Sparring with Hands to the
head and no Hogus is no different in terms of preparing you for the street then
Olympic Style sparring is. How much wrestling do you allow? eye
gouges, groin/knee kicks? Sparring with rules is sparring with rules
no matter what the rules are.
A Hogu is used to allow full
contact kicks and continuous motion If anything the Hogu encourages practitioners to kick harder by defatult - its a sport, the safety equipment
is designed to enhance the way the sport is played. As an Olympic TKD
player, you are at no more of a disadvantage in the street, then a
boxer or wrestler.
The primary benefits of any sparrng (with
rules) in terms of street self defense is the ability to control
distance, and execute an effective strike. Mentally, you are better
prepared then some one with no martial arts experience only because you
are used to some one trying to hit you, and may have less of a deer in the headlights reaction.
We are an Olympic Style
TKD school - and have a well rounded curriculum (like most schools)
including a range of Self Defense Techniques (chokes, grabs, Hay makers
etc.) One Steps - for applying techniques to targets not included in
sparring, and a new system we have been using for about 3 years called
PDR, by Tony Blauer, you can learn more here:
http://www.tonyblauer.com
We have seminars on this system a couple of times a year and its extermely realistic and effetive.
My last point - Martial Art - Traditionally IS SPORT!
Judo,
Sumo, Tae Kyon etc. During the birth of Taekwondo (post Japanese
occupation), one of the primary goals was to create a Global Sport.
I wrote a guest blog post on this subject if you are interested. Its not the exact subject, but similar points.
Great discussion - thanks for starting it up!
Gordon
