Actually pretty standard for TKD, my school is the odd.

[ezzthetic]

Point competition drove me away from traditional martial arts. I was winning when I knew I lost and losing when I knew I won. Scoring is much too subjective and it's tedious to train for a tournament when you may just face a random result.

Point sparring, especially single point sparring (1 ippon) is a great mentality tool, and keeps you on you toes. The degeneration of prolonged sparring is the mentality of: "OK, I just got hit, I'll pay it back eventually."

However, prolonged or continuous sparring will have far more benefits than point sparring in the long-run.

[Southwell]

Dadi,I agree I've been in tournament fights [point sparring] and won when I knew I lost and vice versa but with continous usually good point fighters don't do well.I think point sparring you develope bad habits, that you may carry out in the street.

[ezzthetic]

Dadi,I agree I've been in tournament fights [point sparring] and won when I knew I lost and vice versa but with continous usually good point fighters don't do well.I think point sparring you develope bad habits, that you may carry out in the street.

Yes, absolutely. I still think it is good to me reminded that you don't get do-overs on the street. It could all be over in a split second. I like points sparring where waza-ari (half-points) are scored continuously, but ippon (full points) are always fight ending. This way you can lose a decision or get blown out. I hate losing to somebody who touches me with a jab and nothing else for say 3 waza-ari if I take him down, get his back and punch or stomp his head for an ippon. You know the guy would be dead meat on the street and I'd just have a scratch at the most. It's comparable to the way they score BJJ. Submission always ends the fight.

I also don't like the idea of of nippon and sanbon scores in points sparring. To quote Saddam Hussein in Hot Shots: "Now I will kill you until you die from it!" The degrees of fatality shouldn't matter because ippon is the principle of 'one blow one kill'. You're dead meat any way you spin it!

[J4d3]

i think if point sparring is used it should be after the student is well used to continuous so he/she can then learn more control.atleast taking it from a self defense perspective i'd rather someone hit and keep hitting until they're dragged off or get worn out than to hit the assailant one good time and then pause because thats what they've done in the dojo so much.and it wouldn't make any sense to say well here is what you should do in a self defense situation but we're going to train you in this other way just be sure to disregard this if/when you actually need to defend yourself.

[Ronin81]

Wow, great thread! I have to say, personally I prefer point sparring (WKF/USA-NKF/international rules). This is only a preference though, there are merits to both. My problem with continuous sparring is that, by and large, techniques are wild, without regard, and too much is compromised. Plus regardless of the fact that I have NEVER seen a "continuous" sparring match that is completely continuous - there are always breaks when one side is getting the better, running out of bounds, knock-downs, sweeps, etc. So therefore it really doesn't live up to its name-sake either. If by continuous you mean until knockout, then yeah - I like a lot of that too, but until I see WBA rules in a "continuous" sparring match I'm not buying it.

Now, this is also to say that "point" sparring has nothing - absolutely nothing - to do with the "martial" part of your martial art; to which you prefer is your own disposal. And yes, there is much subjectiveness in point sparring, but that happens everywhere so complaining about it is almost null. I would like to add though that, unless one fighter is completely "on" during his technique, many points awarded in "point" fighting come from the second chances after initial engagements, thereby making point fighters have to be wary of defenses at all times...sounding more like continuous fighters.

What does everyone else think?

[boboy182]

continous is deffo my favourite.i took part in a points compo yesterday and i only came second because of two missed sanbons by the judges :mad: . I find when point fighting people never commit to attacks and pull back almost instantaniously.
When fighting continously people actually commit to attacks; rather like boxing.this allows proper techniques to commence, so prepares the student much more for the street.Obviously a mitt in the face is nothing to knuckles, but it does gve alot more practice.