Five-Step White Belt Sparring Techniques

In martial arts, the white belt typically denotes that the participant is at beginner level. Five step is an advanced sparring technique where the participants switch from attacker to defender after five attempted blocks. The five steps are a training exercise for the fighters to practice their technique. Although designed for more advanced martial artists, white belts can benefit from the five step method, provided the contact level and complexity of moves is consistent with white belt standard sparring.

  1. Advance and Retreat

    • The initial stage of the five-step sparring involves the process of advance and retreat. Typically this calls for both fighters to move toward and away from one another. It is typically how a fight starts. The attacker advances to deliver kicks and punches. White belt fighters should limit their kicks and blocks to gentle straight punches, front kick and side-snap kicks. No roundhouse kicks or side thrust kicks.

    Distancing

    • Distancing is the act of avoiding attack or counter attack by judging the opponents maximum strike range. If you linger too long within striking distance, your attack can be easily blocked and you may be hit or kicked yourself. The purpose of advance and retreat is so the attacked can shorten the distance between herself and the defender. Conversely, the defender retreats to maintain or establish a safe distance.

    Stance Adjustment

    • White belts typically know the standard back and front stance. Back stance is for blocking and front stance is for attacking. When playing the role of defender, the martial artist must maintain a strong back stance. She must bear as much of her weight as possible on the back leg. This is essential to continued success in any martial art, especially those involving leg sweeps. If the weight is balanced on the front leg, a leg sweep will likely knock the defender to the floor.

    Block

    • When the attacker gets in range and attempts to deliver a kick or punch, the white belt must use a standard outside hand, knife hand or rising block to deflect the blow. Once she has attempted five blocks, she becomes the attacker.

    Counter Attack

    • The counter attack involves switching from back stance to forward stance and advancing toward the defender. The counter attack must be delivered in the same move as the final fifth attack. So once the fifth attack is blocked, the fighters must quickly switch roles.