Jeet Kune Do Training Tips, Part 3: Sparring

Sparring is the ultimate test of your skill. It puts everything together; your speed, endurance, agility, footwork etc.  One important fact is that it should be thought of as training rather than a competition.  A very common perception is one that when facing your sparring partner, both think they must beat their opponent. It should actually be quite the opposite.  You should set out to beat yourself. Beat the fear of being hit, the flinching, being overly conscious of your audience, and the constant excess thought. The largest obstacle in any physical endeavor, especially fighting, is the perception of self.

Sparring exercises

Partialize your sparring

Set out with the rule that each person may only use one tool to begin with.  For example, restrict yourselves to only a straight lead.  Spar with only that weapon and use it to its potential.  Other options might be to have one only allowed to use a straight lead and the other a cross.  You can also restrict your selves to a combination of tools like hands only, feet only, or one hand and one foot.
The possibilities are almost endless. Play with it and make yourself use the tools you are most uncomfortable with.

Diversity

Spar with as many people as possible. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, along with physical attributes.  Some may have your number because of certain traits they possess. Find those people and make them hit you until you figure out how not to get hit.

Pick your shots

In every sparring session, you should set a goal or plan if you will. It should be just like any training session.  There should be a desired result and a plan of action.  This is not to say that the engagement should be planned from start to finish. Rather, you should set out to work on specific skills that you desire to improve. It can be anything from a specific step, a slip, or any other technique. Remember, plan and think about your training and you will get something out of it.

Again, these are just some of many exercises that can be done to improve your skill.  The key really is in repetition and organization.  A well executed plan can yield really great results. Use your imagination to come up with your own.  JKD can be a very enlightening experience in many aspects.  Since you have chosen that path, stick to it and do it justice.

“When you delve into simplicity, you find complexity”
~Mike Gittleson