We start the students out doing touch drills.  The goal being just trying to touch the other person.  This allows the students to start to learn proper distance, movement and timing.  We do this with hands only and then progress to feet and then to both feet and hands.   We then move the student up to punching & kicking drills against another student.   The goal being to try and use what they have learned in class against another student.  Safety is always of most importance and sparring gear is a requirement.  We do not allow contact to the face and only very light contact to the body.  Goals for this stage of training is to use combinations, dodging,  and the ever important skill of keeping those hands up!  The students really love the sparring part of the class and it helps teach them the emotional issues that often arise in life.   (Conflict resolution, anger, lack of confidence, jealousy, respect for self & others etc.)  We always start the sparring by showing respect to the other person through a proper bow, touching gloves etc and we always shake hands at the end of the match.   Showing aggression, anger or other negative behavior is not allowed and the student is asked to look inside themselves when having these emotions always trying to improve their technique, attitude and focus,  instead of blaming others on their own personal performance & shortcomings.  Rank Chart for Kinder Karate Program

Beginning students start out with controlled one, two and three step sparring.  Slow speed, 1/4 and 1/2 speed sparring then working up to faster speed sparring when the student has demonstrated more control with their techniques.  Students are also required to wear safety gear.  See the instructor for our approved gear.  As students advance the sparring level advances as well.  Advanced students with instructor permission may do multi-person sparring, speed sparring, light to medium contact sparring, sweeping techniques, grabbing and punching techniques.  Control is stressed and if you have a willing partner both of you can increase the contact level to the body.  General sparring rules are: 1. Everyone wears complete protective equipment & spars at their own risk.  2.  Anger & Egos are left outside of the training hall.  3.  Groin strikes, elbow & knee strikes are not allowed.  4.  Joint strikes are not allowed.  5.  Kicks must be above the belt.  6.  Sweeping and takedowns are allowed depending on skill level of the person.  7.  No striking to the back of head, spine, throat, kidneys,  eyes or front of face.  8.  Light contact only to side of face only with head protection.  9.  No biting, eye pokes, wild punching, blind techniques, or foul language.  10.  Always show respect at the beginning and end of every match and remember to be friends afterwards.  Just remember we all have to go to work or school the next day...so have fun, control your techniques, and play fair so we can all enjoy and learn from each other in a safe, friendly manner.   One last key point to remember is:  Sparring is not real fighting!  There are no rules in a real combat, self-defense situation.  Full contact boxing, kickboxing & even the mixed martial arts (UFC fights) all have rules to protect the players.  Don't think that because you spar well in class that you would do well on the street.  Know when to switch the mental "mindset" from "play sparring" to "real combat" and choose your techniques wisely!.  Rank Chart for Teens/Adult Taekwondo