Sparring Rules for Kids

Sparring in martial arts comes in two forms: competitive sparring and practice sparring. Sparring in practice is often performed below full speed to allow both competitors to work on their technique so each is better prepared for competition. Whether a child is competing or simply training, there are important rules and regulations that must be followed to minimize the risk of injury to the child's growing body.

  1. Respect

    • Self-control and respect for oneself as well as others are the building blocks of all martial arts. This attention to improving the self makes martial arts ideal for children as it ingrains the importance of respecting oneself and others from a young age. Even during competitive sparring, it is important to show proper respect to your opponent and officials. Competitors bow to their opponents before each match as a sign of respect, and they should handle the results of a match with grace. They are taught not to complain loudly if a decision goes against them or celebrate over-zealously in front of a defeated opponent. In practice sparring, students show proper respect by exercising restraint with an outmatched sparring partner.

    Safety Equipment

    • Safety equipment is essential in any sparring, both for adults and children, as it helps protect vital areas of the body from damage. Children should wear head gear to help cushion blows to the head. They should have pads on the hands as well as the feet and shins if leg strikes are permitted, to soften impact. Sparring is scored on effective strikes landed, not the damage inflicted. Children need to keep their mouth guard in at all times. In addition to protecting the teeth, mouth guards help to absorb concussive forces on strikes to the head, reducing the risk of concussion. For a child who is still growing it is particularly important to wear proper safety gear to protect the body and brain from injuries that can result from contact sparring, such as bone breaks or brain injury. Injuries can be more harmful for a developing body and brain. While some adults will alter the gear worn, children must always wear full pads when sparring in training as well as competition.

    Strike Safety

    • Strikes should never be thrown with the aim of attacking a joint, such as the elbow or the knee of a planted leg, as this can lead to extreme damage to the joint. Additionally, striking to the neck, back and back of the head is forbidden due to the ability to cause damage to the spinal column of the individual being struck. If a break command is issued by the referee of a bout both competitors must stop throwing strikes at their opponent immediately. Attacks which strike illegal areas, or strikes thrown after a break when the opponent is not ready to defend, increase the risk of injuries that can negatively affect a child's growth and mental development.

    Scoring Rules

    • Scoring is much simpler in youth sparring than it is in advanced forms of martial arts competition, such as mixed martial arts or kick boxing bouts where both the quality and quantity of attacks are scored. In youth sparring a point is scored every time a strike is landed to a legal area, most commonly the body and the sides of the head. Bouts last for a set amount of time or until one competitor has earned a set number of points.