Sparring - Names and Types

Names and Types

Sparring has different names and different forms in various schools. Some schools prefer not to call it sparring, as they feel it differs in kind from what is normally called sparring.

• In Muay Thai among western practitioners sparring is simply called sparring.
• In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sparring is commonly called rolling.
• In boxing, sparring is commonly called sparring.
• In Capoeira, the closest analogue to sparring is jogo (playing in the roda).
• In Chinese martial arts, sparring is usually trained at first as individual applications, eventually combined as freestyle training of long, medium and short range techniques. See San Shou, pushing hands.
• In many Japanese martial arts, a grappling-type sparring activity is usually called randori.
  • In judo, this is essentially one-on-one sparring.
  • In most forms of aikido it is a formalized form of sparring where one aikidoka defends against many attackers.
• In Karate, sparring is called kumite (組手)
• In Taekwondo, sparring is called Kyorugi by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) or Matsogi by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
  • In the WTF, the majority of the attacks executed are kicking techniques, whereas the ITF encourages the use of both hands and feet. The ITF does not always spar with head guards, but it is known to occur in some organizations practicing this form.
• In Pencak Silat, sparring is called "berpencak".
• In Western fencing, including historical fencing, the combat is properly called in English "free play," the "assault," or simply "fencing."