If you are in it for the sparring, then Colorado is the place to be. Tae Kwon Do sparring is one of the safest combat sports in the world: With the combination of safety gear and professional supervision, this very exciting sport is suitable for many age groups. The benefits are far-reaching, from increased athletic ability to learning the values comradery and fair-play. But, for the student of Tae Kwon Do searching for a competitive edge beyond the limited number of athletes they can spar within her/his dojang, may I suggest attending scrimmages.
As the definition suggests, scrimmages will give you that needed sparring time that will, in many aspects, resemble actual competition without it reflecting upon your record. Normally, a scrimmage is set up so that each athlete gets as much ring time as she/he wants. The rounds are typical as are the divisions, although there is more room for individual growth and variance at a scrimmage. Also, much of the pressure of combat lies in the resulting improvement of skill and not the actual bout. It really is a place for massive growth.
In addition to the physical aspects of Tae Kwon Do sparring, scrimmages are a great way to expand your TKD family. As a true master will always say, “Tae Kwon Do is about family, not about me.” So, plan on meeting new people- from your own dojang and from others. Exchange ideas and plan future engagements. Relax, converse, and take it all in.
Where do I scrimmage? Who do I contact? Well, if you’re reading this, you are probably already associated with a martial arts school. Ask your instructor for information on future scrimmages. After that, it really depends on how far you are willing to travel and if you can free up a few hours on a Saturday. If you are not associated with a martial arts school, search the web. There are countless quality-minded schools in your area.
Make sure to bring all of your required gear to the scrimmage. If you are attending an E-hogu scrimmage, don’t forget your E-sock, and show up a little early to get situated. Also, don’t forget to get a lot of rest and nutrition beforehand and thank the hosting school afterwards.
So then, you are a Tae Kwon Do warrior or want to be one. You love to spar and want to prove yourself in battle. Well, you had better prepare yourself. Contact a scrimmage-hosting school today and obtain that needed ring time. A couple of schools that host scrimmages on a continual basis, in the Denver metro area, are: Korean Academy of Tae Kwon Do and Master Yosvany Tae Kwon Do. If you are hosting TKD scrimmages and you want to get the word out, contact Colorado State TKD Association. If you want your future event highlighted in this publication, please contact Steven Marak and happy scrimmaging.