Sparring is introduced gently at Evergreen Martial Arts Academy. New students are provided with the necessary protective equipment (helmet, sparring mitts and sparring foot pads) and are taught the basics of how to spar safely. The emphasis is on maintaining a good defensive posture and on performing controlled attacks. Most students find sparring fun, but a few find it intimidating at first. With practice and instructor's guidance, all students become more comfortable with sparring and enjoy it.

As students progress, they are taught how defend themselves against attack and how to effectively throw attack combinations at their opponent in a controlled fashion. No head or even foam helmet contact is allowed until the students are more advanced and they show the appropriate level of control. The skills learned during sparring are extremely important regarding the student's ability to defend themselves if attacked in the street.

As the students become more advanced (usually at the blue belt level), they are allowed to make light contact to the foam helmet. At this stage the students are refining valuable skills that allow them to better defend themselves against an attacker and to counterattack effectively, if necessary. Of course, sparring can also be considered a sport in its own right and there are tournaments where students can compete with students from other schools.

By the time a student is preparing for their first degree black belt test, they should be accomplished fighters, able to spar safely and skillfully against other high ranking students.

Key Benefits of Sparring

• Students become less intimidated by physical engagements.
• Sparring practice develops valuable defensive and counterattacking skills.
• Sparring provides excellent aerobic conditioning.
• Sparring can be pursued as a sport in its own right.

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