Sparring Kicks
Foot Sweeps
Not a scoring technique in its own right, but can be used (if rules permit) to unsettle opponent leaving them defenseless on the floor. Requires good timing and use of hips and a sense of opponent’s balance and commitment. Consider opponent’s weight distribution to decide which leg to sweep. As an attack, use a sharp decisive kick low on opponent’s front leg with the instep or sole of the foot, aiming through the target. Set up opponent first by moving slightly to the side so that their feet appear on a single line to upset their balance. In defense, use a sweep to the supporting leg with your calf muscle after catching opponent’s kick before they can land their kicking foot back on the floor. Follow up a sweep immediately with a scoring technique, a slight hesitation may give the opponent the opportunity to counter attack or roll away.
Combinations
Do not restrict attacks to single attacks. Develop combination attacks, three or four rapid, diverse, and unexpected consecutive hand and foot techniques. Combinations are easy to do against a bag but are difficult to execute properly in sparring. They must flow fluently and quickly. The initial move is important since it sets opponent up for your second move and covers the distance between you and opponent. They may also be used to check opponent’s reaction time and response to the technique to see where a possible weakness or opening may be. They also aid the techniques that may follow by drawing the opponent into making a counterattack or engaging you, or to raise or lower opponent’s guard.
Avoid the feeling of building up intensity in combinations with the intention of scoring with the final technique. The first techniques should not be used as distracting feints leaving you vulnerable in the early stages of your attack. Every technique in a combination should have maximum commitment. While the opponent remains off balance and unable to counter effectively, you can score.