Master Nero Attoru
Resident Master
Forum Elder
Knight Commander OVER 9000!!
Force Alignment: 1641
Posts: 9266
Suns of the Force
|
|
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2018, 04:27:37 PM » |
|
Hey there, I'm happy to give a few tips for your sparring. As a side note, good call on choosing this activity! I find that the best way to keep exercising is to find something fun, and sparring is definitely that. As long as you do it the right way, you'll enjoy yourself while becoming more fit, so it's a win-win!
Anyway, here are some thoughts that immediately spring to mind.
1. Protective gear is a must have. I know it's an extra expense, but considering how expensive injuries can be, it's well worth it. Basic epee fencing mask and hockey gloves will be a great start, at a pretty low price (typically under $100 total, if you keep an eye out for sales on gloves).
2. You mentioned sparring in your garage, so I want to point out that you should maintain a clean sparring area to avoid potential injury. Sparring can take your entire focus, which leaves you vulnerable to tripping over items. Just thinking about all the dangerous implements in my garage, and falling on top of any, makes me shudder.
3. Control your swings, power isn't a necessity when you have a weapon that dismembers with a touch! All it does is further increase your chances of injury.
4. Safety stuff aside, I recommend remaining constantly in motion when sparring. This is both to keep your heart rate up, for fitness purposes, and to stay in motion for tactical purposes. Try to think of it like Newton's first law - an object in motion tends to stay in motion. If you're staying loose and moving around, you'll find it easier to react quickly to your opponent.
5. Overall, for the sake of fitness, try to keep the action as continuous as possible. Reset quickly after a "point" or successful blow, and get right back into it. Again, the more consistently you maintain your motion, the better exercise you'll be getting.
That's about it from me, just be safe and have fun!
|