Is there any sparring that doesn't involve punches to the head?
Kicks and body kicks would be OK, but I am not OK with taking punches to the head. Is this unavoidable in all arts?
sparring safety
New contributor
add a comment |
Kicks and body kicks would be OK, but I am not OK with taking punches to the head. Is this unavoidable in all arts?
sparring safety
New contributor
If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
1
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago
add a comment |
Kicks and body kicks would be OK, but I am not OK with taking punches to the head. Is this unavoidable in all arts?
sparring safety
New contributor
Kicks and body kicks would be OK, but I am not OK with taking punches to the head. Is this unavoidable in all arts?
sparring safety
sparring safety
New contributor
New contributor
edited yesterday
mattm♦
6,72311540
6,72311540
New contributor
asked yesterday
kungfujimkungfujim
211
211
New contributor
New contributor
If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
1
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago
add a comment |
If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
1
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago
If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
1
1
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
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There are striking arts with precisely the rule set you describe. World Taekwondo allows kicks to the head but not punches to the head. Punches to the body are legal. This is the competition rules used in the Olympics.
From the World Taekwondo rules document WT Competition Rules & Interpretation (Hammamet 04052018):
Article 14 Prohibited acts and Penalties
...
4 Prohibited acts
...
4.1.8 Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
add a comment |
No, it's not.
You could pick up something that does not involve kicks or punches at all, like Judo or Sambo. Other alternatives are arts that typically do not involve actual hard sparring, like many styles of Kung Fu, Aikido or Karate. Jiu-Jitsu (not the Brazilian one) is usually pretty light on the sparring as well while still teaching you plenty of useful kicks and punches.
Apart from this: Sparring in MA is usually not all that painful and you will not suffer regular brain concussion or anything, unless you go to a crazy gym. Also you will wear protective gear at pretty much any point in sparring where head strikes happen and usually in competitions on amateur level as well.
Take a look at what happens at your local gyms and find something you are comfortable with. Personally I have gone through 20 years of various martial arts and suffered zero brain concussions and very little headaches so this stuff is definitely not mandatory.
New contributor
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
add a comment |
Kyokushin Karate is also well known for forbidding head punches.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
add a comment |
With all things, it depends. Even in the arts above, and other arts that forbid punches to the head in a competitive aspect (ATA TKD also forbids hands to the head in competition, but allows kicks), many of them still teach hands to the head in self defense training.
There is a difference between competition rules, and self defense instruction. By definition, almost any modern competition will restrict moves to some degree (Such as groin kicks. That is a near universal no-no). Self defense rules should really have no restrictions, other than what is needed to practice them safely. And, there are many schools that teach competition style only, and do not teach beyond that.
So your best bet is to talk with your instructor about your concerns. However, even if it is allowed in training, it should be done in such a manner that it isn't a future health concern.
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
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votes
There are striking arts with precisely the rule set you describe. World Taekwondo allows kicks to the head but not punches to the head. Punches to the body are legal. This is the competition rules used in the Olympics.
From the World Taekwondo rules document WT Competition Rules & Interpretation (Hammamet 04052018):
Article 14 Prohibited acts and Penalties
...
4 Prohibited acts
...
4.1.8 Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
add a comment |
There are striking arts with precisely the rule set you describe. World Taekwondo allows kicks to the head but not punches to the head. Punches to the body are legal. This is the competition rules used in the Olympics.
From the World Taekwondo rules document WT Competition Rules & Interpretation (Hammamet 04052018):
Article 14 Prohibited acts and Penalties
...
4 Prohibited acts
...
4.1.8 Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
add a comment |
There are striking arts with precisely the rule set you describe. World Taekwondo allows kicks to the head but not punches to the head. Punches to the body are legal. This is the competition rules used in the Olympics.
From the World Taekwondo rules document WT Competition Rules & Interpretation (Hammamet 04052018):
Article 14 Prohibited acts and Penalties
...
4 Prohibited acts
...
4.1.8 Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
There are striking arts with precisely the rule set you describe. World Taekwondo allows kicks to the head but not punches to the head. Punches to the body are legal. This is the competition rules used in the Olympics.
From the World Taekwondo rules document WT Competition Rules & Interpretation (Hammamet 04052018):
Article 14 Prohibited acts and Penalties
...
4 Prohibited acts
...
4.1.8 Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
mattm♦mattm
6,72311540
6,72311540
add a comment |
add a comment |
No, it's not.
You could pick up something that does not involve kicks or punches at all, like Judo or Sambo. Other alternatives are arts that typically do not involve actual hard sparring, like many styles of Kung Fu, Aikido or Karate. Jiu-Jitsu (not the Brazilian one) is usually pretty light on the sparring as well while still teaching you plenty of useful kicks and punches.
Apart from this: Sparring in MA is usually not all that painful and you will not suffer regular brain concussion or anything, unless you go to a crazy gym. Also you will wear protective gear at pretty much any point in sparring where head strikes happen and usually in competitions on amateur level as well.
Take a look at what happens at your local gyms and find something you are comfortable with. Personally I have gone through 20 years of various martial arts and suffered zero brain concussions and very little headaches so this stuff is definitely not mandatory.
New contributor
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
add a comment |
No, it's not.
You could pick up something that does not involve kicks or punches at all, like Judo or Sambo. Other alternatives are arts that typically do not involve actual hard sparring, like many styles of Kung Fu, Aikido or Karate. Jiu-Jitsu (not the Brazilian one) is usually pretty light on the sparring as well while still teaching you plenty of useful kicks and punches.
Apart from this: Sparring in MA is usually not all that painful and you will not suffer regular brain concussion or anything, unless you go to a crazy gym. Also you will wear protective gear at pretty much any point in sparring where head strikes happen and usually in competitions on amateur level as well.
Take a look at what happens at your local gyms and find something you are comfortable with. Personally I have gone through 20 years of various martial arts and suffered zero brain concussions and very little headaches so this stuff is definitely not mandatory.
New contributor
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
add a comment |
No, it's not.
You could pick up something that does not involve kicks or punches at all, like Judo or Sambo. Other alternatives are arts that typically do not involve actual hard sparring, like many styles of Kung Fu, Aikido or Karate. Jiu-Jitsu (not the Brazilian one) is usually pretty light on the sparring as well while still teaching you plenty of useful kicks and punches.
Apart from this: Sparring in MA is usually not all that painful and you will not suffer regular brain concussion or anything, unless you go to a crazy gym. Also you will wear protective gear at pretty much any point in sparring where head strikes happen and usually in competitions on amateur level as well.
Take a look at what happens at your local gyms and find something you are comfortable with. Personally I have gone through 20 years of various martial arts and suffered zero brain concussions and very little headaches so this stuff is definitely not mandatory.
New contributor
No, it's not.
You could pick up something that does not involve kicks or punches at all, like Judo or Sambo. Other alternatives are arts that typically do not involve actual hard sparring, like many styles of Kung Fu, Aikido or Karate. Jiu-Jitsu (not the Brazilian one) is usually pretty light on the sparring as well while still teaching you plenty of useful kicks and punches.
Apart from this: Sparring in MA is usually not all that painful and you will not suffer regular brain concussion or anything, unless you go to a crazy gym. Also you will wear protective gear at pretty much any point in sparring where head strikes happen and usually in competitions on amateur level as well.
Take a look at what happens at your local gyms and find something you are comfortable with. Personally I have gone through 20 years of various martial arts and suffered zero brain concussions and very little headaches so this stuff is definitely not mandatory.
New contributor
edited yesterday
New contributor
answered yesterday
NewEyesNewEyes
212
212
New contributor
New contributor
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
add a comment |
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
1
1
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
Protective head gear may not help with preventing concussions or brain damage; it helps prevent cuts. A study of AIBA boxing found that head gear increases the rate of fight stoppages due to head blows and led to the removal of head gear for men's competition. See martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/8907/5961.
– mattm♦
yesterday
add a comment |
Kyokushin Karate is also well known for forbidding head punches.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Kyokushin Karate is also well known for forbidding head punches.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Kyokushin Karate is also well known for forbidding head punches.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
Kyokushin Karate is also well known for forbidding head punches.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
answered yesterday
Sean DugganSean Duggan
5,25311033
5,25311033
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
Yeah, I was going to post Kyokushin karate. They're pretty famous for the "no punches to the head" rule. They're hard contact with most other things except for that.
– Steve Weigand
4 hours ago
add a comment |
With all things, it depends. Even in the arts above, and other arts that forbid punches to the head in a competitive aspect (ATA TKD also forbids hands to the head in competition, but allows kicks), many of them still teach hands to the head in self defense training.
There is a difference between competition rules, and self defense instruction. By definition, almost any modern competition will restrict moves to some degree (Such as groin kicks. That is a near universal no-no). Self defense rules should really have no restrictions, other than what is needed to practice them safely. And, there are many schools that teach competition style only, and do not teach beyond that.
So your best bet is to talk with your instructor about your concerns. However, even if it is allowed in training, it should be done in such a manner that it isn't a future health concern.
add a comment |
With all things, it depends. Even in the arts above, and other arts that forbid punches to the head in a competitive aspect (ATA TKD also forbids hands to the head in competition, but allows kicks), many of them still teach hands to the head in self defense training.
There is a difference between competition rules, and self defense instruction. By definition, almost any modern competition will restrict moves to some degree (Such as groin kicks. That is a near universal no-no). Self defense rules should really have no restrictions, other than what is needed to practice them safely. And, there are many schools that teach competition style only, and do not teach beyond that.
So your best bet is to talk with your instructor about your concerns. However, even if it is allowed in training, it should be done in such a manner that it isn't a future health concern.
add a comment |
With all things, it depends. Even in the arts above, and other arts that forbid punches to the head in a competitive aspect (ATA TKD also forbids hands to the head in competition, but allows kicks), many of them still teach hands to the head in self defense training.
There is a difference between competition rules, and self defense instruction. By definition, almost any modern competition will restrict moves to some degree (Such as groin kicks. That is a near universal no-no). Self defense rules should really have no restrictions, other than what is needed to practice them safely. And, there are many schools that teach competition style only, and do not teach beyond that.
So your best bet is to talk with your instructor about your concerns. However, even if it is allowed in training, it should be done in such a manner that it isn't a future health concern.
With all things, it depends. Even in the arts above, and other arts that forbid punches to the head in a competitive aspect (ATA TKD also forbids hands to the head in competition, but allows kicks), many of them still teach hands to the head in self defense training.
There is a difference between competition rules, and self defense instruction. By definition, almost any modern competition will restrict moves to some degree (Such as groin kicks. That is a near universal no-no). Self defense rules should really have no restrictions, other than what is needed to practice them safely. And, there are many schools that teach competition style only, and do not teach beyond that.
So your best bet is to talk with your instructor about your concerns. However, even if it is allowed in training, it should be done in such a manner that it isn't a future health concern.
answered 20 hours ago
JohnP♦JohnP
3,66111331
3,66111331
add a comment |
add a comment |
kungfujim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
kungfujim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
kungfujim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
kungfujim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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If I may ask, why is it punches to the head that you're worried about?
– Cort Ammon
yesterday
1
Cort, well im not afraid of being punched and have been punched to the head. However I need my brain for work lol
– kungfujim
22 hours ago
It's a valid concern. The risk of CTE is higher with every blow to the head. And while kicking to the head may still be allowed, it's easier to block and evade, therefore kicks to the head should be less frequent. There are also some people who need to protect their head more than other people, for medical reasons. So we should take the question at face value and not try to be too judgmental about it.
– Steve Weigand
34 mins ago